Ran out of fuel, car won't start

[Connor Gladney]

I ran out of fuel in my 2009 E320 BluTEC, and after putting a couple gallons in, still can't get the car to start. I read somewhere about having to fill the fuel pump up with fuel, and bleeding the system, but I don't know much about cars or where to find those things. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[A.J.]

Hi Connor, welcome to the forum. You can't just put diesel in the fuel tank and expect it to start unfortunately, you will have to get the fuel system bled

 

[Connor Gladney]

Do I have to go somewhere to get that done or is it possible to do it myself?

 

[A.J.]

Do I have to go somewhere to get that done or is it possible to do it myself?

I think that will depend on your mechanical adeptness, me ? I would call out a mobile car mechanic

 

[Xtractorfan]

There is a way Connor..but it needs to be done precisely and sparingly.. other wise great harm can be done.

 

[LostKiwi]

Diesels operate a very high pressure fuel system which wen air gets in it won't let it run as the injectors cant get enough pressure to operate correctly (the air in the lines just compresses).
As above it needs to be bled of air and unless you know what you're doing is best done by a specialist,

Rule one with diesels - never run out of fuel.

 

[EmilysDad]

So .... old style, lift pump & high(ish) pressure diseasals needed bleeding when you ran out of fuel and today's stupidly high pressure diseasals also need bleeding? When I ran out of diesel in a courtesy Hyundai a few years ago, recovery brought me a gallon, we shoved it in, turned it on the key & voila .... it started.

 

[Taffy7hfa]

Some will self bleed, these sometimes have an electric lift pump in the tank, some, including yours, wont. Its a job for someone who knows what they're doing or you could end up killing the battery which can cause all sorts of aggravation.

 

[jp williams]

I ran out of fuel in my 2009 E320 BluTEC, and after putting a couple gallons in, still can't get the car to start. I read somewhere about having to fill the fuel pump up with fuel, and bleeding the system, but I don't know much about cars or where to find those things. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Took 15 litres before mine would start again.

 

[Westheath]

I ran out of fuel in my 2009 E320 BluTEC, and after putting a couple gallons in, still can't get the car to start. I read somewhere about having to fill the fuel pump up with fuel, and bleeding the system, but I don't know much about cars or where to find those things. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Put more fuel in.

The electric pump primes the fuel filter so keep turning on the ignition to position 2
listen to the pump priming when it stops repeat the procedure 3-4 times
but you must have plenty of diesel in the tank.

If that fails, or isn't an option, remove the fuel filter to High Pressure pump rubber pipe and use a vacuum drainer to draw the fuel up to the filter then reconnect the pipe and it will fire after a few cranks when the fuel rails up to pressure..