Help stuck in europe with a mondeo TD

[S1OWW]

Help i am stuck in switzerland with a ford mondeo turbo diesel 1994 L. It has been run on 50-50 filtered veg oil and diesel for a few weeks. Day 1, we drove 350 miles and as the fuel needle came near the red it started to judder, splutter and feel like it was about to run out of fuel. We stopped and filled up with diesel (40l) and 18l of oil. We drove about 200 miles and it juddered but not as much towards the end of the day, we then filled it to the top with plain diesel, left it over night and it was fine the next morning. Started fine and drove fine up mountain roads for 300 miles, the odd splutter but nothing bad until that evening and then it wouldnt pull under load. It got worse and worse until we struggled in 1st gear. It would stall as we pulled up to junctions, but would restart fine on the key.
It now starts and runs, but wont pull under load.

The pump has a plastic thing on top of the fuel pump (the fuel pump is at the front of the engine?) about the size of a 10p with lucus written on it,it has a few wires going into it, is that the make of the pump or the make of the electrical conector?

Could it be the fuel filter? can we clean it?
We thought if the pump had gone it wouldnt run at all?

We really need this car running, please please help.
We dont have much internet access, but will check when we can.
My number is 07702 256252

thanks

Paul

[That Daddy]

the fuel filter should be attached to the side of the cylinder head(near the airfilter unit)i would suspect this may be clogged,i would change this before anything else,you will need to bleed system after replacment,if your not sure how to do this try to get the car to a local garage for them to fit(not expensive)this part should be no different to a european spec car so you may be in luckcarry a spare incase you have the same happen again(may have dirty fuel).

[thong]

the diapram plunger on the top of the fuel filter housing is most likely pulling in air.

[That Daddy]

thong said:

the diapram plunger on the top of the fuel filter housing is most likely pulling in air.

yes forgot that one,if when you push the button repeatedly down fuel spurts out/or you can hear air hissing sound you have found your problem.

[stevieturbo]

Wires could be for the fuel heater.

Lucas is the make of the fuel filter housing, and it is quite common for these to give trouble.

[Ricky_M]

I'd imagine the wires would be the stop solenoid and immobiliser.

Maybe worth changing the filter and running some injector cleaner through the tank with just diesel.

[ssray]

The lucas pump you have on the mondeo should not be run on any mix of veg oil, it will break no warning.

hope its just a blocked filter

Ray

[sniff petrol]

How did you get on then Paul?