2005 Mondeo TDCi (2.2) - Frozen Fuel Lines/Filter

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Tue 21 Dec 2010 09:21
2005 Mondeo TDCi (2.2) - Frozen Fuel Lines/Filter - sharpied79

Ok, I am at my wits end with this problem.

My Mondeo has now let me down twice in the past two weeks and I am convinced it's because of the cold weather.

Both last week and this week (temperature below -10oC) when trying to open her up (past about 2000 revs) coil light will come on, she'll splutter, cough and die a death, although if I'm lucky she will go into limp mode and I may just be able to get home.

I'm convinced it's frozen fuel lines or the filter as the exact same thing happened the other week and when the thaw set in and temperatures rose above freezing she was ok.

Done the usual, that is keeping the fuel tank as full as possible, warming her up for at least 15-20 minutes first thing in the morning but this has not mad a difference. Diesel should be good (only use BP or Shell usually)

What is surprising is that we had similar cold weather at the beginning of the year and she was fine, no problems, so what may have changed??

Any one with ideas, or practical real world solutions please let me know as I am almost thinking of cutting my losses with the damn thing and getting a petrol (at least they don't freeze until -60oC)

Appreciated...

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Tue 21 Dec 2010 09:35
2005 Mondeo TDCi (2.2) - Frozen Fuel Lines/Filter - injection doc
I suspect its just the viscocity of the fuel affected by the weather. The injection pressure & control will change with thicker fuel.
Hopefully this cold snap will finish soon.
My wifes 1.6 diesel wouldn't rev over 2700 yesterday & that was just because of the cold fuel.
I wouldn't blame the car as its just the weather. If you buy a petrol it will really hit the wallet. I did it once recentley & never again
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Tue 21 Dec 2010 09:42
2005 Mondeo TDCi (2.2) - Frozen Fuel Lines/Filter - Cris_on_the_gas

Remember people in the past with diesels putting in a couple of gallons of petrol in the tank same time as filling up with diesel. Then in sub zero temperatures it would run OK. would this still apply

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Tue 21 Dec 2010 10:30
2005 Mondeo TDCi (2.2) - Frozen Fuel Lines/Filter - madf

Water in fuel filter and/or tank freezing.

Bleed the filter of water first. Then if that does not work, new filter. If that does not work, drain tank.

EDIT: NEVER put petrol in a diesel. Or you will need a new fuel pump £££s and /or injectors. The modern diesel engine requires diesel to lubricate the pump. Petrol strips away lubricant. bang. one much poorer motorist.

.

Edited by madf on 21/12/2010 at 10:32

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Tue 21 Dec 2010 10:32
2005 Mondeo TDCi (2.2) - Frozen Fuel Lines/Filter - Cymrogwyllt

Remember people in the past with diesels putting in a couple of gallons of petrol in the tank same time as filling up with diesel.

That's not a good idea with modern high pressure pumps and injectors. Probably be very expensive

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Tue 21 Dec 2010 12:55
2005 Mondeo TDCi (2.2) - Frozen Fuel Lines/Filter - Collos25

A myth put around by glass palace main agents to take lots of money from people who have misfueled,the injectors and pumps are made out of the exact same materials and to the same tolerences whether they are petrol or diesel.

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Tue 21 Dec 2010 23:41
2005 Mondeo TDCi (2.2) - Frozen Fuel Lines/Filter - Avant

I'm not sure that's true Andy, and on a forum like this I think we need to play safe. As said above, NEVER put petrol in a diesel car's tank.

When diesel cars first became common in the 1980s, diesel fuel suffered from 'waxing' at low temperatures. It's improved of course but presumably could still happen in the extremes of temperature that some parts of the country are having.

In those days you could get some additive to put into the tank. Anyone know if it's still around? This could be the OP's problem with his Mondeo.

If we're going to to discuss this, we need to keep to the point raised.or we'll have to lock this thread again. My colleague rightly locked it this morning as there was a complaint.

Edited by Avant on 21/12/2010 at 23:46

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Wed 22 Dec 2010 16:33
2005 Mondeo TDCi (2.2) - Frozen Fuel Lines/Filter - sharpied79

Well just to let you know, this morning I got up particularly early (5am) ran the engine for about 45 minutes and jammed a hot water bottle upto the fuel filter.

I had hoped this would cure the problem, wrong! Got it out on the open road, spluttered upto 40mph in fourth then died a death!

Arrrggghhh.... However...

Called the AA, very helpful chap, poured boilding water over the fuel filter and hand pumped a load of water out of it. Managed to run it (slowly) to the nearest Ford Garage who have now replaced the filter.

Seems to be running a lot better although the acid test will be leaving it standing overnight in our car park and starting it tomorrow morning and seeing what happens!

I just hope it was only the fuel filter!

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Wed 22 Dec 2010 19:36
2005 Mondeo TDCi (2.2) - Frozen Fuel Lines/Filter - injection doc

if your filter blocks again rather sooner than expected you may have a problem with bacteria in the fuel system. To diagnose the filter needs to be cut open & the element checked for a black film.

If the filter is contaminated with a film there is treatment you can purchase to kill the bacteria. The bacteria seems to appear from certain makes of deisel.

There is no need to panic but just something to be aware of.

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Thu 23 Dec 2010 09:34
2005 Mondeo TDCi (2.2) - Frozen Fuel Lines/Filter - Roly93

if your filter blocks again rather sooner than expected you may have a problem with bacteria in the fuel system. To diagnose the filter needs to be cut open & the element checked for a black film.

I saw this problem in my younger days on an old combine harvester of all things.

There was a gauze scavenge filter in the diesel tank even before the fuel filters. When I unscrewed it the gauze was coated with this exact same slime you speak of..

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