have i killed my camper :(

[jpee]

Hi all

Any advice welcome. 1985 1.9 petrol water cooled auto sleeper 130 000mls. I have just had the worst weekend away ever. Friday, managed to put 40 pounds worth of diesel in the van before noticing. Ok not too much of a panic. Tow home drained as much diesel as i could (about 22litres liters. I miss calculated amount of diesel left which would have been around 10 liters) Filled van with unleaded took a bit of cranking and a LOT of smoke, but fired up and ran fine. Drove home a few miles, great, no problems can take nieces away as promised.

15ish miles and oil light and buzzer went on and off a few times. Stopped checked oil it was a bit low so topped up. No problems. Further 20 miles went up a long but not steep hill, light sand buzzer again. Kids shouting the vans on fire looked in mirror THICK white smoke and lots of it. Me thinks must have hit pocket of diesel. switched off for few mins, started up some smoke but cleared again. This happened every time i went up a hill particularly long ones. camped up for the night. Started van next morning great, ran fine small puff of smoke but cleared immediately. Went on from Anstruther to st Andrews. Buzzer smoke after about 10 miles again long incline. Buzzer and smoke buzzer intermittent but would then stay on switched off sat 10mins start fine no smoke. That was the story till we managed got destination. Camped overnight. same again next day fine till under pressure. got to Cowdenbeath around 30mls stopped at garage tank half full topped up with petrol and redex. However still light buzzer and smoke under pressure plus some fairly hefty backfiring. Coolant fine, oil levels fine, engine runs and idles no problems, no funny sounds knocking or grinding so all seems ok till under a bit of pressure. Buzzer does go off if clutch dipped slightly.

Now here is the question, do you think this is all related to diesel and will it clear itself, or have i killed my camper. Is the diesel going through engine causing a dip in revs and causing buzzer?

[chuckle-bus-tom]

I'm no expert, but like to find cheap options to problems! Maybe the diesel has coated the spark plugs with deposits and they could do with a change?

[AngeloEvs]

Tough one that Jpee, guessing here but the oil pressure seems to have dropped possibly due to the engine getting very hot under load due to the petrol/diesel mix. The smoke is usually the main symptom and, with plenty of refills, should reduce. If it were me, plug renewal and an oil change would be carried out first. How many miles have you done since the diesel mishap and how was the van running before? I think you will possibly have to take the van in and get it looked at if the symptoms persist. All the best Jpee

[Nicola&Tony]

. . . guessing here but the oil pressure seems to have dropped possibly due to the engine getting very hot under load due to the petrol/diesel mix.

Ok jpee you have a possible suggestion here as to what may be going on. In addition to this you have posted elsewhere about a load of oil lying in the bottom of your air filter housing.

My suggestion (and it's only a suggestion because I'm no expert, purely a diy mechanic trying to learn stuff as I encounter problems with our van), which follows on from AngeloEvs idea above; if the oil pressure has dropped just because the oil was getting too hot (rather than it dropped because there was an oil leak or oil level hadn't been checked and topped-up for ages) and then you put more oil in, you might've ended up with too much oil in there and some of the excess has ended-up in your air filter housing. Clean it all out and maybe replace the air filter (available from Brickwerks online shop but the owner of that business is on holiday at the moment so maybe try gsf if you're in a hurry to get one).

Tony

[Nicola&Tony]

If it were me, plug renewal and an oil change would be carried out first.

How many miles have you done since the diesel mishap and how was the van running before?

To help the people who may be able to help you with info and advice etc, please respond to the above . . . have you done the oil and plug change (what grade of oil did you put in) etc etc?

Also, before the journey that you describe in your original post had you checked the oil level and topped-up if necessary? What grade of oil was in there when you had the mishap? When had it last been changed (in terms of miles done, rather than in months, if possible).

One step at a time jpee, good luck with getting it sorted.

Tony

[Fritz]

I have to agree with earlier posts, an oil change may/should sort out your 'buzzer' problem and then after that IMHO I'd be draining the fuel system eg Tank/fuel lines/clean carb to eliminate any running concerns due to the contaminated fuel.....

Regards

Fritz,,,,,,,,,,,

[clartsonly]

did you enjoy your camping though.

good luck with your service, hopefully it is just a matter of a clean out.

[Mr Bean]

Hi all
Now here is the question, do you think this is all related to diesel and will it clear itself, or have i killed my camper. Is the diesel going through engine causing a dip in revs and causing buzzer?

Sorry to say but to me the thread seems to be picking up all sorts of confusing messages. You need to eliminate one thing at a time in a logical sequence. I can't imagine how there can be any connection between the ingestion of diesel oil and the low oil pressure warning unless you damaged the engine maybe by overheaing during the event. This is my first experience with the flat four but certainly on in-line engines a gummed up breather system can cause oil where it shouldn't be. So check out this plumbing for stodge/blockages. Given that you have cleared the tank of diesel and changed any filters including the air filter if that somehow got contaminated I would be inclined to go through check the proceedure for shot bearings/oil pump etc. In my limited experience the oil pressure indication/warning system on the boxer engines has certain feminine aspects (Like beyond the understanding of most males) In isolation spurious maybe false warnings would be easier to take on board but with all this deisel malarky going on it is difficult to see the wood for the trees. So if posible get an oil pressure guage connected up and see what you are really getting in tangible units. Second do a compression test on each of your four cylinders. Blow by can pressurise your crank case to the point where oil mist and droplets can be driven up your engine breather stack and be drawn into the air box so contaminating you air filter and causing missing and more smoke. Gummed valves or piston rings can cause all sorts of problems also. (In the old days we used to take the vehicle to a lonely place and pour an egg cup full of Redex down the carb with the throttle wide open and the engine reving like the clappers although I wouldn't recoment that now.). You really need a mate with some experience and some kit. Is there such a member in your area?
Hope you can sort this out. I know how you must feel as I have just got my baby going again after a long worrying session.
Good luck
Ken

[jpee]

Thanks everyone for replies.

I am waiting on plugs and filters, local motor factors didn't have any in stock but have ordered them.

Pressure gauge makes sense so will have that checked.

Discovered oil in air filter while doing a general clean up, checked oil dipstick as it was dark when i put oil in and couldn't see levels and there is too much oil. breather stack pipe got quite a bit of oil in it so that'll be where oil in filter is coming from.

The engine is running nicely, no weird knocks, grinding, clicks or any other noises.

Thanks for messages of concern. I will go through suggestions and get back.

Best regards
Jpee

[clartsonly]

sometimes these campers have a mind of there own, my oil buzzer went on randomly. I topped up with a little oil and it went off then on then off.. then stopped coming on. but other electricals started happening, unilt I changed the pcb (although I have changed back currently) and also cleaned the bad earth point. I am sure it was never an actual problem maybe just a yelp for help and apoligies for filling her / him up with the poison diesel.

also btw when I checked my oil the next day it had too much in.

it is the occasional smoke which is the worry, perhaps you need to simply blast you carb clean with redex a friend palm of the hand at full revs over the carb and some more petrol. if I remember rightly diesel floats on petrol.

what I am trying to get at is just perhaps you have hit the "buzzer of doom" thread issues at the same time as actually making a mistake with the van. did you use your van everyday for months with no buzzer or was this the first trip out for a while?

[jpee]

Hi Clartsonly

Van was running perfectly i used it daily. It still is, starts first turn of the key and no roughness apart from buzzer coming on a few seconds after starting now and staying on.

Shop has phoned to say parts in for service so will pick them up today however it has been pi**ing down for the last 3 days and i don't have a garage so will have to wait for weather to clear up.

Thanks to all for suggestions will keep you all up to date.

Regards
Jpee

[jpee]

Hi Clartsonly

Van was running perfectly i used it daily. It still is, starts first turn of the key and no roughness apart from buzzer coming on a few seconds after starting now and staying on.

Shop has phoned to say parts in for service so will pick them up today however it has been pi**ing down for the last 3 days and i don't have a garage so will have to wait for weather to clear up.

Thanks to all for suggestions will keep you all up to date.

Regards
Jpee

[dearjohn]

Same thing happened me a month or so ago. But , if I am reading your post correctly, why did you decide to leave 10 litres or so of diesel in the tank?
I drained mine dry before filling with petrol, sucked the new petrol up the pipe to the carb by mouth to get the line full of petrol, and it still took a further fill of petrol and fresh plugs, plus a good long hard run to get it back to normal power. Petrol I think floats on Diesel, so there would be inclined to be a drop lying in the bottom of the float chamber of the carb, untill it gets diluted over time. Good luck with it!
Cheers, Nigel

[jpee]

Didn't leave 10 liters in deliberately. I mis-calculated how much was left. but have done over 100 miles since with 2 top ups.

[jpee]

Hi all

Plugs and filters and oil changed. Still got buzzer any recommendations as to what next? Is there any way to check whether switch is at fault