No your container of diesel does not need to be pressurized.

Perhaps you should be taking a few pictures of what you're seeing. Perhaps you have something hooked up improperly. I regularly run diesel purge using a bottle and a couple of fuel lines. Do you not see any fuel flow through the see-through primary fuel filter?

When you use the WD40 trick into the intake, are you getting any firing at all?

You need to give us some video or more details in order for us to help you.

PE

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83 240D - 4 speed manual - Manilla Beige
189K miles, Tachometer mod, cool wooden shift knob from PeachParts, CocoMats, Original factory paint, manual windows, manual sunroof. Starting to add AudioWrap to this car too!