Author Topic: clogged return line (Read 4145 times)

chrissev · « **on:** March 23, 2005, 02:46:21 pm »

Took off the main return line from the injection pump and blew into it. Blew really hard, with gas cap removed, waiting for the air to go through. It doesn't. It appears to be clogged up tighter than a nun's a** back there. So this is going to be quite fun I guess. Bought a thin cable to use as a fish and will take out all the return lines back to the tank and fish them through to find the clog. Meanwhile I have diesel fuel running down the front of my engine block like a river in the spring. This is really p*ssing me off. Water pump also just started leaking today. Looks like it's going to be a fun summer.....

jtanguay · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2005, 03:01:28 pm »

hmmmm might be interesting to know whats clogging it up :?

chrissev · « **Reply #2 on:** March 24, 2005, 05:45:34 am »

Quote from: "jtanguay"

hmmmm might be interesting to know whats clogging it up :?

-some brownish white stuff. Took it out tonight with the long fish line wire I bought. Now flows smoothly. No idea what it was. Quite a bit of it was in there.

Mikeyworks · « **Reply #3 on:** March 24, 2005, 05:56:28 am »

Quote from: "chrissev"

Quote from: "jtanguay"
hmmmm might be interesting to know whats clogging it up :?

-some brownish white stuff. Took it out tonight with the long fish line wire I bought. Now flows smoothly. No idea what it was. Quite a bit of it was in there.

Sounds like Wax buildup to me....

srivett · « **Reply #4 on:** March 24, 2005, 04:31:27 pm »

I think you ought to find a good fuel conditioner so that it can disolve that stuff before it plugs something else.

Steve

Patrick · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2005, 04:34:30 am »

Any chance there's moisture? water in oil makes a pretty mushy white/brown looking mess. Condensation in the return line? Same solution, a good fuel conditioner. Only use it sparingly though. Too much can score injectors.

chrissev · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2005, 06:13:17 am »

Quote from: "srivett"

I think you ought to find a good fuel conditioner so that it can disolve that stuff before it plugs something else.

Steve

what would you recommend? I have a rebuilt injection pump and injectors so I don't want anything too harsh that will damage them.

chrissev · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2005, 06:16:01 am »

Quote from: "Patrick"

Any chance there's moisture? water in oil makes a pretty mushy white/brown looking mess. Condensation in the return line? Same solution, a good fuel conditioner. Only sue it sparingly though. Too much can score injectors.

I replaced all the hose clamps (because I broke the old ones when I took the return hoses apart to clean them out) so perhaps moisture was seeping in through a partially open connection somewhere. The return line doesn't look cracked (no fuel leakage visible). Only diesel comes out of the water separator under the back right side of the car when I open it up (no water at all). Any recommendations for fuel conditioners?

Patrick · « **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2005, 06:29:02 am »

The possible damage comes fromthe same thing that gets rid of the water. Any alcohol (methanol?) or methyl hydrate type conditioner will dissolve the water into suspension in the fuel, but too much will score injectors. I personally won't use any conditioners unless I have a problem. I just buy my fuel from high volume places, won't fuel while the truck is dumping, (stirs up whatever is in the tank in the ground), etc. THe fuel comanies blend for the winter, etc. THe pumps in my tanks at home pick up a few inches from the bottom of the tank, and I drain the plug at the end once or twice a year if I think of it.