Diesel bug or rust?

[GRW]

Can you fit a disposable in line filter?

For me - This from TYA above.
I'd get a bag of cheapo inline fuel filters, bung one at a time upstream of the engine Fuel Filter, and swap them out for a fresh one when you can see its getting clogged.
Unless you have a huge contaminant issue, the filters should get progressively less bunged-up, and eventually clean up as you run tanks of fuel through.
Cheapest, easiest, least-invasive thing to try before tearing the thing to bits IMO

 

[Johnnybravo]

Rust is magnetic, so that's an easy way to check exactly what it is, or isn't.

Err..that’s very debatable It is slightly magnetic but if you stuck a magnet into a wet slurry of rust or Dieselbug, you would probably come away with a same level of coating on your magnet.

 

[julianf]

The fuel lines on the 300tdi are desirable (normally).

They're nylon with factory fitted ends and compression fittings.

I won't cut the line and that means that any additional item, be it a sedimenter or whatever, requires some thought and the purchase of bits from multiple sources.


I've done it on the 101 before. That has a 300tdi-a-like in it. The fuel lines are all clear nylon with inserts and compression fittings. It works really well and you don't get the degradation that rubber lines show. And I used clear to show any air leaks.

But with the stock lines, which I do not want to cut, I'd have to make couplers to fit to the existing fittings.

It it was immediately simple I'd have already mail ordered a sedimenter.