Hi,

I'm no good with cars so sorry if these questions are stupid.

So from what I can see the cap on the fuel filter housing is secured with bolts. One of these bolts was missing when my car came back from the service, this then seemed to act as a means of escape for the fuel from the filter itself. So just as fuel could get out of the filter, could contaminants get into the fuel filter through the same hole and cause damage to the fuel filter/pump?

Thanks

Sounds reasonable to me. However small the hole was, it could presumably let in quite a lot of air, and I'd guess a diesel fuel pump might be at least as unhappy pumping actual air as it might be pumping hypothetical petrol .

I suppose the probability of this happening will depend on whether the fuel filter leak ever sees negative internal pressure. If theres, say, a lift pump that kept the leak always under positive internal pressure, less likely.

Edited by edlithgow on 14/04/2024 at 01:22

Just seen a similar problem on a elderly Honda crv, pump had worn sending aluminium particles throughout the whole system....car was sc***ed....

One issue with buying a modern used diesel is that if a previous owner has mistakenly put petrol into it and ran it then you may run into problems like this. Colleague bought a used Dacia Duster 1.5 dci and the engine packed in after a matter of weeks. The garage diagnosed that the fuel pump had broken up sending metal contaminants to wreck the engine. Likely caused by previous misfuelling. Luckily the warranty firm shelled out for a used replacement engine which to date has been fine. You’ve no way of knowing if a prospective used diesel purchase has had a tank of petrol through its innards and it can be catastrophic for both the engine and your bank balance.

Sounds like a good case for another fuel filter downstream of the fuel pump, or am I missing something?