We have a Ford Cargo 811 (1986) that has been converted into a horsebox. It starts ok and sound running freely but when driving it on the road every 1-2 minutes I have loss of power like fuel cutting out / the engine isn't getting any diesel. Drove it on a flat road (no uphill or downhill) and it happen about 4 times in 5 miles. The 5th time the engine stopped running and I had to pull into a bus-stop. After 5 minutes we where able to start the engine again and drove back to the yard with similar problems. I was told that the fuel tank has been taken off twice and cleaned and steam cleaned.

The horsebox has a "Luton" and we can't tilt the cab.
Can it be that there is dirt into the fuel lines?
and if yes,
how hard is it to get to the fuel lines by only lifting the plate inside the cab?

Many Thanks

Salvatore Sammatrice, March 2010

have just changed the pre filter glass bowl with a new one, im getting pure fuel up to the first filter when priming using the lift pump but there is still visibly air in the top of the glass bowl, is this normal?

baza, May 2014

Ford Cargo 811 6 cylinder, taken out fuel tank, cut 2 rectangular holes in top and thoroughly pressure washed out tank and believe me after no sludge in tank, holes then welded fuel tight.
However 18 months later problem repeated with pre filter requiring removing, cleaned and replaced for as little as 20 miles. I manage to remove filter without lifting Luton cab buy setting steering at full LH lock and squeezing between wheel and arch, facing forward and with left hand, remove bowl, your working blind but have done this more times I can remember both at home and road side. Can anyone explain why as tank has been cleaned, problem has reoccurred and is there a lasting solution ?
Alan Taylor Wimborne

Alan Taylor, April 2014

I had a roadrunner with a similar problem which turned out to be a loose connection on the fuel pump . Tightened it with a squeeze on the pliers and never happened again.

Phil, March 2010

Fuel filters are about £1.80 eash there is two, just make sure you fit the new seals top and bottom, then just prime it back up and you should be up and running.

james, March 2010

We got this Ford only last week and was told that the tank has been check and washed/cleaned x 2. The Luton is fixed but the plate in the cab goes from the driving seat well under the passenger seat.

We were advised to keep an eye on the glass bowl/pre-filter (water-separator?). I had a look at the pre-filter before driving on the road and it looked clean....I'm guessing it was not, but as I said, I just looked (not touched it).

Fuel filters: I had no chance to check the FF and have no idea when was the last time they were replaced. How much do they cost?

Will check the pre-filter and get some new fuel filters hoping the lines are clear.

Thanks JD for your advise!

Salvo, March 2010

Corrosion products (i.e. rust) from the original steel fuel tank does clog up the pre-filter. That is a glass bowl with a spring loaded white plastic mesh like element inside it - mounted on the lift pump. This pre-filter is before the main fuel filters and if it gets clogged up with the sludge from the tank, it will cause the engine to suddenly "die". It sometimes clears enough to get you home (although usually you have to clean the worst of the dirt from it). If there is a lot of sludge in the tank, this may happen every 200 miles or so. You could replace the tank with a stainless steel or aluminium one. Can't tell you if you can access fuel filters through plate in cab as this is a non-standard modification and don't know where in the cab this plate is! Luton bodies are often provided with a hinged floor in the section overhanging the cab to allow the cab to tilt - check to see if this is the case on yours.
Anyway how have you been replacing the fuel filters up until now? They need to be done at least once a year and more often depending on mileage.

JD, March 2010