diesel fuel pipes

[howardclark]

I recently changed my injectors - first time I've done this - I tightened everything up and all seemed OK except one fuel pipe where I had to remake the joint. After being left for a few weeks and then run for half an hour I was surprised to see fuel weeping from around the injectors. I tightened up the injectors themselves ( I was surprised to find them quite loose, but eventually realised two of the fuel lines were weeping where they join up to the injectors. I've tightened them with a lot of force, one seems OK but the other is still weeping - that's the original one that was trouble.
Do the joints age? The engine is a 30 year old Ford BSD - a tractor engine. Should I replace all the high pressure fuel lines? I havn't had a really good look at them - are they basically a pipe and olive system? Any advice will be much appreciated.

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[nickjaxe]

Hi its very possible you have overtightend the nut on the pipes, they dont realy have to be very tight, so you can crush the olive, just nip them up is all you need, I run a 30 year old deisel landrover and over the years have had to fit new olive to the injector pipes, I always carry spares, cut the old one off new one on and bobs your uncle.

Nick in cheshire.

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[mirabriani]

This might be rubbish! No doubt some one will tell me!
A plumber once told me that when remaking old joints it is imperitive to thoroughly clean off all the old sealeant (I use wire wool) before re=making the joint,
I have to admit that this was for heating pipes but I guessing the same applies.
Good luck Briani

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[ongolo]

Ther is no sealant used on injector pipes. Sorry.


regards ongolo


<hr width=100% size=1>So what......... it floats

 

[jerryat]

Hi Howard,

I suspect that you may have copper washers under the injector 'banjo' connections, and might have re-used these when re-fitting the injectors. It is imperative that new washers are used as these are 'crushed' as the connections are tightened to form a seal. Using them again very often results in a leak as the they seldon re-seat in exactly the same position.

You CAN re-use the old ones (in an emergency for example) but they need to be heated to cherry red and then doused in water to anneal them. The softened copper can then take up a new shape more easily when re-used, though as I indicate, it isn't an ideal solution.

As others have rightly pointed out, whetheryou have pipes with olives, or the type with belled ends, you should not need to tighten them very much. Tightening should be JUST enough to stop any leak, and is a lot less than many people realise.

It is a sensible practise to carry a few suitably sized washers for your engine in your spares box ..... just in case! They cost virtually nothing from any diesel engineer.

Hope this helps solve your problem.

Good sailing!



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[Heckler]

injector pipes dont use olives, they work at around 180 bar which is not far off 3000 psi. if any one is using olives to seal that kind of pressure then im not surprised that they are leaking.
more likely it is the leak off pipe banjo washers that are leaking as mentioned in one of the other posts.
stu

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[stephenmartin]

Hi Howard....

Is the Ford BSD the same as a Ford D type (4 cyl) because mine weeps out of injector 1 (gear box end) I have tried everything I can think of but no cure no matter how tight it is....it drips down over the bell housing and into the bilges....red diesel is so cheap (for now anyway) that I don't bother...I will try the new washer recomended in the other posts....

Steve

<hr width=100% size=1>Don't make the same mistake twice...Make a different one

 

[insider]

Howard, dry the injector thourghly, lightly dust with talc powder see where is the leak exactly. if it is the fuel return line you have the answer from previous replies. if it is the injector pipe from the pump it is not uncommon for them to develop a hair line crack that you will find in good light with a magnifing glass. if that is the case change the pipe.


the fault finding tool is in every tool box under the heading of logical progression!!
regards Insider

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[howardclark]

I'm not sure if the D is the same as the BSD but yes no. 4 has always had a very slight leak! (and it is 4cyl too from 1976)
Thanks for all the advice everyone - I'll get new pipes made and replace my copper washers too - look out for the results in a fortnights time

Howard

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[seaboy]

One thing you have to be careful about is, if you tighten the nuts too tight you may crack the nut or the seating of the injector where the pipe seals against.
When we had problems like this in the Automobile trade, we changed the injector pipe.
Are you're sure its the injector pipe thats leaking as some have mentioned it maybe the leak off pipe connection or the injector body nut where its screwed to the main long body, its worth a check with some chalk dust or talc.

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[howardclark]

Yes I'm sure it's two of the pipe/injector joints - I have a very very small leak from part of the leak off rail too.
I'll be careful re tightening.
By the way were from S Wales too and also keep the tub on the Dart
Howard

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