Fuel Ran Very Low, Now Won't Start

[silvtr1000]

My 2LTE ran really low on diesel a couple of weeks ago. It was hard to start about 3 or 4 times after filling up. It's just died on my wife (with the two kids in), about two miles from my job. I've just got back from towing it to my job (with my 1.5 Corolla!).

She had just put €10 diesel into it 20 miles ago. It started to splutter, she pulled in, it idled roughly for 5 mins, then died and won't restart. She tried to rolling start it a couple of times while on tow, but no joy.

An ex mechanic in work says air or dirt from the fuel tank probably got into the injectors, and they need to be drained/cleaned. I believe him - it sounds logical.

Where do I go from here? Is draining/cleaning injectors a DIY job? Access to them looks sh1te. I could ask my Toyota mechanic uncle to do it if he's free, but obviously I'd have to give him a few quid. I'm not tight, I just don't have a lot of money.

There's 145,000 kms on it - would it be a good idea to just replace the injectors with new ones? Might that be a waste of time/money unless I clean out the fuel tank too? Is that a DIY job?

Thanks in advance for any advice & ideas - all & any are apreciated. This is a showstopper (to quote my nerd boss).


Mark

[AndyLala]

I suppose you have purged the fuel filter...?


There isn't some air in there?

andyL

[Guest]

I suppose you have purged the fuel filter...?


There isn't some air in there?

andyL

I bet there is. To clear the air from the fuel filter, under the wingnut at the bottom and let some fuel run out of it until it runs even. Then tighten it up again.

You may also have blocked the fuel filter with crud and it may need changing. You can get them from Milners.

Other than that it will be time to bleed the system through properly, which I would suggest is best left to your local Diesel specialist rather than Toyota.

Or Maybe Stevo in Manchester could help you.

Cheers

[silvtr1000]

Haven't checked fuel filter. It's new - the seller put it in just before I bought it in July.

Hmmmm.... Might not be so bad after all...

[silvtr1000]

Drained filter - LOADS of gunk! Started & ran without cutting out, but still spluttery, with huge plumes of white smoke. I put a bit of Redex in before I drained the filter, and I read on here somewhere that Redex burns white, so I'm not overly concerned.

I'll drain the filter a few more times and give this advice to newbies to diesels - NEVER LET IT RUN LOW!

Thanks for the replies.


Mark

[AndyLala]

how about a new fuel filter and fill it with injector cleaner, try and crank that through and purge the system as lucky said. That should get it working... Get it checked out though, just in case its more serious...

andyL

[TonyN]

I'll drain the filter a few more times and give this advice to newbies to diesels - NEVER LET IT RUN LOW!

Thanks for the replies.


Mark

You may want to think about that, if you never let it run low, any time it has to for any reason, you will definaly have junk in there. I rarely fill up till the light is on, and never had any troubles. I'd rather keep empting the junk a little at a time and let the filter do its job, than let it collect in the tank.

Just my opinion.

[mat1]

i run out at least once a month!!! i find filling up some kind of outragous concept.
every time, the power just dies. all i do is fill it up from the spare tank (that always is kept full) i then give it a really good pump on the fuel pump, mine is mounted on the bulk head. once it starts i then give it a few more pumps and away i go. i probably have a fuel filter that resembles a cattle crossing!!!!!!
...funnily enough, another petrol station closed recently in our area increasing my chances of running out further.

[Reddog]

I often let the light come on before filling up somtimes its probably running on vapours but not had any probs starting,when i changed fuel filter recently there was a fare bit of gunk in it but again started no probs.but the gunk in the filter was solid and i could see how this would cause probs.

[Vagrant No2]

As long as you have a fuel filter conected no dirt will get into pump or injectors . When the filter gets blocked or full of water it will cut the engine out with no damage . Thats one reason why it is there .


Rick

[Rob]

I'm another who always lets the light come on...and stay on! I once got 67.5 litres into the tank. It's a 70 litre tank

[NiftyNev]

As long as you have a fuel filter conected no dirt will get into pump or injectors . When the filter gets blocked or full of water it will cut the engine out with no damage . Thats one reason why it is there .


Rick

The filter will not stop water.It will collect it in the bottom of filter and when it reaches a certain level the warning light will come on.Water must be drained or it WILL do damage.

Neville

[silvtr1000]

I changed the filter yesterday - LOADS MORE CRAP! Running fine since...

Thanks for all the replies.