Clogged diesel fuel filter is clear??

[PTW]

Hi there

I have a BJ73 with a 1HDT in it, and last Thursday it started to die under power. Would idle & rev in neutral fine but under load would starve for fuel. I bypassed the fuel filter, car then ran fine, got home and changed the filter, and the car continues to run well.

I had previously had the same thing happen after I got the car and didn't know old the filter was, but when that happened I found the filter pretty brown and some sludge in the bottom of it. This time however the insides of the filter looked clean? I cut it open and could find no discolouration or sludge, the filter was replaced last November and only had 1800k's on it???

It was obviously the problem but I couldn't see why?

[80's_delirious]

Is there a filter screen on the pick up inside the tank? If there is crap in the tank, it may be blocked?
Disconnecting the filter to bypass it may have allowed enough fuel to flow back to the tank to clear the screen a bit? I here fuel drain back to the tank whenever I change a filter

[PTW]

I'm not sure whether there is a screen in the tank pickup or not, I really should have checked when I replaced the tank level sender unit 6 months ago as I have draws in and have to dismantle the lot to get to it all.

I'm pretty sure I pulled the inlet hose off at the filter and blew back to the tank no worries as a first step when it was up at the servo. I then drove it and it was still starving, pulled over, bypassed then drove home no worries. Good call though and I might check it out anyway, or ask my mate that I bought it off if he can remember.

[tweak'e]

if the fuel system has no pusher pump then it could have been sucking air past one of the filter seals.

[Clanky]

crappy chinese filter?

[PTW]

if the fuel system has no pusher pump then it could have been sucking air past one of the filter seals.

Both seals looked fine and the primer pump is ok.

crappy chinese filter?

Was a Ryco 252. I have replaced it with a Toyota one that I had spare this time.

[tweak'e]

you can't tell by looking. easiest way i know of is to fit a bit of clear fuel line after the IP. any bubbles will indicate air being sucked in somewhere.

[Clanky]

Does your pump have one of those fine gauze filter inserts under the fuel inlet banjo bolt on the injector pump?
These are easy to clean with solvent and a bit of compressed air and can cause starvation.

[PTW]

Does your pump have one of those fine gauze filter inserts under the fuel inlet banjo bolt on the injector pump?
These are easy to clean with solvent and a bit of compressed air and can cause starvation.

I'll have a look

[austintashas]

hey ripped my sender unit out today; access is under the rear seat carpet ( found it easier to unbolt seats and move out off the way).
there is a small gause cage filter in the start of the pickup.

my problem is there is some metal plates rolling around in there and not sure how or what it looks like when assembled think it maybe the slosh baffles.

ps the filter is about $25. on ebay