(Home) Fuel system priming

Normal routine, engine fine round town, head gasket went on motorway. I've checked head is not warped, replaced head gasket etc (many thanks to yeomans toyota in brighton). The problem is I cannot for the life of me get the fuel system to bleed. Is there a safety cut out if engine overheats?. I have removed the fuel filter inlet pipe and can "suck" fuel from the tank. On operating the hand pump on top of the fuel filter there is a pumping action but no fuel. Is there a lift pump in the fuel tank? All help gratefully received

- (#6409) paul kelly, 19 Dec 02

Perhaps the priming pump is duff? There's no cutouts or trips. If you keep pressing the plunger, it should go hard after a bit. That's the low pressure side bled. The injector lines are bled seperately. If you haven't changed the filter (ie it's still full), then just slacken the injector lines at the injectors, turn the engine over in five second bursts until fuel spurts out, tighten, and start!

- (#6410) david miller, 19 Dec 02

Cheers Dave, Tried all that, priming pump must be duff, in the end I pressurized the fuel tank with air, worked a treat. Started on the button and proceeded to dump the contents of the cooling system out the exhaust. Anyone got a head for sale?

- (#6411) paul, 19 Dec 02

Paul, my primimg pipe went duff ages ago - i have to suck derv through (nasty bizness)while pumping the duff primer and it eventually works - best of luck - regards jim

- (#6412) j adgo, 19 Dec 02

Bad news, Paul. same thing happened to me after my first rebuild. Was so intent on cleaning the mating surfaces that I totally failed to see the crack between no.4's valves. (sigh...)

- (#6413) david miller, 20 Dec 02