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The fuel sold for diesel engines is changing as sulphur content and distillation range are reduced. In addition, alternative fuels are increasingly available from vegetable oil sources. Diesel fuel injection equipment has been optimised to operate with conventional fuel from mineral oil sources and the several designs available today rely on the fuel to lubricate the highly-stressed pumping mechanisms, and the other rolling and sliding conjunctions. Throughout the design range sealing at high pressures relies on close tolerance parts fitting together with very small clearances; such seals are highly sensitive to changes in fuel properties. This paper describes the endurance test by which Lucas Diesel Systems has evaluated the fuel tolerance of rotary distributor fuel injection pumps, and reports the results on 10 test fuels. Operating experience in-house and field test experiences are summarised.