Citroen C5 (2001 - 2008) - 2002 110 HDi - Leak of precious fuel...

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Sat 16 Feb 2008 22:14
2002 110 HDi - Leak of precious fuel... - C5si
Hi, before throwing myself at the mercy of a garage, I thought I would see if anyone could help with my little problem.
I have a 2002 51 reg C5 110bhp HDI with close approaching 100k miles.
A strong smell of diesel and small tell trale drip from back of sump tray lead me to have a good look today under the bonnet and I found that the fuel pipe with two nuts going inyto the high pressure pump is leaking albeit lightly. Tried to nip up with open end spanner but no real movement, and in any case did not want to make anything worse on a Sat afternoon!
Before I go further is there any dangers in disconnecting this joint and perhaps using a fluid lock tight here to try and cure.
This is definitely the source of leak.
Additinally along the top of the rocker cover little pools of oil are collecting, above the cylinder head and above the injectors. Not really sure of the source of this? Could it be the rocker cover gasket needs renewing. Father has similar car with same oil collecting too and his has only 35K on clock.
Has anyone tried the 10K Boost clean on thsi engine, and if so I understand it is sprayed in after the MAF . Oh yes I had the headgasket replaced nearly two years ago)
Any ideas would be gratefully received.
Thanks

{another one who failed to see the 3 separate requests to include year and engine details in the subject header}

Edited by Dynamic Dave on 16/02/2008 at 22:17

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 16 Feb 2008 22:49
2002 110 HDi - Leak of precious fuel... - Screwloose

Is this the steel pipe between the high-pressure pump and the fuel rail?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 17 Feb 2008 11:43
2002 110 HDi - Leak of precious fuel... - C5si
Hi, yes it is a metal pipe, between pump and bosch injection rail. It could be roughly described as an upside down "U" with connectors at 90degrees to this.

Sorry about not putting car engine /year in title. Consider myself told off!
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 17 Feb 2008 14:57
2002 110 HDi - Leak of precious fuel... - Screwloose

If that pipe is leaking, then it must be replaced as they are one-shot-use. It carries 1350 bar of pressure; so once replaced, wrap it in tissue and briefly start it up with the bonnet closed. The tissue should remain dry.

Don't even dream of using a sealant on any common-rail union. That would trash £1500 worth of injectors in an instant.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 17 Feb 2008 16:48
2002 110 HDi - Leak of precious fuel... - C5si
Many thanks for that.

Best to ask these things...

Believe it or not I do have some tech knowledge, but high pressure diesel is new to me.
Is there any advice needed before installing a new pipe please?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 17 Feb 2008 17:31
2002 110 HDi - Leak of precious fuel... - Screwloose

The pipes use crush unions, so need correct tightening. Maybe the Haynes Manual on Diesel Engines....
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 23 Feb 2008 20:30
2002 110 HDi - Leak of precious fuel... - C5si
Well, replaced the pipe today and all went fine....apart from leak still there!
Appears to be from the nut that is threaded nto the fuel pump which the pipe I replaced secures to on the left hand side.

I am hoping a replacement nutwill cure, any advice please?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Our honest used car pricing is a little bit different to all the others. You can get to our values through make or model - you don’t have to follow a prescribed route. Plus, it’s live, which means we can react to changes in the market quicker than any printed price guide.

Honest Used Car Prices

From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.

Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....