Perkins 3 cyl in a JCB leaking diesel

[LKSF]

I know a fair bit about petrol engines & cars, but plant and diesel is a bit new to me
I recently bought a battered old JCB 803 with a Perkins unit driving it and am tidying up a few bits on it. It's to do a load of digging jobs on a place I just bought and am doing up.
It seems to be leaking fuel (externally) around the injectors, possibly a daft question, but does this mean the injectors are buggered, unserviceable and just need replacing?

 

[V8Druid]

I know a fair bit about petrol engines & cars, but plant and diesel is a bit new to me
I recently bought a battered old JCB 803 with a Perkins unit driving it and am tidying up a few bits on it. It's to do a load of digging jobs on a place I just bought and am doing up.
It seems to be leaking fuel (externally) around the injectors, possibly a daft question, but does this mean the injectors are buggered, unserviceable and just need replacing?

nope .. more likely the injector seals they sit in

 

[LKSF]

nope .. more likely the injector seals they sit in

The seal between it and the head?

 

[Mick-the-fitter]

They also suffer from leaky return pipes.

 

[V8Druid]

They also suffer from leaky return pipes.

I did wonder if the returns might be giving issues TBH ... job to decide without an eyeball on the problem ... they're not the greatest of lines and get brittle

 

[Mick-the-fitter]

I did wonder if the returns might be giving issues TBH ... job to decide without an eyeball on the problem ... they're not the greatest of lines and get brittle

They do get brittle over time, it’s worth it for elimination of leaks to replace it all first.

 

[LKSF]

The return pipes look ok, it does look like it's leaking from the injectors themselves somewhere.

 

[Bri963]

Take the return pipes off and fit new washers. They are one use only and may have been reused at some point.

 

[Mick-the-fitter]

Send photos, we can then identify where they are leaking, if you get stuck.

 

[V8Druid]

Take the return pipes off and fit new washers. They are one use only and may have been reused at some point.

and while the pipes are off look for splits/cracks/etc.

 

[Bri963]

Send photos, we can then identify where they are leaking, if you get stuck.

Before you clean round them or slacken anything

 

[LKSF]

Ok thanks, given some good weather tomorrow i'll be on it, pics and all

 

[LKSF]

I was hoping it would be a common problem, but maybe not. Some pics here:

If it isn't obvious i'll get out the degreaser and power washer, clean it all off and see what leaks from where after that.

 

[Shovelhands]

Honestly, from the pics, I think it’s oil from the rocker box that’s puddling around the injectors?

 

[LKSF]

It's thin and smells of diesel, it's not engine oil.
I think it best I clean it down and take a fresh look.

 

[Bri963]

I think you need new seating washers. Looks like the injectors have been out at some point and either the old washers reused or the injectors not tightened down properly.

 

[LKSF]

You would have thought that if the injectors weren't seating that there would be air forced out when the engine was running, but there isn't.
I'll clean it all up and see what I can find.

 

[Mick-the-fitter]

Yes engine oil, but there could be some leak off fuel to from around the pipe nut and washer, which make the oil puddle thin!

 

[LKSF]

I initially posted up as someone had told me 'It's a common problem with these, you need a special tool', that was a load of old rubbish I think.
Just to update this.

The workshop manually finally arrived recently and a fine day yesterday saw me out with the degreaser, brushes and power washer. In essence you were pretty much correct. I can see fresh oil squeezing out of one of two rocker cover gaskets and also the leak off pipe is er, leaking! Not where you would have thought though, much lower down and out of sight someone has cut it, joined it to a new piece and not put any hoseclips on it. On top of that it had also split again and someone had tried to stop it all leaking by wrapping it in insulating tape
When the storms pass i'll make it right, then at least it'll use less diesel and oil. Plenty of other jobs mind....

 

[Bri963]

The number of times these problems turn out to be something really simple is amazing. It’s easy to reach for the diagnostic tool when an engine sputters and it turns out to be a blocked filter or a fuel tap partly closed.
Pleased that you’ve found it and it’s a cheap one, LKSF. Perhaps now you can tell us a bit more about what you’re doing with the machine.

There are a few JCB fan(atics) on here, and there’s also the upmarket members with Kubotas.