I'm hoping someone can off some advice. I have a 1.6 tdci 2009 Focus. It has 110k on the clock and I've owned it for about 18 months. In that time I have done around 40k miles.

I was driving this morning and overtaking when the power suddenly dropped I pulled in and restarted the engine with no problems. As the road was quiet I decided to try and see if the issue happened again. It seems to be when I hit around 2500 rpm.

There are no warning lights appearing. The car had a full service history when I bought it and I have serviced it every 10,000 miles. I've done it myself for the last couple using Magnatec.

It also had the DPF tank filled by ford about 15,000 miles ago and about 10,000 miles ago it had a new dpf and sensor.

I have forscan but i'm working away at the moment so won't be able to get it plugged in until tomorrow at the earliest. Until then does anyone have any suggestions?

When was the fuel filter last changed ?

About 15000 miles ago

That's a long time - I'd change that to begin with

I thought the change interval is 37500 miles or is that the petrol

Jamie

Even if it is '' officially '' 37,500 miles - any diesel owner should know that leaving a diesel fuel filter in that long is asking for trouble

12,000 miles maximum is best practice - irrespective of what the manufacturer says

Hi Mark

I was just reinforcing that its too long for a piece of special paper, i must admit my filter has covered 23500 miles,

Jamie

I had exactly those problems and it was indeed the fuel filter.

I have a fiat doblo 110,000 miles fiat say every 36,000 miles for filter never had any problems (apart from its horrible to sit in and drive) of course I wouldn't use supermarket fuel.

I mainly use Sainsburys Diesel, Never had a Fuel system problem, maybe im lucky, my mum has always used supermarket fuel,

She had a 1980 Ford Granada 2.0 Litre L

1983 Ford Sierra 2.0 GL

1997 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Breeze

2000 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Club

2003 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXI

2006 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXI +

No Fuel related problems for the last 35 years with the above cars.

I have had

1989 Fiesta 1.0 popularplus

2000 Fiesta 1.25 Zetec

2005 Fiesta 1.4 Style

2007 Fiesta 1.4 Zetec

2009 Fiesta 1.4 Titanium

2010 Focus 1.6 tdci Titanium

2012 Focus 1.6 tdci Zetec

2013 Focus 1.6 tdci Titanium X

Same result no issue with supermarket fuel

Jamie

I mainly use Sainsburys Diesel, Never had a Fuel system problem, maybe im lucky, my mum has always used supermarket fuel,

She had a 1980 Ford Granada 2.0 Litre L

1983 Ford Sierra 2.0 GL

1997 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Breeze

2000 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Club

2003 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXI

2006 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXI +

No Fuel related problems for the last 35 years with the above cars.

I have had

1989 Fiesta 1.0 popularplus

2000 Fiesta 1.25 Zetec

2005 Fiesta 1.4 Style

2007 Fiesta 1.4 Zetec

2009 Fiesta 1.4 Titanium

2010 Focus 1.6 tdci Titanium

2012 Focus 1.6 tdci Zetec

2013 Focus 1.6 tdci Titanium X

Same result no issue with supermarket fuel

Jamie

Try a couple of weeks with branded see if it feels better.

I think there is enough proof in my reply lol

Jamie

but by all means go to shell/bp etc etc

I tried supermarket fuel for 3 weeks (diesel) definitely drop in performance and a bit more smoke.

Thanks for all the replies. I'll get the filter changed and see if that helps. Normally i'd do it myself lets hope I can find a garage willing to do it tomorrow.

Although I normally avoid them I wonder what places like kwik fit or even a stealer would charge to do it?

I tend to use fuel from Jet although not all the time.

Whatever it costs its worth it, Ford diesels seem to be a pain to start/bleed. That awful fiat I have is just turn ignition on 4 times without turning engine on thats it.

Theyre easy to prime...if you have a hand primer! Why they don't use lift pumps I really dont know.

Prepare for a ridiculous bill if changing the fuel filter, they're about £40 iirc!

My fuel filter was 38 quid and a hand primer was 3.50. Took half an hour to change, and most of that was because I couldn't find a hose with the right bore to do it. Easy job!

Pay the £15 for someone to fit it.

On this subject, I need another hand primer as my cheap rubbish one broke (admittedly my fault for syphonig sticky veg oil from an old car lol)... I only found out when I had a brand new empty fuel filter on the Focus miles from any shops on a Sunday...excellent!

Bodged it by filling the filter with a funnel and cranking until it started, not something I want to repeat lol. So did you guys buy any particular make of primer? Also what size ports? Ebay link maybe? :)

Thanks for all the advice. I've run the Forscan and it is pointing to the fuel filter so that's Saturdays job!

So today I changed the Filter and have already noticed a difference. It wasn't quite as straight forward as I thought it might be. Here is a simple step by step guide on how it went.

1. Fill a can of Diesel after having a debate in the filling station about the legalities of filling a green fuel can with diesel not unleaded.

2. Open the bonet and remove the engine cover

3. Discover that there in an extra bracket to remove that holds the engine cover on (3 x 8mm bolts)

4. Drop socket into engine bay whilst removing the above mentioned bracket,

5. Say something that sounds a little like blimey that a bit of a pain.

6. Remove air filter assembly and recover socket.

7. Cut finger on metal bracket.

8. Re-assemble air filter etc.

9. Try and fill new filter with Diesel using syphon pump

10. Discover syphon pump doesn't work so try filling it with diesel

11. Find out it isn't going to make a difference but manage to spray house wall/window with diesel.

12. Give up on pump but find that the pet medication syringe is the perfect nozzle size to fill diesel filter problem is it only holds 10ml.

13. Look for funnel that you put some small pipe on for another job. Decide you cant find it.

14. Kick pint glass of diesel over that you are using to fill syringe for filling filter

15. Refil glass after a few choice words

16. Ask yourself why you didn't just pay someone to do it!

17. Keep filling filter with Diesel

18. Repeat above

19. It's finally full.

20. Reattach everything and hope that as you couldn't bleed the system she will start

21. The car lives!

22. Get a sense of satisfaction from doing it yourself

23. Go to the pub with the money you saved by doing it yourself!

Not sure all of those steps were necessary but glad you sorted it eventually.

So today I changed the Filter and have already noticed a difference. It wasn't quite as straight forward as I thought it might be. Here is a simple step by step guide on how it went.

1. Fill a can of Diesel after having a debate in the filling station about the legalities of filling a green fuel can with diesel not unleaded.

2. Open the bonet and remove the engine cover

3. Discover that there in an extra bracket to remove that holds the engine cover on (3 x 8mm bolts)

4. Drop socket into engine bay whilst removing the above mentioned bracket,

5. Say something that sounds a little like blimey that a bit of a pain.

6. Remove air filter assembly and recover socket.

7. Cut finger on metal bracket.

8. Re-assemble air filter etc.

9. Try and fill new filter with Diesel using syphon pump

10. Discover syphon pump doesn't work so try filling it with diesel

11. Find out it isn't going to make a difference but manage to spray house wall/window with diesel.

12. Give up on pump but find that the pet medication syringe is the perfect nozzle size to fill diesel filter problem is it only holds 10ml.

13. Look for funnel that you put some small pipe on for another job. Decide you cant find it.

14. Kick pint glass of diesel over that you are using to fill syringe for filling filter

15. Refil glass after a few choice words

16. Ask yourself why you didn't just pay someone to do it!

17. Keep filling filter with Diesel

18. Repeat above

19. It's finally full.

20. Reattach everything and hope that as you couldn't bleed the system she will start

21. The car lives!

22. Get a sense of satisfaction from doing it yourself

23. Go to the pub with the money you saved by doing it yourself!

Very similar to my experience with an Smax, up to step 20 when car fired up for few seconds then died and would not start. Then spent many hours trying to get all the air out. Managed it finally but now want to buy a pump for the next time, my local car shop just look blank, any recommendations what/where to buy?

A Fraud stealer ?

Like I said pay the £15 to mechanic.