W210 320cdi fuel line starting issue

[grizzly2020]

Hi all. I was wondering if anyone could help.

I have had the bus now for a few months and it is starting to grate on me this niggling issue. If the car is sat for any length of time it struggles to start. It turns over fine but sounds like for 5-10 seconds as if no fuel is going through and then boom it starts and away we go. It also cuts out if you apply some welly too when cold if your going up hill for example. Having spent a good wedge of money trying to get this fixed with no success at two mechanics (one being an MB specialist). Can you imagine how annoyed I was when I said to hell with it I'll have a look myself (I'm about as mechanically minded as a goat), took off the the engine covers (see pictures) and found in three seconds flat a seeping fuel line. Now doing some digging it would appear that these "plastic" fuel lines are notorious for failing as they age allowing air in which causes all the associated problems I've been experiencing ( it also suffers poor fuel economy 28mpg and major smokeage under hard acceleration).











Can anyone help by answering the following?

1. Assuming there are o-ring seals in the leaking plug (close up picture) what size should they be when buying these from somewhere like Halfords?

2. I have seen on you tube a chap that claims that if you cut off the plastic pipe at the nipple of the plug leaving a little tip an 8mm fuel line can slip over with a hose clamp. Has anyone had experience of this? Can I use regular fuel line on the high pressure side or does it need to be this special plastic prone to fail crap?

3. Can anyone recommend a good mechanic in the harrogate area of North Yorkshire? I can't believe I've spent the best part of £600 on useless S.o.B's when I spent five minutes of my untrained eye finding this leak.

4. Is number 1 in the photo the fuel filter and number 2 the fuel pump? Do I have another pump/ filter back by the fuel tank?

 

[renault12ts]

1 Replace the pipes and o rings as a set...from MB.

4. 1 is the fuel filter.

 

[WG M-B]

How do you know such a small leak is causing your throttle issue?

 

[grizzly2020]

1 Replace the pipes and o rings as a set...from MB. 4. 1 is the fuel filter.

Cheers for the heads up.

Out of curiosity how much do you reckon MB charges for the set? If it's cheap I think I'll cry.

 

[grizzly2020]

How do you know such a small leak is causing your throttle issue?

To be honest I don't. But it doesn't happen when the engine is warm. Would I be talking daft if I say it's just the feeling I get that it's connected to this leak? By my rationale If the line lets too much air in i.e. more air than fuel on a surge then it would cut out right?

 

[WG M-B]

A very bad leak would cause it to cut out but.....
Most common causes of hard starting and cut out under acceleration are either an injector returning excessive fuel and causing the rail pressure to drop too low or
The high pressure fuel pump
I would change the seals on the fuel lines and cure the leak. The seals can be purchased from mb for pennies

 

[Harlowcabbie]

Complete new set of fuel lines from mb about 40 quid .

 

[Dieselman]

The leak looks to be coming from the filter housing, not the actual pipes.

An air leak would cause the symptoms you are experiencing.

 

[stability]

why not do a leak off test on the injectors to be efficient

if the rings are changed and injectors are working 100% this bus
( as you put it ) will start on the button

 

[Auto-mobile]

Agree with dieselman on the housing leak, buy a new fuel filter (which comes with a seal)
A couple of o rings from the main dealer, that's £10-£15 worth of parts and 30-40mins of you time.

See how the car behaves after that.

 

[macker64]

Here you go:

Fuel filter element A6110900051

and the 3 diesel fuel pipes:

A6130702132

A6130701032

A6130701132

At a minimum I would replace all of the above and when this is complete you should fit the excellent EGR electronic bypass provided by DIESELMAN.

Good luck!!

 

[Auto-mobile]

Egr is vacuum operated.

 

[macker64]

It is indeed vacuum operated. However, the transducer which drives the EGR valve on the W210 is electronically activated, which is what I was referring to in my original post.

 

[E320 Bus]

Did you resolve the problem

Hi did you ever get the problem sorted?

 

[BlackC55]

The post was back in 2013 so i doubt a reply.

Do you have the same issue?

 

[W210Virgin]

The OPs car has since rusted away!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk