Fuel pump worry
My 2004 Citroën Xsara 2.0 HDI VTR coupe has now covered 76,000 miles and is still on the original low-pressure tank-mounted fuel pump. I drain the fuel filter regularly and check for water as well as metal filings. I also change it every service so I can inspect it carefully, and add a doubledose of Millers diesel fuel treatment to supermarket fuel; this contains a lubricity additive, injector cleaners and cetane boosting additives. Millers recommend the double dose for best protection and I hope that the extra lubrication additives will help the high-pressure injection pump survive for the long-term.
But I'm wondering if I should replace the low-pressure pump now as it is 11-years-old and may be on borrowed time. I know that earlier versions of this pump were problematic when fitted to the first Citroën Picasso diesels – my wife bought one new in 2001 and within 40k miles the pump failed and had to be replaced. A friend with exactly the same car had his fail at a similar mileage. Changing it was quite an involved, messy job, as the rear section of the exhaust had to be taken off, and the fuel tank drained then removed to extract the failed pump.
I assume that later pumps are better quality than the ones fitted in 2001, but I don’t want to risk a failure while driving. It’s an easy pump to change, being under a plastic cover under the rear seat.
Danny Gillis
Many years ago, I had a customer who would replace the alternator, starter motor and battery whenever he purchased a vehicle. The logic of this was that, with these units replaced, he would be more likely to not suffer from a breakdown. As time has progressed vehicles have become far more reliable, and the only recommendation I would make now to someone buying a vehicle is to ensure the timing belt has been changed.
It would be very hard to know if your low-pressure fuel pump is likely to fail. As you say, later pumps are more reliable than their earlier counterparts. Plus the Millers fuel treatment you are adding will aid the longevity of the pump. Personally, I would rather spend the money on a good recovery service
than replace a perfectly operating fuel pump; then if the worst happens, at least you are guaranteed to get home safely. Also, fuel pumps rarely pack up while running, but are more likely to fail when starting the vehicle.