Water in fuel,8 months on will not start, Scudo Camper Mk1 2006

robert89 · 2023-03-23 10:11:06

I use to ponder, when I read these stories, how can you be so stupid as to mistake the Diesel cap with the Water cap, well what do you know, I've joined the club, long drive and I was distracted filling....blah blah, yeah yeah I hear you say.

Well I thought I got away with it, RAC called who referred a specialist company to pump the tank and several hours and £270 later it was up and running again as if nothing had happened.
Filled back up to the brim in diesel, to dilute any residual water and drove for the rest of the season without a hick up. The only telling sign was on the last trip to the New Forest when I noticed it taking a couple of cranks of the engine to start when it was normally instant.
Stored over winter (covered) new season, she will now not start for love or money, not even trying. Fresh battery, engine turning but nothing.

The next stupid thing I did was to try Easy Start spray, I took the filter off and sprayed for a second into the intake, not that much, but enough to stop the engine turning over when I tried to start her, pre ignition lock I guess, waited awhile then turned key again and the engine reved up and stopped making a terrible clatter as it did so. So hope no mechanical damage was done doing this.

So thats the history, and here starts my journey to try and get her back running. It's a really nice camper so worth spending money on.

I'm goint to drop the fuel tank clean out and dry, which I should have done to prevent all this in the first place.

Any guidance on where to start looking after that would be much appreciated, injector pump perhaps?

Last edited by robert89 (2023-03-24 08:40:58)

kenbw2 · 2023-03-23 15:32:24

Haha can't be as stupid as that time I absent mindedly poured oil into the coolant reservoir roll

It's gonna help to know which engine you have. If you're mentioning injector pump I'm guessing the DW8 1868cc 1.9D?

I'd be inclined to say that if it's months of running later, and it's been stored over winter, the issue is likely not to do with your water escapades. I'd probably try other things before dropping the tank

First can you see fuel going into the pump? There should be a clear bit of pipe, and you can see bubbles if there are any

Then I'd try cracking off the injector pipes at the injector end. Loosen the nuts clamping the pipes to the injectors, then turn it over. See if fuel is being delivered to them

robert89 · 2023-03-24 08:47:47

The registration document states Scudo SX JTD 1997 CC. Year Nov 2006

I should have added that the incident happened late season and I never fueled her up again before storing for winter, so the fuel in the system would have been that of that same fuel when I first filled up, after having the tank pumped.

The fuel filter has a thumb screw drain valve on the bottom, which I drained a few times whenever I could into a tray checking for water, I did see some tiny beads and the fuel a little cloudy but at that point everything was running perfectly so didn't think to do anymore.

Last edited by robert89 (2023-03-24 08:59:23)

Casper · 2023-03-24 12:16:29

You got the ovel fuel filer housing with the ring clasp. Aftermarket ones as renowned for being crap to get air tight. I would try and feed the engine from a jerry can. If it fires up OK then you have an air issue. Also bleed the piped from pump to injectors .

kenbw2 · 2023-03-25 01:07:52

Casper wrote:

You got the ovel fuel filer housing with the ring clasp. Aftermarket ones as renowned for being crap to get air tight. I would try and feed the engine from a jerry can. If it fires up OK then you have an air issue. Also bleed the piped from pump to injectors .

Isn't that on the 1868cc DW8? If OP has the 1997cc engine, that's the 2.0 HDi engine, which I gather is a round one with a screw on lid - much better than the DW8 filter housing

The 2.0 HDi is a very different beast to the XUD/DW8. It's much more finicky and precise

I'd suggest tracing the problem. The usual diagnosis process:

- Is fuel getting to the engine
- Is the engine compressing
- Is the engine warm enough (glow plugs)

Fuel is a case of tracking down whether it's getting in there. The 2.0 litre has a lift pump in the tank itself. When you turn the key I gather you should hear a whirring noise inside the tank. I gather the 2.0 has those clippy pipe connectors, maybe take one of them off (I think the green ones are the tank-to-engine ones. The wider ones) and see if fuel comes out. If not, check the in-tank pump. You should be able to find these on the entry and exit to the fuel filter housing - check both of them

If that works, I'd check *after* the high pressure pump. I don't know what that looks like on the 2.0, but I guess there must be a way to disconnect something after the common rail? I'm not sure

Also check if the glow plugs are working. If not it might be sluggish if nigh on impossible to start. I gather you can somehow check their resistance but it shouldn't be the end of the world to take one out and see if ti glows red

Compression I guess you can try a compression check, not sure how you'd best go about that

Also I'd say that's the fanciest DispatchExpertScudo on this forum, you should post pics once it's up and running!

Last edited by kenbw2 (2023-03-25 01:08:50)

vaz2121 · 2023-04-01 06:05:02

I'd try KENBW2's theary, but it's many years ago now my 307 with a 2.0 hdi had a dicky injector and would not start at first when it felt like it it would go an hdi expert mechanic thought fuel pressure regulator/sensor on fuel rail was wonky as that was symtoms it was giving at time but in the end tested injectors for holdiing the enormous pressure and found one leaking quite badly and could not hold the minimum pressure needed for starting. Hdi's don't like things like water or cooking oil.

P.S.I was lucky and found a working but noisey second hand injector with right codes on it inc suffix letter and no need to code them in.

p.p.s.My DW8/B Camper-Van has a flat battery after sitting for winter, I think its down a glow plug relay athough ECU says glow plugs heating on dash I don't believe it.

Vincew · 2023-05-30 16:26:22

Any update on this?

I have the same van which won't start after being stood for 12 months or so., I am waiting for a new glow plug relay as mine is not working (no 12v to glow plugs) with luck that will fix it.

I have read the relays are a common failure point.

Cheers
Vince

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#1 2023-03-23 10:11:06

Water in fuel,8 months on will not start, Scudo Camper Mk1 2006

#2 2023-03-23 15:32:24

Re: Water in fuel,8 months on will not start, Scudo Camper Mk1 2006

#3 2023-03-24 08:47:47

Re: Water in fuel,8 months on will not start, Scudo Camper Mk1 2006

#4 2023-03-24 12:16:29

Re: Water in fuel,8 months on will not start, Scudo Camper Mk1 2006

#5 2023-03-25 01:07:52

Re: Water in fuel,8 months on will not start, Scudo Camper Mk1 2006

#6 2023-04-01 06:05:02

Re: Water in fuel,8 months on will not start, Scudo Camper Mk1 2006

#7 2023-05-30 16:26:22

Re: Water in fuel,8 months on will not start, Scudo Camper Mk1 2006

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