Full tank of diesel been in car for 12 months...

[tim0409]

Hi

Apologies if this should be in another forum but I would welcome the wider audience of GG - the OH has just been given a stop gap car as her lease car has just been returned. It (2011 Mini diesel) has been sitting at the company owners house unused for a year with a full tank of diesel. The OH complained that it "did not feel right", and when I drove it today the engine management light came on (in yellow) and it does not rev above 2k which I assume is limp mode (before the light came on it felt like the turbo wasn't working). Before I take it in to the garage on Monday I just wondered if year old diesel could be causing the problem?

Thanks

Tim

[steveo3002]

could try a new fuel filter and check the air cleaner doesnt have a mouse nest in it

[S70JPS]

I inherited a car that had been standing with a full tank of diesel for 9 years. It ran fine. I did fit a new fuel filter after I had got it running as the old on had a crack in it.

[motco]

I had a BMW 320D Compact sitting on my drive from February 2013 until March this year - with diesel in it. It endured a very cold couple of months, and a hot summer, followed by a very wet winter. Apart from the battery being flat, it started and ran perfectly. Luckily it had 'winter' grade fuel in and was restarted in winter so the fuel was compatible with both ends of its sojourn.

[Motorrad]

I leave a 306 non turbo diesel sat in the UK for several months at a time. Longest so far has been 7 months without using it. Starts on the button and runs normally from the off.

[TooMany2cvs]

Another vote for checking the air filter and changing the fuel filter. With that done, top the diesel off a few times, and see how it goes.

But for a 2yo car, might be worth chucking it in for a service anyway.

[996TT02]

tim0409 said:

Hi

Apologies if this should be in another forum but I would welcome the wider audience of GG - the OH has just been given a stop gap car as her lease car has just been returned. It (2011 Mini diesel) has been sitting at the company owners house unused for a year with a full tank of diesel. The OH complained that it "did not feel right", and when I drove it today the engine management light came on (in yellow) and it does not rev above 2k which I assume is limp mode (before the light came on it felt like the turbo wasn't working). Before I take it in to the garage on Monday I just wondered if year old diesel could be causing the problem?

Thanks

Tim

Just take it to the garage, don't change anything until they tell you what needs changing. Depending on storage conditions, could be anything. Yes, including a mouse nest!

[tim0409]

996TT02 said:

tim0409 said:

Hi

Apologies if this should be in another forum but I would welcome the wider audience of GG - the OH has just been given a stop gap car as her lease car has just been returned. It (2011 Mini diesel) has been sitting at the company owners house unused for a year with a full tank of diesel. The OH complained that it "did not feel right", and when I drove it today the engine management light came on (in yellow) and it does not rev above 2k which I assume is limp mode (before the light came on it felt like the turbo wasn't working). Before I take it in to the garage on Monday I just wondered if year old diesel could be causing the problem?

Thanks

Tim

Just take it to the garage, don't change anything until they tell you what needs changing. Depending on storage conditions, could be anything. Yes, including a mouse nest!

Thanks for all the responses - we came to similar conclusion as the car is within warranty and on lease. We called the lease company who arranged for BMW support to come out - he could not find a fault code relating to the engine (but found 10 others..), had a quick drive and realised something was wrong so towed the car away and we are getting a curtesy car delivered tomorrow.