diesel fuel filter

tim · Post by **tim** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:02 pm

OK - this is quicker than trawling the pages of the site though bejasus you learn some stuff on the way. I am going to fit a new diesel filter on the 92 BX19TXD and fill it full of cleaner before trying to clean out the motor for its emissions test (see posts below) But where IS the damn thing? I thought it might be behind the fuel tank but all I can see is metalwork even with room and a good torch. Help! Is it somewhere else altogether?

Oscar · Post by **Oscar** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:04 pm

It's either a black plastic cylinder with 4 allen bolts in it on the right hand side of the engine as you look at it from the bumper, or a grey bracket with a big black button on it on the left hand side.

But what do I care? I drive a ZX...

electrokid · Post by **electrokid** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:13 pm

Just to the right of the dipstick there's a black plastic tube - it's in there.

tim · Post by **tim** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:33 pm

Strewth that was fast. Yes, there's the black plastic bucket with the four allen bolts to the right of the dipstick, so that must be it. I'll have a look tomorrow, it's getting a bit dark.

Mothman · Post by **Mothman** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 5:42 pm

Remember to put a load of rags etc around the filter housing to soak up any spills Tim.
I didnt do it and it made the clutch slip as it dripped diesel all over it.

Andy

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:22 pm

Dont forget that you'll need to drain it 1st before taking it out, otherwise loads of diesel will piss out everywhere & you don't want that going on your clutch. If you look at the cyndrical housing & follow it down the the base, you'll see a part which has a plastic thread screw (should also have some thin pipe connected to it, if not i just used some aquarium air pipe). You'll need to put some rag underneath incase any spills out, & then turn the screw to loosen it off (depending upon how much you loosen it will determine how much goes into the pipe as opposed to leaking out), (obviously have a jar that the pipe runs into to collect the diesel), you should then start to see it peeing out.

To help this along, i loosen the 4 allent bolts on the top of the housing & gently wiggle it up to get the seal broken so that when you push down on the top of the housing it creates a vacuum which then gets more diesel out. I continue doing this until it becomes a struggle to get anymore out. Then as per above, wrap a wrag around the filter below the top to soak up any spillage & you should be able to just lift the top of the housing off, the filter may or may not be attached to the top of the housing (just prise it off) or still in the housing, just pull it out & then pop in a nice new filter, tighten up the allen key bolts & then remember to screw up the plastic screw thingy at the base. You'll need to prime the car by squeezing the bulb which is near the cambelt, keep squeezing it until it becomes firm to squeeze, that should then mean the pump is primed along with the filter canister & you can start the car ok.

tim · Post by **tim** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:57 pm

Crap, I knew I should have checked the posts before I did the job this pm, but it's all time and it was starting to get dark... As it 'appened I was very careful and wrapped plenty of rags everywhere so there was minimal spillage, but thanks for that, noted for next time. I couldn't swap the filter as I'd been supplied a totally wrong one but the one in there looked brand new, luckily.

KevR · Post by **KevR** » Sun Oct 17, 2010 8:06 pm

This thread reminded me I couldn't actually remember having changed the fuel filter in the daily TZD since I've had it (three years...). I'm heading off for a long round trip to the UK this week so I compromised by deciding to drain the water off. Naturally, couldn't get the drain plug undone, had to unbolt the filter unit and undo it with pliers - needn't have bothered as nothing came out, not even any water. Gave up in disgust and put it back together again. Had a 200 mile trip today and the car was running rteally badly - surging and missing and threatening to cut out altogether. Assumption was I'd dislodged some gunge while I was giddling about. Got home, did what I should have done in the first place - removed filter. I've rarely seen anything so manky! Bottom of the canister full of gunge as well, hence nothing from drain plug.
Fortunately found a spare filter in the barn (sunday here so everything's closed), back together, primed, started fine and I bled the injectors as a precaution. Runs a treat. It's never been a quick example (but it doesn't smoke and does 45-50mpg), but now I wonder whether its recent extra sluggishness was down to the clogged filter not being able to flow enough fuel to cope with the turbo kicking in!

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Mon Oct 18, 2010 11:17 pm

I suspect it probably was a blocked filter which can affect the cars performance, i changed mine & instantly noticed that the car seemed to be a lot more lively....

KevR · Post by **KevR** » Tue Oct 19, 2010 10:28 am

Certainly seems a bit better - the next couple of days will tell - west normandy to Calais, across to Dover, up to Norwich, across to Cambridge, up to Peterborough, Northampton, Beford, then Coventry, then Leicester, then down to Dover again and back home. With a trailer.