unscheduled oil change! How do you clean an engine?

[DivingDaisee]

Went to a party in Sheffield last night. Took the van so that I could soak up some vino and not have to drive back

Half way there the brakes became really hard to press and the buzzer of doom flickered on and off. Smoke seemed to be coming from the back so pulled over (eventually ). Seems a pipe had come off and sent oil over everything in the engine bay - and the back of the van.

Anyway the pipe pushed back into the manifold thingy and we refilled it with oil. Seems fine now. Not sure why it popped out, but it didn't seem to take a lot of force to remove / fit it.

So, the big clean up. What's the best way to clean an engine? Is there somewhere I can take it as I don't fancy creating an oil slick outside the house

Ta

[kevtherev]

Gunk....
[img:271:178]http://gunk.eu.com/images/jpgs/enginedegrease.jpg[/img]

residue is water soluable

[T'Onion]

did you get a pass?
if not then there in lies your answer , we don't just allow any fooker in ya know
it could have just come loose and fallen off , is it old and really soft ?

[lhd]

As the Reverend says.....
Always trust in the lord....... Gunk cleaned mine up a bute.

[DivingDaisee]

This is the pipe that pulled out - the one with the cable tie! This was taken before the oil spayed everywhere!!!

Anyone know what it does? And can they tell me why it comes out so easily?

[img:375:500]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2142/296 ... c37447.jpg[/img]

[lhd]

One end of that pipe goes to the vacuum pump and the other to your brake servo and there should not be oil in there.

Hopefully the vacuum pump is shot(easily replaced).
what worries me is crankshaft pressure especially if the buzzer of doom came on.
The Vacuum pump is lubricated internally with oil and I have seen a few oily one way valves but it should not be leaking in amounts that you have mentioned.
If the vacuum pumps starts playing up your brakes will become hard as you will have no servo assistance.
It is only a push fit but tightened with them clips which become pretty crap after 20 years and are usually cracked or worn, I would replace them with jubilee clips or something similar.

You havn't overfilled it with oil have you?
Rob..........

[T'Onion]

One end of that pipe goes to the vacuum pump and the other to your brake servo and there should not be oil in there.

Hopefully the vacuum pump is shot(easily replaced).
what worries me is crankshaft pressure especially if the buzzer of doom came on.
The Vacuum pump is lubricated internally with oil and I have seen a few oily one way valves but it should not be leaking in amounts that you have mentioned.
If the vacuum pumps starts playing up your brakes will become hard as you will have no servo assistance.
It is only a push fit but tightened with them clips which become pretty crap after 20 years and are usually cracked or worn, I would replace them with jubilee clips or something similar.

You havn't overfilled it with oil have you?
Rob..........

and there in speaks a man who has served his time on the vacuum pump

[kevtherev]

indeed!

[Laurie]

It's really strange that a vacuum pipe should blow off.

The buzzer could have gone off due to oil being thick on a cold night and not running back from the head quick enough. It was common on the early diesels (I left a regular puddle of oil outside scottish hotels when I drove a 1.6 diesel for URO) That was from a 3,000 mile old, new van.
It blew the oil filter seal regularly

The other thing to be very aware of, especially in winter is that the cam belt can be a combination of damp and not tight enough and it will fail to turn the oil pump and servo pump idle shaft (It runs on the flat, on the back of the belt)

1: Check your vac pump.
2: Check your belt tightness.
3: Run a suitable oil for winter.
4: In really cold conditions, give the engine a couple of minutes warm up before revving.