So after 50,000 miles I thought I would change the fuel filter (purchased the car with 20K on the clock)

 

It was pretty black in colour, the colour of old engine oil. Co-incidentally I also changed the engine oil and filter - I have done this religiously every 10,000 miles and used the correct oil appropriate to the fixed mileage routine.

 

The oil level had dropped from maximum on the stick to about 1/4 over the minimum mark in 10,000 miles. Some googling revealed that the 1.9pd engine often makes the fuel filter black and is nothing to worry about. But I think I shall keep a closer eye on the oil level and take a view on changing the tandem pump which seems to be the culprit according to the info on the www. I see injector seals are also a possibility but is soot from the fire seal leaked into the fuel then you would not expect engine oil level to drop.....

 

Any thoughts? The tandem pump is an easy job by the looks of it although it's a bit pricey.....

 

Julian

Diesel filter will always be black mate. Hard to tell the difference between the oil filter and fuel filter when I changed mine.

 

Do you know if the filter was ever changed before if not I am not surprised its black if its done 50k miles, I think the recommended fuel filter change mileage is too long especially with the current diesel. 

Edited 6 March, 201610 yr by seriesdriver

That looks like mine, as black as the ace of spades. It's odd as I've had several Peugeots and a Vauxhall (Izusu) Diesel and the  diesel filters always come out looking clean and leave me thinking ''well that was a waste of time changing that!''

 

OK, so it's normal, thanks. Odd though isn't it as the black must come from somewhere?

 

Julian

Series driver, I couldn't say if it had been changed before but the filter that came out had the Audi rings on it so was OEM. It was a fleet vehicle previously so dealer serviced I guess though what the recommended interval is I don't know.

 

I'll make a plan now to change it every other oil change, (20,000 miles) would you say that's OK? Though to be honest aside from it being black it was perfectly OK and not clogged.

 

(do you have a series Landrover?)

 

Julian

Series driver, I couldn't say if it had been changed before but the filter that came out had the Audi rings on it so was OEM. It was a fleet vehicle previously so dealer serviced I guess though what the recommended interval is I don't know.

 

I'll make a plan now to change it every other oil change, (20,000 miles) would you say that's OK? Though to be honest aside from it being black it was perfectly OK and not clogged.

 

(do you have a series Landrover?)

 

Julian

 

With modern diesel containing 10 odd percent bio diesel I think more frequent filter changes are important. I did have a 1966 2a but it was sold last year for a really good price when I was offered a land cruiser at a price I couldn't say no to.

Check the fuel pump isn't letting oil in to the fuel system

We have had them fill the tank up with engine oil at work

I think you are right, must do it more often regarding fuel filter changes. I always do oil and filter religiously, have done all my life but this bio stuff isn't good. I have a series 3 Landrover, had it for years and love it (galv chassis/bulkhead) but can't get the misses to  drive it (too many levers) so she has a Rexton which is a good towing machine.

 

Briskodian, I am going to keep a careful check on engine oil level from now on as if it's going down then that must be a sign. I'm almost sure that when I first got the car it never used any oil (well it must have used a tiny amount) between 10,000 mile oil change intervals and now it's using some but there is no external leakage and the exhaust gas is as clean as a whistle. That tandem pump thing is under my watchful eye!

 

Regards Julian

Funny my wife didnt like driving the land rover either and when the land cruiser arrived to tow a horse trailer the land rover became a third car so was not doing any miles but was still costing to get it moted even with free tax and £100 a year insurance it had to go.

Edited 6 March, 201610 yr by seriesdriver