Bleeding a diesel???

[Richard_H]

Hi everyone
Recently drained a small amount of water from the filter cannister on my Volvo MD2040 engine - by way of the small plastic key on the underside of the Delph aluminium cannister. All in all about 20ml of water came out with about 100-200ml of fairly cleanish diesel before it stopped emptying.
My engine always starts very well first time, is in very good nick and is generally a good clean runner! However when I started it this time after draining the fluid, the engine cut out after about 30 seconds running and needed a restart via ignition key etc. After that small hicough she has been fine. Question is should I now need to bleed the whole system, pump, filters etc., and if so which end of the engine do I need to start from first. I always thought draining the water from the filter shouldn t cause any air problems. Appreciate learned comments.

Kindest reagrds
Richard H

 

[l'escargot]

If the engine restarted again straight away I would doubt that it still needs bleeding. If it starts as usual and stays running now I would just put it down as a glitch.

 

[sailorman]

if its running ok @ cruising revs & you are able to give a quick burst without faltering it will be ok.
many engines " self-bleed " the fuel pump provides much more fuel than the system requires , the excess fuel returns to the main tank

 

[savageseadog]

When you bled the water off you let some air into the filter housing. What you have to do is find the bleed screw on top of the housing and let the air out, you may have to find a way of sucking the air out or use the lift pump to push it out.

 

[TheBoatman]

Richard
Simple answer is no you don't have to bleed the system.

When you drained the water off you let a small amount of air into the system - by re-starting the engine it ran until that air got to the inject/injector pump but almost cleared itself before the engine stopped - when you re-started the engine you cleared the last remaining air.

If your engine runs for more than 30 secs without stopping you've cracked it.
Next time (after letting the water out) try starting the engine with more revs on - may not stop but just bleed the air out.

Peter.

 

[savageseadog]

Yes obviously the air has now passed through, no harm done. I was suggesting a procedure for next time.