low sulpher diesel rotting IP seals?

[Rob]

This is mostly rover-related...

My Rabbit diesel (which I keep parked next to my RRC) has started to leak diesel fuel from the injector pump. I tracked the problem to a shaft seal on the side. In speaking with the fellows over at Northwest Injection they tell me thay have had a lot of the VW Bosch injector pumps in with seal problems. The one fellow suggested that the low-sulpher diesel in the pumps is to blame as it dries-out and wrecks the seals. Has anyone else heard of problems with low-sulpher and IP seals? I know that bio-diesel can be tough on the rubber components but what about pump diesel?

I am a little worried as I can probably reseal the side shaft but anything inside requires an expensivee tear-down (read $1100 to rebuilt the pump.... yikes). Is this low-sulpher really the culprit and is there any additives that will save the seals (Where's Brigette Bardot when we really need her?)?

Regards, Rob
84 Rabbit (leaks Diesel)
88 RRC (leaks everything)

[DaveB]

I've just sent in the Bosch VE pump from my Peugeot 2.5 residing in my 88" as it was running fine, but leaking like a screen door in a submarine. I don't know if my leak is related as it was dribbling a bit when I installed it, could just be old -- thought I'd get through to spring before having to rebuild - sigh.

I do know several folks running diesels have cautioned me to add a conditioner to every tankful to lubricate the seals, because the diesel fuel is known to be hard on them.

Talking to the fellow here in Vernon that runs FlowerPower Biodiesel, he suggested that rubber compounds in seals and hoses over the past decade or so will not be adversely affected by biodiesel, however, earlier lines need to be changed to either silicon based or new rubber lines, which have a rubber compound to protect agains breakdown. I've also asked the question of Valley Fuel injection, who are rebuilding the pump. They haven't gotten back to me yet on whether the pump requires special sealing. Time will tell, I guess.

Dave

[John]

STANADYNE diesel fuel conditioner is well thought of and widely available.

[red90]

Powerservice seems to be the easiest of the quality DFCs that you can find. Crappy tire is now carrying it, so it is convenient.

[JD]

Mike at Britrest suggested ATF instead of expensive additives. Stated he's been using it for years. ??

JD

[ANDYD]

Hey guys.....here you are talking about using old fish n chip diesel (bio), throwing some old engine oil in with it! etc...etc... :shock:

Have a little sympathy for us who need to use Premium gas at premium prices!!$$$$$$$$ :cry:

...Ok, I admit it I,m just a little jealous....still saving for that TDi :D

[Rob]

Well considering an injection pump rebuild is $1000+ maybe a gasser isn't so bad afterall...

Did find a fascinating thread on the VW diesel forum swith detailed pictures howing the step by step assembly of an injection pump (was a bosch ve pump from a peugot... very similar to the ve pump in my rabbit).

http://www.vwdieselparts.com/forum/view ... pump+parts

Hopefully the seals will arrive today and I'll get the leak stopped and the motor running again with "mortgage-the-farm" machnic's bills (no offense to mechanic intended.... just living on a "student-budget" right now).

Regards, Rob

88RRC and 84Rabbit... both "leaky" right now

[red90]

Do NOT use ATF unless it is an old indirect injection engine. Using that in a newer engine like a TDI will kill the engine.

Just use some DFC. A $12.50 bottle of Powerservice does 1100 lieter sof fuel, so around a cent a liter.

And by the way. Low Sulfur Diesel (<500 ppm) has been around for a long time. We now use Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (<15 ppm). The ULSD is much better for your engine.

[sillysod]

I've got an 85 F250 that has got over 1,000,000 km's on it and at like 400,000 or so I had to do the pump. They told me that it was due to the low sulpher fuel. I've been using conditioner since (I usually just buy a big jug every 1 - 2 months at truck stops) and I have never had a problem since.

If you take care of your diesel it will outlast any petrol engine 10 times over.

[Rob]

So I finally got the pump fixed... amazing how much diesel could leak past one bad seal (and how many hours it took just to get at one seal). The guys at Northwest Injection were awesome (customer service went above and beyond). At first I was getting a little torqued with them because a week after ordering still no parts had arrived but when I called they told me they were couriered the next day (had to figure why a well know courier company that also has a large fleet of busses would take so long to deliver but that is the next part of the story).

To make a long story short, NWI sent another set of seals (at no charge) to make sure I had what I needed (great guys to deal with). And the slow dog courier company finally called me after 10 days to let me know my parts were in (10 days to go forty miles... next time I'll use DHL or Total). The local "agent" was pretty snotty about the whole thing and still charged me $15.00 for shipping to boot! After calling the customer service line they agreed to refund the shipping cost but can't do much about the crappy local service because the agent in our town is a "private business" contracted to work as a "drop-off" for the courier company... so much for taking care of the customers...

Anyway, one diesel rabbit is up and running again thanks to the guys at NWI (and no thanks to the slow dog bus company)

Rob
88RRC
Diesel Rabbit (that is no longer "incontinent")