Fuel filter empty!!!!

[jimllshiftit]

My 99 di has just done it usual trick of lacking power. This time I drove it for long enough for it to stop running all together.

When it did finally cut out I found that the fuel filter was entirely empty. Whats caused that?

In trying to cure this problem ive done the leak off mod and replaced the return pipes, fitted a new filler cap, new lift pump, new fuel filter, replaced filter housing with a second hand one, replaced the copper washers on the pump and just had the injection pump rebuilt. I couldnt find any noticeable damage on the fuel pipes and there werent any leaks.

What else is there?

[samson]

air in the system , means you start looking before the lift pump.
after the lift pump you only get leak's
have you looked at the pipe in the tank .
have you anything in the tank , ie' paper rubber , anything .drain the tank and cheack
is the stack pipe cracked (pipe in tank)
all the joints from the tank to the pump
goood look

[dodgy01]

not strictly true as i have had to change a few filter heads for sucking in air and the little o rings on the older types where thepipe bolts in to the filter head

[jimllshiftit]

Ill drop the tank out and have another look. I must admit I didnt check the tank as it was near full when I did all the other work. I might have to wait until tomorrow to get some clear pipe to do other inspection. If it is blocked wouldnt the tank pressurize?

Dodgy, How common is it for the filter housing to be duff? Mines the black collar job. I was of the believe that having two duff filter heads would be really unlucky but I cant rule it out.

[samson]

not strictly true as i have had to change a few filter heads for sucking in air and the little o rings on the older types where thepipe bolts in to the filter head

that little ring , was forgoten most times ,in all the years of working in the transport industry and that is a long time lol .

the main problems were bad fitting of o rings and cross threaded unions . and most of the stuff was british made and very good quality unlike todays imports