Injector Seals or Tandem Pump?

[nevo]

Simply check whether the tailpipe is dry and sooty or wet and oily.work the tank down till nearly empty,it'll save you a lot of mess if you're going to do the lift pump.

[Mario]

Thanks, I'll take a look, but I am 95% sure the exhaust is sooty and dry, could be wrong though, so I'll double check tonight. Will probably avoid removing the lift pump if I can. Was thinking (hoping) I could get away with just changing the Tandem Pump & fuel filter, running a few tanks of diesel through it then change the fuel filter again after a couple of months and then check it again a couple of months after that to see if it's clearing out.

No doubt it will take a long time, but I'm hoping that once I stop any more oil seeping into the system by changing the Tandem Pump then over time and a few tanks of diesel it will start to clean itself out.

Suppose the first thing I need to do is pour the diesel from the filter into a clear jar and see how bad it really is, as it looked pretty black, but obviously hard to tell when it's still in the fuel filter.

[Mario]

Right, so I've been doing the Balance Shaft modification this weekend as preventative maintenance (PAIN IN THE *** JOB!!) and when I finished I decided to empty the fuel from the filter into a clear glass jar.

Well it's black as can be! As I was pouring it you could see oil mixed with the diesel, but when it was all in the jar it looked even worse, darker than Coca Cola! So next job is to order up a new Tandem Pump (found them for £230 new) and a new fuel filter....then I have a new job for later in the month!! Will also change the fuel filter again after another 3-4 months and a few tanks of diesel.

Oh and the clutch release bearing is starting to make a bit of a noise when the clutch pedal is depressed, but the clutch itself is fine. Have read these bearings can last for AGES after they start making a noise, so think I'll leave that until the clutch has had it.

This car is beginning to bug me now....

[Ste81]

Keep us informed mate would like to know the outcome

[Mario]

Will do, about to order the pump today now that I have received my deposit refund for the balance shaft back.

[jem156]

Hi Mario,

Sorry to Hijack your thread, just wondered if you had any joy with your issue? I have a Passat SEL with the 170 pd engine and have had the awful smell you describe for a while now. Discovered yesterday that my fuel filter has lots of oil contamination with fuel looking contaminated. I am considering changing the tandem pump first, but i’m also thinking it could be injector seals. Would be interesting to hear what results you had if you have a moment to respond. Cheers!

[Mario]

Hi Mario,

Sorry to Hijack your thread, just wondered if you had any joy with your issue? I have a Passat SEL with the 170 pd engine and have had the awful smell you describe for a while now. Discovered yesterday that my fuel filter has lots of oil contamination with fuel looking contaminated. I am considering changing the tandem pump first, but i’m also thinking it could be injector seals. Would be interesting to hear what results you had if you have a moment to respond. Cheers!

Hi, I did the Tandem Pump change and to be honest it has made some difference, but not a huge amount. Basically the car doesn't smell so bad when warmed up, but when it's cold and first thing in the morning it is the same as ever. I changed my Tandem Pump and Fuel Filter on the 21st October, so pretty much 4 months to the day.

I have probably ran about 6 or 7 full tanks of fuel since then (don't do loads of miles, so a tank lasts a while). So not totally sure if I have even ran enough diesel through the system to fully clean it out yet. However deep down I keep thinking it is injector seals, but I have decided I have spent enough money on this car. So not going to change the seals as the car works fine, just smells bad when cold, but smell goes away when at operating temp.

Would rather put the money for the injector seals + tools to do the job on something I enjoy. So I'll live with it. Who knows, it may get better after more tanks of diesel and another fuel filter change.

[jem156]

Thanks Mario, think i’ll Give the pump a go. I don’t fancy messing with the injectors tbh!

I get through a tank a week so will let you know how it goes. Will be a few weeks before I get around to it though