Fuel in Exhaust and loss of power on hard acceleration

[MrBeard]

Subject pretty much says it all.

When I press hard on accelerator there is a momentary pause then it kicks in. Other wise the engine runs smoothly.

It was commented that travelling behind us was smelly so I checked the exhaust and fuel spits out when engine on tick over.

The only other issue that I am aware of and may/not be connected is an oil leak. not sure where from atm but I think it comes form more than one location probably from the oil pressure release valve (odd as that and the seal was recently replaced).
When I turn sharp corners the oil pressure buzzer sets off. turns off is I sharply turn back.....

Any suggestion?

1.9 waterboxer DG engine.
G reg

[kevtherev]

Are you sure it's fuel?
water is a by-product of combustion... you may be confusing that.
non cat engines are smelly compared to catted engines, someone who did not know that would say it.

As for the hesitation you might have a little air leak on the induction side
Check your vacuum hoses are secure and not frayed or perished

[MrBeard]

I suppose it could be water, but it to the car behind me for a journey down the A1 they have to shut off outside air as my van's fumes were getting to them.

How can I check it is water or fuel?

I'll check eh vacuum hoses tomorrow. thanks kevtherev

[kevtherev]

taste it... set fire to it... smell it
or put it in some petrol, if it sinks it's water
compare it to some from the tank, take it from the filter.

But seriously petrol would evaporate as soon as it touched the hot exhaust, and these vans stink compared to new cars, I'm sure your friends are not used to it, that's all.
As I said new cars have catalytic converters which removes a lot of the chemicals and gasses that make up the exhaust fumes

[AdrianC]

non cat engines are smelly compared to catted engines, someone who did not know that would say it.

They shouldn't be - unless they're running seriously rich. A nice friendly MOT man should be happy to shove it on the gas analyser for a drink, to confirm if it is rich.

A 1.9DG's injected, right? If so, I think I'd be looking at the coolant temp sensor first - if that's not playing, it'll in effect be on choke all the time.

[kevtherev]

No it's not injected... and furthermore, compared to a catted car a carbed engine is smelly.

[Mocki]

no,Adrian, dg's are carb.
OP...check your fuel lines NOW!

[AdrianC]

No it's not injected...

Ah, OK. Autochoke?

and furthermore, compared to a catted car a carbed engine is smelly.

Again, not if it's not running over-rich. It's the unburnt hydrocarbons in the exhaust that you can smell.
<rummages for MOT emissions cert>
Ah, 'erselfs 205. Carb'd, pre-cat. 74ppm unburnt HC.

[kevtherev]

Look mate I can run a cat car in my garage and the injected rocco in the same place

the rocco stinks compared to the cat car, which has an MOT pass on the emissions


OK?

[AdrianC]

Look mate I can run a cat car in my garage and the injected rocco in the same place

the rocco stinks compared to the cat car, which has an MOT pass on the emissions

OK?

Pre=cat MOT limit is incredibly slack - 1200ppm HC. That's horribly, immensely over-rich in my book.

When I first got the (pre-cat, injected) Saab, the exhaust stank of unburnt fuel. Ten minutes on a gas analyser, a little adjustment of the AMM, and it didn't any more - and got about 2 more miles per gallon, as well as running one heck of a lot better. And even that was at the upper end of the book CO.

But back to MrBeard's problems, eh?

[MrBeard]

Thanks AdrianC,

So it's a carb with autochoke

I do have a pretty poor MPG which would make sense if the mixture is too high and fuel in exhaust.

So things to check:
fuel lines,
vacuum hoses
A nice friendly MOT man should be happy to shove it on the gas analyser for a drink, to confirm if it is rich.
Autochoke settings

wow ok, I'll see what I can do but starting to feel out of my depth a bit.
Hope my Local mechanic has some time free...

Cheers everyone

[MrBeard]

ok.
As far as I can tell all the hoses are in pretty good condition. many look almost new.
I replaced the Airbox over the weakened, which was cracked. Took it out for a run today after checking the hoses, and it no longer hesitates on hard acceleration, it sometimes stutters or splutters but it is so much better.

video of exhaust fumes and "water"
when I started the van, the exhaust fumes were fine until it had warmed up then it changed colour and smell

These pictures should let you see the hoses and engine in general
Engine1sml.jpg
Engine2Left-pipes-sml.jpg
Engine-Alternator-sml.jpg


On this image I have put a red circle over the area that I get an oil leak. Oil-Leak-sml.jpg
I cant find what is there or where it is coming from.

Cheers guys

[AdrianC]

when I started the van, the exhaust fumes were fine until it had warmed up then it changed colour and smell

That's gotta be autochoke failing to come off, then. Take the air filter trunking off, and you should be able to see if the choke flap's fully opened or not.

[MrBeard]

as a bit of a newbie, how easy is that?
could you guide me a little bit?

First off where am I looking for the choke (I can't find it in haynes).

what do I take of from where , and at which points is it safe to run the engine (that bit always worries me)

Sorry for being such a newbie at this, but I am getting better!

[AdrianC]

First off where am I looking for the choke (I can't find it in haynes).

I don't know that carb at all - but I'm sure somebody'll correct me if I'm wrong... Normally, the choke is a flap that sits across just inside the top of the main air intake of the carb.


See the big plastic pancake at centre-top of the pic? That's where the air coming from the filter (inside the ball of gaffer-tape on the right of the pic) goes into the carb. Take that off, and you'll see into the top of the carb.

If the engine's cold, the flap might be shut - but it should be open once the engine's warmed up.

at which points is it safe to run the engine (that bit always worries me)

You'll be fine - just don't drop anything down there... <grin> The air'll be unfiltered, but that's the only difference.