Will not run after fuel filter change

[doebag]

Another old favourite........
Done a service today, fitted new fuel filter, primed fuel filter and used hand vacuum pump to make sure fuel was pulling through.
Connected the fuel lines the right way round, went to start the engine.
It ran for a second or two on what I guess was the fuel left in the injectors and lines, and then stalled.
If I crack a fuel line to injector union with the engine off, I get fuel leakage from the union.
All four do this but it still does not want to fire and run.
I know the hazards of high pressure diesel, but is it worth cracking the unions with the engine cranking ?
Do the filters have a non return valve of some sort in the outlet ? Is it worth trying the old filter refitted in case the replacement is faulty ?

Oh, 58 plate TDCi 90PS. I have done fuel filters before including this one, this is the first one to stump me.

[blue estate]

Refill filter again and keep trying but don't use vac pump

[ned]

Cracking the injectors on a tdci will just lose rail pressure. N

[lightning]

This happened when l changed the fuel filter on my 2008 Connect tdci.

Eventually it fired up after ages cranking the engine. There's a tool Ford use to prime the system. Bad design. My Defender TD5 has a self priming feature after changing the fuel filter, and it's hardly the latest in technology.

Ford used to own Land Rover....maybe they should have had a look at the technical archives.

[doebag]

Well not sure which of the above helped, but went back to it, re-primed, cranked like buggery and it fired up.
Then cut out, fired up again and all is well.
Thanks for the advice.

[tez]

connect's don't like cheap filters

[mattratty]

1. use a genuine filter or at least a good quality one , the valve on the cheap filters are crap and draw in air from the leak off return , if its drawing in air it will never run for long

from experience , simply filling the (genuine) filter to the brim is enough to start the engine and any remaining small bubbles will self bleed through the return union valve once running, BUT - if it has now got air in the high pressure side (from a crap filter drawing in air) it will take ages to crank , crack off the injectors and keep syringing in fuel through the return union until its up to the injectors then re-tighten , reconnect the return and keep cranking it , small amounts of air in high pressure side will go through the system after a few mins of running

if you are still having problems there are a few redneck tricks (but i good filter shouldn't cause any issues):

1.ensure the filter is full of fuel and leave the leak-off return union disconnected , connect a good length of tube to it , fill it with fuel and hold it upright so if the filter is drawing in air through the valve, it draws on fuel rather than air (put a container under the return pipe to catch and spillage) if it runs ok like this then the valve in your filter is probably no good but once its running , stop the engine and reconnect the return union , with a bit of luck its closed the valve and will be ok

2. pressurize the tank with an airline and a diesel soaked rag in the filler neck while removing each line until fuel appears

3. if all else fails , fix what Ford should have left alone ! , go the scrappers and get an old escort van primer / 2 union housing and a new filter , cut and shut the return to go directly back to the tank and then just pump up the fuel and push the air out