high oil use - lowish mpg

[Plasticman]

but to be honest it still doesn't sound like there's much wrong with your old one other than the fact that it's old...

Er re-read his first post,its using /loosing /matter transporting somrthing like 1 gallon of oil for every 1thousand miles driven..
mike

[rhm]

Hi Mike/horns, I hear what you're saying and it is a bit of a dilemna. If I had the freetime and somewhere to work on it then I'd enjoy the challenge of learning and would be happy to give it a go. Unfortunately I have neither.

Id thought about whether swapping the lump for an aaz would be feasible. I seem to get the impression tho that a good donor now is about as rare as hens teeth.

I guess a donor would be a cheaper option to start with but there is still the concern that Id end up with a lump that would still need work doing to it and Id just be back at square one in next to no time.

Am I right in believeing that a 1Y is the n/a 1.9 unit? I understand that they are more plentiful (and therefore not likely to be too costly.) I'm all for simplicity, but wouldn't I lose a lot of grunt with a non turbo lump?

Can a 1Y be easily adapted to take the turbo?

[Plasticman]

Depends what you want the van for, 1Y thats known good shouldnt pay more that £275 complete, dead easy swop in, will go well enough, and give you loads of time to decide what to do ,and if you decide to sell the 1Y you will most likely get most of your cash back , no brainer realy or if you can live with it then keep pouring oil in till it really gets a joke so to speak, be interesting to take it to a garage/mot spot and get them to stick the ega up it bum and see what it says
mike

[HarryMann]

Very strange, very interesting, very frustrating (for you)...

The one thing that doesn't seem to add up, (or two)..

You don't seem to say that there is a spotty oil buildup on back of van, very strange for massive oil burn...
Has it got sound deadening under the sump that might be absorbing a leak.
No, AFAIK, those sumps or oil returns are not a known corrosion problem, (unless been bashed or mullered!)

Usually, starting (cold weather) and performance suffer at least a bit, with low compressions, so wondering if you've had it in very cold weather yet

400 psi, not low enough to really condem it IMHO, yet

What was the oil temps (or length of time running) when you took the oil pressur readings (you didn't say it was hot or cold), cold those pressures might be bad, hot they are as you say, good news? 80C min is normal to take them

When did you change the oil last, and what filter did you use?

Where does temp gauge sit?

The heads can leak oil around cyl No. 3 (gasket). They are also famous for cracking but still keep going, power loss, maybe oil overheating

So, what would costa few bob to find out, unless you borrow a gauge and sender (spare port in filter head, 10mm x 1.0) is to see how hot the oil gets on a run... can get stupidly hot on TDs, thus stupidly thin..


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Even with a really cracked head (I mean REALLY, exhaust and inlet ports connected!!!!) my old AAZ wasn't using anything like that amount of oil.. in fact I'm waffling on here, scratching my 'ead, only because I can't imagine burning that much oil... you have GOT to have someone follow you and film it, or find where its dr(o)(i)pping.

==============

MPG was disappointing avge mpg C30mpg (told that 40 was realistic)

No, 40 is but !some! talk about it... 30+ is good IMHO

==============

More info is always incoming, don't jump till you have to

Every decoding is another encoding

[rhm]

Hi harrymann, think i can remember all ur points in ur post.

No evidence of spotting on back door, its definately burning it on the whole.

The leak from the sump looks likes its above where the the turbo oil return pipe comes in. Its a small leak in the scheme of things, just another fault to correct thats all. Just curious as to how/where its leaking.

Last oil change, v recent, less than 500kms when i replaced the turbo oil return pipe.

Oil filter - cant recall the brand, bought from local wilco motorsave. Used wilco's 15/40 mineral oil to refill.

Oil temp, was hot when i did the oil pressure test - singed my pinkies anyway!

Ive only had the van since May so no, no experience of starting/running in v cold weather - yet!

Not sure if other bits are connected symptoms but since i got it, I have been getting an oil discharge on top of the rocker cover. Now replaced the breather grommet, but there was no fouling/staining on the rocker cover when i bought it.

Also since developed a small coolant leak, not where connected to the block and not a head gasket, but where the rubber coolant pipe connects with one of the plastic pipe that runs front to back. Probably not conncted but hey ho, its on the list to sort.

As youve all no doubt worked out, its a case of straws and clutching as far as any in depth technical knowhow is concerned, but im a sponge and trying to take it all in. Mike n other 80-90 peeps have been very patient with me so far, muchas gracias amigos.

[Plasticman]

Just to go back to the beginning, when you bought this were you aware or made aware of the head and turbo changes, what reason given if any, can you go back to seller (not to give hassle) to get info.
Could it be that the van used oil or whatever and had turbo and or head done, this didnt cure it so repeat same, still no cure so sell?
Im not suggesting you should do this but not that many years ago I would regularly remove engines, strip do the usual rebore and crank etc, I suppose nowadays its garages full of fitters as opposed to mechanics and labour costs make it prohibitive, but on your engine it is just so simple to pull it out and strip it, and to my mind a lot easier than heads on and off./timing etc in place, Im wondering if this is behind the previouse works or lack of them,
we or should I say I am speculating here but given what we have discussed and taking it that you are reporting things correctly then I stand by my belief that the oil rings will be shot.
mike (that said its still an awfull lot of oil to pass)

[Plasticman]

Any update?
mike

[sarran1955]

Hello,

I've been following your thread with interest.

Without doubting your veracity, surely with an oil loss rate you would have drips on the drive, a regular drip trail and even (pretty) rainbow when it rains at the end of your drive, and so on.

Diesels ( not just VW's) lose oil from 3 places. Past the rings, black smoke and sooty exhaust all over your rear bumper, Through the turbo or crankcase recycle, white smoke on acceleration, blue smoke on overrun, or out the bottom (puddle on drive).

Silly question: does the radiator overflow? Are you using mineral oil

Radical clean out for your cylinders during an oil change, (as if you really needed one) : After emptying sump undo your injectors. Puff in a good couple of teaspoons of Harpic powder toilet cleaner (Yes really). Spin the engine over for 3 mins. Put your old oil in and run for 5 mins. Change oil and filter. Clean round the bend.

Cordialement

[rhm]

Hi Folks, well no movement over the past weeks (literally). Van has been sat in the front garden gathering some huge cobwebs while I've seen to other matters.

To catch up with previous queries, the van was imported from germany earlier this year. I have the german receipts and have largely translated them to get the past service records etc. I was told about the general history of the van before i bought it, Unfortunately, I don't know why the previous works were done, 2 heads, 2 turbo's, or what the symptoms were that prompted them.
I guess I was just happy that the previous owners (2) appear to have taken care of it.

Being philosophical, Im happy with what I was told and dont have any concerns over the integrity of the seller. Its just accept its one of those things. I've wanted a vw camper for years and I loved using it in france this summer. Its gonna be a keeper for me for a number of years to come so now that something has to be done with the engine, it seems that it presents me with a number of opportunities.

From all the replies and suggestions Ive had, and many thanks to all who have added posts, I've sort of narrowed down my preferred options to 2 choices, rebuild the existing lump so Ive a sorted 1.6TD or transplant either a 1y or an aaz swapping suitable bits over where needed.

I was very happy with the performance of the JX this summer, despite the obvious oil issues. Seems to me tho that while it was powerful enough overall, it did drag on the hills quite a bit. I guess an AAZ transplant would sort this out giving it that extra bit of grunt.

Im actually quite attracted to the idea that I think metal mickey posted, going for a 1Y. The simplicity and downright ruggedness of the n/a engine. Just a little less bhp in total but am I right in beleiving that its got a wider torque band?
Lets be honest, 0-60 performance is never gonna be an issue with a camper van for me, but if the 1Y is goona give me that extra grunt to get up hills without denting the mpg and gonna be more reliable with no turbo issues, then its the current front runner for me.

[rhm]

Hi Sarran, bien venue, mon ami.

No problems with the radiator, engine temp sits nicely over the middle covering the light nearly all the time.
Mineral oil, 15/40 at my last change - will be 20/50 at the next.

Yes, Ive got a minor oil leak from the sump at present but nothing at all major. I replaced the oil return pipe from the turbo as it had corroded and become perforated.
The current leak seems to come from the sump just above where the return pipe union is, doesn't look like its a faulty washer, sealing the pipe, but I guess it could be.

I've got black dry sooty deposits in the tailpipe so the favoured problem is that its burning past the rings. I've got clouds of smoke all the time now when the engines running but I couldnt begin to tell you if it changes colour, to me its just smoke and VERY noticeable.

Hmmm harpic, well I never. Thats one to remember for future use I guess.

Cheers, Richard

[Plasticman]

Good on you for coming back with this, I wasnt implying anything with regard to the history, just wondering if there was anything in it as to what caused the 2 changes, anyhow seems its now covered,loads of smoke no doubt black would still stand by rings,
As to what you fit in its place, It would be good if someone on here that has gone from the td to a 1Y could say what their findings were, as that would be a direct comparison ,ie weight of van, driving style etc, certainly wouldnt be as quick as the aaz but it is such a cheap simple near bullet proof and economical lump that it has to be worth a go?
Mike

[rhm]

Hi Peeps, thought it high time to update this post. I have now changed to a 1Y, kept it n/a but could turbo again down the line if I want to. Its a late 94 block from a Seat Ibiza - has the swirl pots like an AAZ. For the time being though I'm very happy with the 1Y as it is. Had a tour of the Cotswolds earlier this year and averaged 39 mpg with just 2 up based on v comfortable mxed cruising at 50-55 mph and b road pottering at 30-40 mph. As expected its a little less enthusiastic (sic) getting away at the lights and top end is down from 75 (max I dared go to with JX) to just nudging 70 but all in all its a gud'n.

There does seem to be an increase in usable torque band of the 1Y over the JX which is what I'd hoped for with the change. That and simplified bulletproof mechanics. Oil usage has been negligable so far so a big improvement there too!

As for the $2m dollor question - it seems the turbo oil seals were the biggest culprits for my past woes not the rings. That would mean its shot through at least 3 turbos in its lifetime (that I have knowledge of anyway) as I have receipts from the previous owners for the turbo being replaced twice.