If a diesel engines runs out of diesel...

Toon--soldier

Was driving home from earlier on today and the diesel light came on, having driven petrol cars all my life I know what to do if the run out of petrol, but I know that a diesel engine needs to be primed, is the much work involved in priming a diesel system? just in case i ever run out!!

peasant

Most diesels these days are self-priming. You just need to turn it over a good few times until it kicks in again.

Having said that, turning over dry isn't good for the pumps and other high precision parts, so best avoided.

Anan1

From memory it's just a matter of pushing in a little rubber plunger a couple of times to purge the air. I'm sure it varies from car to car, though.

Darragh29

What make/model is it? And tell us the truth and put shame aside for a minute, you did run out, didn't you!?!

MooseJam

whats the difference between a diesel and a petrol, is the diesels image as a tractor justified, diesels have more torque does this mean they can pull more or can they accelerate faster, why are no f1 cars diesels or no feraris or similar, i know diesels have no spark plugs and its burned by compression but what does this mean in practice, diesels are more fuel efficient but why do people spend heaps and heaps of money on a car like a bmw or mercedes and then go and get a diesel engine to save pence if you are that concerned about money buy a toyota or something no ?

Darragh29

If your aunt had balls she'd be your uncle!

Caliden

Most modern diesels will knock off before you run out to prevent air lock.
Older cars might not, not sure of the work involved but it cant be good for the engine

Tropheus

Ìnteresting subject. I wasn't aware this would an issue for diesel engines even though I have one as my daily driver for the last 6 years. Having said that, I've never run out of diesel.

P.C.

Darragh29 wrote: »

If your aunt had balls she'd be your uncle!

Hahahahahahaha

That is good.

Thanks, you brightened up my day.

Sam Kade

I took an 1989 Peugeot 405 diesel for a test drive in the mid nineties and it ran out of diesel half a mile down the road. I went back to the garage and we brought a gallon of diesel and put it in the tank and the car started after a few turns of the engine. Only the 70's and very early eighties diesel cars needed to be primed when they ran out of diesel.

Mr. darragh

any modrenish diesel engine will be self priming
diesel fuel also acts as a lubricant for the fuel pump and the injectors .
i dont think running out of fuel ,and then putting some fuel in the tank and cranking the engine for 20 seconds will do any damage.

maybe trying to start the engine for 10 mins because you did not realise you ran out of fuel might do harm

Fishtits

MooseJam wrote: »

whats the difference between a diesel and a petrol, is the diesels image as a tractor justified, diesels have more torque does this mean they can pull more or can they accelerate faster, why are no f1 cars diesels or no feraris or similar, i know diesels have no spark plugs and its burned by compression but what does this mean in practice, diesels are more fuel efficient but why do people spend heaps and heaps of money on a car like a bmw or mercedes and then go and get a diesel engine to save pence if you are that concerned about money buy a toyota or something no ?

Suggest you start a new thread on this, be prepared for mathematics though... thats where the answer lies. Acceleration = Power, ie work done. Torque is instantaneous output...

Can of worms for a non scientific audience...

macroman

Most diesels now will die before they run out so as to prevent an airlock, however if an airlock does occur (i.e. you keep turning over after it dies), then there should be a small plunger type thing on or near to the fuel pump which when filled up should be given a few pumps to prime the injector pump - turning an engine over to get the fuel up will cause damage and wear to the injector pump as it uses the diesel to lubricate itself.

Frank_Gooding

Someone told me that if you run out turn on the ignition, don't try to start though a couple of this runs the priming process a few times then the car shoudstart fine.

have run out the odd time in a 2001 passat as mentioned on off on off then go for it might take abit longer than normal to start but no hassle.

Sam Kade

Mr. darragh wrote: »

maybe trying to start the engine for 10 mins because you did not realise you ran out of fuel might do harm

The only harm that will do is kill the battery.

macroman

Sam Kade wrote: »

The only harm that will do is kill the battery.

It would also damage the fuel pump which uses the diesel to lubricate some of it's parts.

Mr. darragh

Hi sam kade it might also damage the starter motor too

JohnCleary

As said above, if you run out, fill the tank back up. Then put the ignition to 'on' (don't start) a few times. ie from OFF (where you'd take the key out) to ON (the positing before cranking the starter) - this will prime the low pressure side and should have you on your merry way soon

Toon--soldier

Darragh29 wrote: »

What make/model is it? And tell us the truth and put shame aside for a minute, you did run out, didn't you!?!

its an a4 and thankfully no didnt run out was trying to decide between going out or putting disesel in the car managed to do both in the end

Sam Kade

Mr. darragh wrote: »

Hi sam kade it might also damage the starter motor too

Yes I agree. Which ever one is weaker will go first.

warrenstown

I ran out of diesel in my Bora TDI within yards of my fuel tank at home! After getting some diesel into it I had to turn it over a huge amount of times before it got going again. So it is something you could do at the side of the road as long as the battery lasts!

cojomo2

ran out of diesel in my 06 pajero on the motorway 2 weeks ago...legged it to the nearest garage, got 5l of diesel, threw it in and its started on its first attempt...