A question for the diesel engine experts.

[Herman]

I have just had the timing belt replaced on a 2017 Ducato 2.3 multijet engine, It looked too complicated to attempt myself on the carpark so I let a garage tackle it.

My question is, the fuel pump has to be taken out to do this job, is it possible for them to put the pump back in a fraction out?

The reason I'm asking is because when I picked it up and drove away my first thoughts were it felt a bit sluggish and put it down to being a cold engine, even though I had never noticed this before. So anyway we packed it up and headed off to Scotland for the week and I'm sure it has not got as much poke as it did have, plus overall average fuel consumption is down by 1.5 MPG although the strong head wind all the way home from Newton Stewart could have played a part in this.

Just wondering if it is worth going back to them or I'm being paranoid, If it was a tooth out on the pump I would think it would run horrendously, but if the pump is adjustable on slotted holes whether it has been put back a gnats nudger out.

 

[caledonia]

Things would need to be a tooth out which you would defo notice.

 

[Herman]

Things would need to be a tooth out which you would defo notice.

That's exactly what I thought, so I thought if its tooth correct but bolted back in slightly out, or is it me being paranoid and initially not giving it enough boot and taking it easy on the new belt.

 

[colinm]

AFAIK the fuel pump isn't touched on a timing belt change, and AFAIK as it's a common rail system it isn't 'timed' as was the case 20 years ago.

 

[Compo]

maybe timing of valves is one tooth out

 

[trevskoda]

One tooth out on the belt will retard or advance the valve timing, which will affect the power & torque, It will be noticeable.

 

[jeffmossy]

If you are unsure and it does not feel the same as before then take it back, if it was a reputable dealer I am sure that they will check it over for you

 

[SquirrellCook]

I'm not sure with the current engines, but diesels require the timing to be more accurate than a belt tooth allows. So it's common practice to to "key" either the camshaft or metering pump. To set these setting tools are often required. Yours should be electronic injection and would be timed via a crankshaft position sensor. So really only the cam could be mistimed.

 

[SquirrellCook]

It was supposed to read "not to "key"" naughty fingers again!

 

[Herman]

Thanks for the replies, the only video I can find were they change the waterpump as well is in Italian

, but it looks like there is no key on the shaft so it could just be a pressure pump for the common rail and the injectors are fire electronically, So if it was the cam that is out I think it would be more noticeable as many of you suggest, so I'll put it down to my paranoia and the high winds this weekend. However I will bee passing the garage later this week so will call in for a chat.

 

[Deleted member 43466]

Thanks for the replies, the only video I can find were they change the waterpump as well is in Italian

, but it looks like there is no key on the shaft so it could just be a pressure pump for the common rail and the injectors are fire electronically, So if it was the cam that is out I think it would be more noticeable as many of you suggest, so I'll put it down to my paranoia and the high winds this weekend. However I will bee passing the garage later this week so will call in for a chat.

the high pressure pump is timed on the newer VW. so it could well be timed on the fiat.

 

[Chris356]

Think the fuel pump only has to come off to change the water pump

 

[1807truckman]

As Colinm has said it will be common rail engine so there is no timing for the fuel pump it just supplies high pressure fuel.

 

[Herman]

Think the fuel pump only has to come off to change the water pump

Hi Chris, yes the pump has to come off to change the waterpump, but the timing belt has to come off to change the waterpump so it makes sense to change the waterpump when the timing belt is changed rather than hoping it will last another 5 years to the next timing belt change.

 

[colinm]

I took the advice of a fleet maintenance manager which specialised in Fiat/Iveco trucks and vans, if they can run x250/290's for 1/4 million miles plus without one water pump failure then not worth doing.
Note this advice doesn't apply to all vehicles, cars like Astra's have a terrible failure rate on pumps.

 

[SimonM]

And for a bit of balance, my x250 and a weeping waterpump at 25,000 miles, see the tell tale mark of dried antifreeze

- I changed it.

 

[SquirrellCook]

There used to be a drain hole between the seal and the bearings. This was to protect the bearings if the seal leaked. Over the years I've found this hole to be undrilled even though the casting had a provision for it. The same with washing machines too!