Fuel Pump? Fuel Filter? Battery???

[Bob]

The age of the vehicle isn't really relevant, it's the length of time the fuel is storred in the tank that counts:

http://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp-countr ... ndling.pdf

[Thriller]

Is it starting and running fine now on petrol and LPG
Have you checked them earth straps , there's one from engine to chassi

Yeah, on Friday morning after the initial problems on Thursday evening it did appear to be running fine on petrol and LPG. I would say the first few revs on LPG were a bit jump/stuttery.

Not checked the earth straps, TBH as it started ok the next day I'm beginning to rule out battery issues, am I wrong to do so?

[Thriller]

Took it to garage, the said they can't identify the fault but it doesn't seem like fuel filter. They said they tried to diagnose it through the computer but could get the right connection. Surely if there was a fault there would be a light on the dash board?

Typically is now running well so not sure what to do. One garage​ just suggested a good service and change of fuel filter.

Thoughts?

Not necessarily.
You've had symptoms that look fuel orientated but also electrical with the flat battery.
So I would start with the flat battery symptoms and check through all battery and alternator connections (live and earths), fuses, battery condition and alternator charging.
If it still isn't behaving with a good battery feed then move on to decide ignition vs fuel. Unless symptoms are obvious probably easier to check ignition first.

Doesn't the fact that it started ok the next day suggest this isn't a battery issue? Green Flag checked the alternator charging and said this was fine at 14 (not sure what unit that was).

[Thriller]

leaving the electrical issues battery/ignition, you run mostly on LPG.
How old is the petrol/ how much in tank?
modern petrols do not like hanging around unused and may be difficult to start.
probably just another question and not part of this solution

When the van is running well I try to run mostly on LPG once the engine is up to temperature.

The petrol will be as old as Aug 2016 at most as I think I ran the tang completely empty then. Since then I usually top up £10/20 after use so there will still be some old fuel in there.

[Thriller]

The age of the vehicle isn't really relevant, it's the length of time the fuel is storred in the tank that counts:

http://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp-countr ... ndling.pdf

Thanks Bob, interesting read.

I don't keep the tank half full, I try to keep it completely full. When I do top up I probably do so by less that a third.

[Bob]

Took it to garage, the said they can't identify the fault but it doesn't seem like fuel filter. They said they tried to diagnose it through the computer but could get the right connection. Surely if there was a fault there would be a light on the dash board?

Typically is now running well so not sure what to do. One garage​ just suggested a good service and change of fuel filter.

Thoughts?

Not necessarily.
You've had symptoms that look fuel orientated but also electrical with the flat battery.
So I would start with the flat battery symptoms and check through all battery and alternator connections (live and earths), fuses, battery condition and alternator charging.
If it still isn't behaving with a good battery feed then move on to decide ignition vs fuel. Unless symptoms are obvious probably easier to check ignition first.

Doesn't the fact that it started ok the next day suggest this isn't a battery issue? Green Flag checked the alternator charging and said this was fine at 14 (not sure what unit that was).

Almost certainy 14 volts, which is fine.

[the1andonly]

The age of the vehicle isn't really relevant, it's the length of time the fuel is storred in the tank that counts:

http://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp-countr ... ndling.pdf

yes bob totally agree thats why original comment was related to modern petrols (the fuel not vehicle). I suspect carbereters are more suseptable due to the evaporation rates required, this can be severealey restricted for example by water in the petrol. This later problem is more likely in motor bikes and personally known (300 mile in rain to plymouth )

[Bob]

There's also the problems associated with the ethanol added to many brands of petrol.

We certainly can't use it in the 1992 MX5 as it's corrosive properties will rot the fuel system, and it has hydroscopic tendencies.

I'm not sure if a Bongo can cope with this bio muck or not, but it may be worth seeking out ethanol free petrol.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-effi ... engine.htm

http://armchairbiker.com/ethanol-in-pet ... d-to-know/

[Northern Bongolow]

nearly all retail petrol now contains ethanol bob, but you can do something about it, heres one answer. click the tabs on the link to learn more.

http://www.ethanil.co.uk/?gclid=COTU05i ... Gwodr3cKyw.

or if your tight like me you can remove the ethanol yourself if you need to.

http://www.accessnorton.com/make-your-o ... 14970.html

[Bob]

Thanks Ady, interesting.

I use the expensive Esso in the MX5 as we can get it in our village, and Bongy, of course, likes his dieseel.