Gas in Diesel. Endgame.

pattypoo2 · Post by **pattypoo2** » Thu Jul 25, 2019 10:11 pm

I nuked my deli.

Still reeling, I fueled up leaving Victoria, drove to Duncan, totally normal. Stopped overnight, started again to a disaster of shaking and clanking. After a block went back to my buddies, CAA towed it to Marigold in Victoria... gas in a diesel.

Trying to figure out if I should pay for new inkectors, ect, or let it go. Anyone been in this situation?

I've put endless hours into rebuilding the interior with slavage wood, installed a custom woodstove and chimmney. Absolutely crushed this has happened. Spent years driving diesel for myself and work, still cannot wrap my head around how I've done this. Kicker is I was living in the van.

Any advice or thoughts appreciated.

sk66 · Post by **sk66** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 11:45 am

Are they saying the injectors/IP etc are shot?
Sounds like when you restarted you were getting more gas which made combustion way early, but if that was happening the day before you probably would have known. Having the ignition timing off that far is hard on the engine, but assuming you didn't run it long at all it might not have damaged anything. The lack of lubrication can/will hurt the IP/injectors, but IDK how you can tell that without running the engine (or specialized tests).

If the only thing *known* at this point is that there is gas in the tank, I think it's probably worth having it drained/flushed and see what's what then.

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 3:07 pm

Nah, it's fine.

It sounds like the mechanic thinks they're dealing with a modern diesel engine, where a bit of gas will ruin everything. The 4D56 is not a modern: it's a tractor engine, a bit of gas isn't going to destroy it instantly. No need to replace anything expensive yet, start with the cheap option: get rid of the gas.

-Drain the fuel tanks, re-fill with fresh diesel. Fit a new filter.

-Disconnect the Injection Pump outlet hose (rear hose) and use the primer pump on the filter housing to pump a litre or so of fresh diesel through the IP. Reconnect the IP outlet hose.

-Crack open the injector tube nuts, wrap with rags to catch the fuel, and crank the engine for 15 seconds (check that fuel comes out the nuts- if not, open them a bit further). Wait one minute (lets the starter cool down) and crank again. Then tighten up the injector nuts and start it up normally. (Well, as normally as you can- it might still run a bit rough for a minute or two until all the old gas has gone from the IP and injectors). (How to bleed the injectors here: http://www.delica.ca/forum/viewtopic.ph ... 2&p=132618)

The gas might have accelerated wear on the IP internals and to the injectors, which might show up as poor injection- or they might be fine. No point replacing them yet. A rebuilt pump and injectors isn't cheap (prices vary but plan on $1500 all up if it's done right), but it's not worth writing off the entire van for.

If you're extremely paranoid, have the compression tested. That'll show up any burnt valves or holed pistons, which is really the only thing gas can do to this engine that might warrant having it scrapped.

sk66 · Post by **sk66** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 2:21 pm

Growlerbearnz wrote: ↑Fri Jul 26, 2019 3:07 pm Nah, it's fine.

Where's the thumbs up button?
Is there a reason you can't use the starter to bleed the IP as well? That would have been my approach...

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 5:13 pm

"Is there a reason you can't use the starter to bleed the IP as well? "
I think it would take a long time, as you're trying to flush out the whole IP interior and the injectors don't move very much fuel.

pattypoo2 · Post by **pattypoo2** » Mon Jul 29, 2019 3:21 pm

Shop did a compression test as one cylinder isn't firing, has zero pressure. The verdict is it needs a new engine.

The entire interior has been camperised, redone w/wood has a custom miniature woodstove. Any thoughts on selling as is? Would hate to see her off the road but I don't have the time/know how to do a swap.

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Tue Jul 30, 2019 4:14 pm

Well, crap. That's the worst case. Sounds like a damaged piston, which, yeah, probably cheaper to buy a new engine than fix the old one.

pattypoo2 · Post by **pattypoo2** » Sat Aug 03, 2019 9:39 am

Just had it towed to a safe zone, I haven't brought myself to give up in it just yet. Is it certainly a damaged piston? Any other theoritical cause for zero compression post gas in diesel?

Post by **Growlerbearnz** » Sat Aug 03, 2019 3:14 pm

It could be a burnt valve or valve seat, but that would usually show *some* compression. Zero compression means a very large hole.

It could also be the head gasket- but again, if there's zero compression you'd hear the air chuffing out the gasket when the engine was being cranked.

There's only one way to find out- pull the head off. And take photos.