E320 CDI FUEL PUMP - YOU THOUGHTS PLEASE

[MARKBRAND]

Hi All, I am Mark from Belfast, I bought a New E320 CDI on 07/09/01, the car has covered 9980 miles since because it gets used as a TAXI. On Fri night, the car started cutting out and bringing up an EPC warning on the display. The car is now in the MB garrage in Belfast and they tell me it neads 2 new pumps, 6 injectors, 1 tank and some other stuff. The cause, the main bering went in the fuel pump, sending bits of metel around the fuel system. No problem to me, no cost, but substantial loss of earnings. Has any body heard of this happening and has any body got any advice on how to get some sort of compansation from MB.  Thanks for any coments!!!

(Edited by MARKBRAND at 2:44 am on Nov. 7, 2001)

 

[simon]

E320 CDI FUEL PUMP

 

(Edited by Ernest Sidesman at 8:27 pm on Nov. 7, 2001)

 

[Andy]

E320 CDI FUEL PUMP

Hi Mark,

Firstly its very very doubtful you will get any compensation from MB.

As for the pump problem. I have heard that if the vehicle is inadvertantly filled with petrol. The pump uses the fuel as a lubricant. Petrol does not fulfill the lubrication requirements. The pump fails sending bits all round the engine. Causing engine failure. If the pump has failed for what ever reason. Let the dealers fix it. Make sure you use top grade fuel. When it is out of warranty you could be facing the repair bills.

The fuel problems happen mainly with the vans. But its the same system. So I see no reason why the same couldn't happen with cars.

Regards
Andy @www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[simon]

E320 CDI FUEL PUMP

Hi Andy,
Didnt quite understand your answer in some parts.(A) What do you mean by top grade Fuel? Diesel available from various pumps i.e. Supermarket City Diesel?
I always add Millers Powerplus Diesel which lubricates pump(s) adds cetane etc.
(B) "mostly happens to Vans"  do you mean they keep  putting petrol in their tanks?
I admit to being guilty of that on my car recently...realised the error after 400yds...nearly had kittens on the spot!! Had been forewarned of dangers &
stopped the car dead, got it on the back of a recovery vehicle & got the dealer to sort it. VERY embarassing!!

regards
Ernest.

 

[Andy]

E320 CDI FUEL PUMP

Hi Ernest,

Having spoken to one of my many contacts at dealerships. It would seem that van drivers seem to be fill their vehicle more often with the wrong fuel. Thereby causing the fuel pump to fail, and the subsequent failed pump ends up in the engine and scraping the block. As regards to fuel. There would seem there is cheap fuel, which is cheap, and good fuel which is cheap. I am really assuming that there may of been a problem with the fuel that caused the pump in this case to fail. Or it could just be one of those things. Its something that we will never know. But we all tend to be creatures of habit. IE, we fill up at the same p\station mostly. In the early days we use to have problem with customers  with running problems on the petrol injection cars. Caused by water in the stations petrol tanks. This over a period of time caused serious running problems. The only full proof way of curing it was to replace and clean every item on the injection system. Yes very expensive. But as I am writing this, a thought has popped into my head, commercial vehicles us to suffer with water in the fuel, and have a water drain on the filters. Maybe this is what has contributed to the pump failure. I am just trying to get a handle on this problem.

In someways technology takes us 3steps forward, then 1 step back. Its frightening to think that something as simple as water in fuel can cause so many problem.

I must state hear and know that the above are my own thoughts (with out actually viewing the vehicle) as to why the vehicle may of failed.

Regards
Andy @www.mercedesservicing.com

PS I would be interested in any of your own views!

 

[simon]

E320 CDI FUEL PUMP

Hi Andy,
            Interesting & amusing to learn about van drivers . I see what you mean about fuel.,good & bad.
I originate from the aircraft world.Jet aircraft use fuel not too dissimilar from our diesel.Water in the fuel was a problem that had to be addressed both in storage & in the aircraft fuel tanks & water drain valves utilised to get rid of it.
Mercedes diesel  fuel systems dont like water, which obviously encourages premature wear in components.
The water presumably comes from condensation in both
storage(Filling stations) & our own partially filled car tanks-this especially in winter months when condensation is worst.Therefore it is logical to keep our tanks full in winter & fill up from "busy" filling stations where fuel turnover is high.
regards
Ernest

 

[PhilT]

E320 CDI FUEL PUMP

This was very common on the first CDI engines in vito's and sprinters.The diesel fuel does lubricate the pumps, and if run out or on petrol the pumps start to break up inside, filling the fuel system with swarf. The worst cases can seize the pump, breaking the pump drive which then falls down the timing chain causing major engine damage. Engines have been replaced due to running out of fuel! however I found that a partially blocked fuel filter will give the same symptoms. I worked in an M.B. commercial dealer and we had 4 vans in with the same fault, cutting out under load and edc light coming on, changing the fuel filter cured all of them. M.B. technical told us to replace the low pressure and high pressure pumps etc.
I now work for a hire company with a fleet of MB vans, we are told to change fuel filters at 30000 miles but have had the cutting out EDC Light problems. It would seem it is necessary to change the filters more often than this. Interestingly the newer sprinter vans now have a water drain on the fuel filter.
With regard to compensation from MB if you are a business user try putting in a loss of use claim at the dealer
Phil

(Edited by PhilT at 8:46 pm on Nov. 18, 2001)

 

[Andy]

E320 CDI FUEL PUMP

Hi Phil,

Don't you think its interesting and I have no doubt driven by the leasing companies that these extended service times are causing so much trouble! Its not like the filters cost an arm and leg any way. But the down time must cost them more in time and hassle. Trouble then when the vehicle is a few years old. 2&3rd owners who still adhere to the service intervals. Which it would seem will cause them more hassle driving down the image of the MB products which was built on reliability in the first place.

Regards
Andy@ www.mercedesservicing.com

 

[PhilT]

E320 CDI FUEL PUMP

Andy, I totally agree, 30000 miles between fuel filter change is far too long, even more so on rented out vans when who knows what quality fuel is put in them!
I pesonnally change fuel filters at every service,15000 miles, knowing what problems can happen I dont think its worth the risk not changing them.
I don't know who sets our service schedules, but it probably is down to cost, as its the same through all the national depots. Like you say its not gaining anything when vans are off the road and customers are getting a bad image of MB vans and our rental fleet!