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PercyVearance

I see in the manual that if water becomes present in the fuel filter this filter needs draining but it does not say how, only take it to a Fiat dealer. Seems a might excessive just to drain it. Can anyone tell me how this can be done by me, at home, or is it one of those little gimmicks manufacturers do to help those poor unfortunate garage mechanics get some work.

Brambles

Hi Sidentry,

I do not know the correct way, but I unplug the water sensor lead, get a wad of rag material and place underneath and then unscrew the drain valve a bottom of filter with great difficulty untill a bit of fuel/water comes out. I do a bit at a time until I am certain it is just diesel comingout. Then screw valve fully closed and reconnect lead.

If anyone knows a better way I would also like to know. (possibly a length of tubing should be attatched to the drain valve outlet??!!
Jon

brezcraft

There is a logical reason for the manual to suggest bringing it to the dealers,it is to prevent you draining the system and ending up with an airlock in the feed pipes thus needing to bleed the pump.

We run the engine at idle for 5 or so mins then place a bowl under the drain tap and loosen it so there is a steady drain of the water,(Water is heavier than diesel and therefore sinks naturally to bottom)we allow approx 1/2 pint to drain off for comfort.

brez

Otto-de-froste

Interested to read about the fuel filter issue. I recently acquired a 1 year old Fiat 2.8 jtd Bessacarr (3000 miles), and have a few misgivings about performance.
Several helpful and kindly members have already their advice and thoughts on this, but even though my main Fiat dealer can find no problem (or rather his computer) there is a definite raspiness to its breath, and it doesn't travel happily into the wind. (which is just about every imaginable direction you can think of in the UK).
With a tailwind it cracks 80 but in a headwind I could get pulled for kerb crawling.
Went to South Yorkshire Caravans today for some bits & bobs, and though I didn't buy the van there, they were so helpful and friendly I would cetrtainly do business with this company in the future.
Coming to the relevant bit now!
The Service Manager gave me a lot of time, and help, and suggested that the fuel filter can get dirty pretty quickly, and this can have a marked effect on performance. (3000 miles in 1 year? It hasn't shifted a lot).
This weekend I plan to find the fuel filter and give it a good sorting.
Perhaps you can let me know how to locate it, remove it and clean it. I somehow lack confidence in Fiat dealers.
I'm not chipping the van because I don't see why I should, and I'm not interested in speeding everywhere.
I am interested in getting the performance that the MH Mags bestow on this engine (bearing in mind the standard mill in this rig is only 2 litres).
I just want to be able hold 60 - 70 on the Motorway, (though I'm happy at 55 for most journeys - he lied) and try to use 5th gear occasionally.
So the fuel filter is the next place to tackle. Can You advise?
Regards,
Paul. (real name).

Brambles

Hi Brez,

Thanks for pointing out possible airlocks etc. Should the filter therefore be drained with the engine running. Presumably to get 1/2 a pint it must be.

Pianoman - Its at the top rear right of engine bay looking from front - it's a pig to get at with all the bits around it.

Otto-de-froste

That's why I called her Babe.
Thanks though everybody, I think it will be worth the effort to do it.
OK I HOPE it will be worth the effort to do it. It's that or a cottage in France.
Paul.

PercyVearance

Thanks for the advice folks. All duly noted and acted upon.

brezcraft

Brambles,
Yes the engine must be running to continually supply the fuel adequately,but do not worry the supply more than adequately feeds the engine for running speeds ,thats why there is a return pipe fitted to all engine fuel pumps.

Pianoman,
Any engine that has logged more than approx 1000 miles is within the limits of losing performance through a simple explaination as fuel filter blockage.

brez

Otto-de-froste

My local Fiat dealer says there is nothing wrong with the van, and an independent has advised me that the performance is about right for the size, weight and engine.
I shall be looking at the fuel filter, and I think I may take her for a good motorway blast.
She still does 80 + with a tailwind but 60 with a headwind, and 5the gear is useless unless I have the tailwind.
Last resort is to take her to a diesel specialist, but if they find nothing it will be a waste of money.
Maybe I have to accept fluctuations in the speed depending on wind direction and gradients, but it does seem contrary to everything I expected of the 2.8 engine.
At 3000 miles spread over 1 year, she will have been stood a lot, so she may need a bit of excercise to get her going.
Thanks everyone for the advice.
regards,
Paul.

Brambles

All I can add (may have been said already) is I have a 2.0 JTD and it did not even start to open up with more power until it got to 5000 miles and the mountain passed of Switzerland. I struggled to get up to 60mph and a lot less into a wind. With a tail wind or down hill I barely managed much over 60. After 5000 miles it started to increase in speed, feel looser and now at 14000 miles runs like a dream and no problems cruising at 65 to 70 into a wind. I think you might be expecting too much too soon and it wil never drive like a car - even a cross wind will cause you to slow down as it destroys any aerodynamic air flow.

Have you checked there are no binding brakes. Go for a run and slow down gently to a halt with minimal braking at the end of the run. Check if any of the wheel hubs are getting hot or warmer than the others. A binding brake will soon make the wheel very hot and you will feel the heat rising easily form the wheel trim vents.

Also look at the the make of fuel you put in, I find a big loss in power using the lesser known brands and supermarket diesel. Shell I find brilliant and makes a big difference to low end power and moving off.