Ten seconds cranking!

2004 Diesel LHD Transit 125 T 350 with a problem!
It's started taking around five to ten seconds of cranking to start recently.
It finally starts fine then, ticks over and runs smoothly. Flies along on the flat, then slows gradually on hills (more than it should, almost embarrassing sometimes, I always pray there's a truck in front I can tuck behind!)).
The hill slowing has been going on for a year or two, so may or may not be connected?
Local garage suspected high pressure fuel pump, but other advice today says it's more likely air ingress from the fuel filter housing.
As I mentioned, it really runs fine when started, no black smoke, no audible problem ticking over.
Any thoughts? I'm really hoping it's not the pump at 750 euro plus VAT

Sounds like it’s drawing air into the fuel system
The effect of air getting into the fuel system is? over night the fuel runs back to the fuel tank
the long crank is drawing the fuel back up
It could be the fuel pressure regulator on the fuel rail low power not holding the fuel pressure

Where do you live

Sunny Skibbereen

Thanks anyway, I've booked in to leave it with Tony at Beech Grove (Fossa, Killarney). I'll drive over (wife in car behind!) and leave it there after we get back from this end of season trip. He'll keep it for a few weeks and sort it...he has friends in the right places

Glad you got it sorted

My thoughts are contaminated fuel,so that can either be at source of purchase or exactly as Sprinter has explained.

Wurth Diesel Cure sorts out the problem of condensation contamination in fuel Click Here

Thanks BM. At least a full tank is still possible in Ireland (for now, anyway!)

Funny how our RSA so vigilantly check for noncompliance of EU regs by commercial drivers, yet at the same time fail to comply with EU regs which are beneficial to us motorhome users

I think you've said before that yours is a non turbo so that rules one thing out and the new pump and fuel filter rule them out too obviously.

Another possibility is the EGR valve could be gummed up and sticking open. A possible easy fix for this would be get a bottle of dipetane (available at motor factors for about €10 for a 1l bottle, it's available at some petrol stations too but more expensive). For something like this I'd chuck the full bottle into about a 1/4 tank of diesel and do a bit of spirited driving (ok it's a MoHo so maybe drive at a gear or two lower than you normally would for 10 to 15km) and then maybe a good long run.

There are also EGR cleaner sprays you can get which you spray into the air intake which cost in the order of €10 to 15, takes a little more effort to use them and will probably have similar results.

Two low cost DIY options that you could choose from before engaging a mechanic. It's also possible to remove and clean the EGR, not sure how accessible it would be on your particular van, but any mechanic should be able to do it for you if it's not viable DIY.

It is to control NOx emissions,
It connects the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold and is controlled by either a vacuum or a built-in electric step motor. The function of the EGR valve is to control the flow of exhaust gas being recirculated depending on the engine load.

A faulty EGR valve can cause problems with the flow and operation of the EGR system leading to performance issues including a reduction in power, reduced acceleration and decreased fuel efficiency. ... EGR valves can become stuck 'open' or 'closed' due to a build-up of soot particles, carbon deposits and dirt from fuel.