Here we take a look at some common component failures of diesel injection equipment.
Reasons for failure vary but contamination of the fuel is the main contributing factor.
The piston on the right is a new one and the black coating is complete.
The left piston clearly shows the steel underneath the coating. Without the coating the piston will quickly seize in the pump housing, this causes:
Blue/white smoke, poor power, rough running, engine shutdown and non starting.
This picture shows damage to the cam plate and rollers of a VE type pump. (Same as in VP37, EDC, VP30). When this damage occurs it can be very costly as the fragments of metal from these components is hardened: The fragmanets can damage or wreck the pump main housing and the VE pump has the ability to send some of the fragments to the injectors causing injector seizures and hole blockages.
Tell tale signs of cam plate/roller problems are:
Engine not stopping on the key,
Power loss,
Blue/white smoke from exhaust,
Poor starting,
Complete engine shutdown and non starter.
This picture shows a snapped rotor from a VE type pump (same as in VP37, EDC, VP30).
The piece on the right normally seizes solid in the head but we managed to remove it in this case.
The Head and rotor is the main pumping part of a VE pump and it's working tolerances are very fine, any contamination will cause a head and rotor seizure.
When a seizure occurs the vehicle will never run.
This picture shows varnish deposits which build up when veg oil is used and insufficient additives or fuel system flushes are used.
The varnish is very tough to remove and causes restrictions and eventually leads to serious damage within an injection system
Symptoms of varnish build up are: poor running, power loss, misfires, reduced mpg and usually leading to engine shutdown and non starting.