Club 80-90 Forums

Hi, I'm new to the forum, a total noob so Please go easy on me..

1983 leisure drive high top, 2.0 cu, petrol leaking into the oil sump...

I bought this big beautiful red bus back in early July, the previous owner had tried getting it through mot but it failed on the emissions, everything else on the bus passed so I thought can't be that big a job....

Anyhow, I left it over to my mechanic who is a good friend and he has confirmed the petrol is leaking into the oil sump, I knew this when I bought the bus no big deal, smoke coming from the dip stick, ray the mechanic solution is buy a new engine which I will do but after reading the posts on here it could be million things so any advice will be greatly appreciated.

So the van will start after a bit of a struggle, drive, burn £10 petrol in 2min smokey and the emmisions are through the roof, oh and the petrol in the sump, this is bad I've been told I believe this could be the engine is screwed, air leaking for a hose, carburettor screwed, dodgy fuel pump etc.

A new engine from elite, £1000, beyond my budget at the minute however I will purchase if needed, I want to know key parts are working and replaced while hopefully fixing my petrol in the sump issue, if I'm lucky. 

So where do I start, I'm thinking fuel pump, carbs refurbished? Which hoses do i replace, any culprits?

I've seen the petrol in the sump issue on a few forums with many of the above suggestions but no confirmed fix..

Any ideas?

Thanks

David

I would think the only way fuel could get in the sump is from a shagged pump.
You could Junk it and fit an electric one if you can't find one... a well trodden path.

I would endevour to find out the engines condition before spending a wad on it.
Get a compression check done.

If that's OK
give it a service
oil, filter, plugs, leads. cap
get it back to standard if not already. (Electronic ignition) and the correct carbs.

pictures of the engine bay will help.

if a grand is beyond your budget you might want to consider another make, it costs about that each year to keep these vans in a fit state.

Hi Kev,

Thanks for the reply, I'll get some pictures posted over the next few days.

Total noob sorry for silly question, Compression check will confirm Nothing has popped in the engine and it's savable? What about smoke from the dip stick, could this be the fuel leak?

A electric Fuel pump was top of my list, can you recommend one with the correct throughput, is it 3.5psi?

I will order plugs, leads & cap, cost effective and not £1000+ gasure can sort my carbs which I think are standard.

I have an early bay nearing complete restoration, campers are expensive I know, just don't want to blow £1000 if I don't need to.

Thanks

David

Smoke from dipstick (combustion gasses in crankcase) would suggest the piston rings are very worn or have broken up entirely. Probably engine rebuild time.

Compression check would confirm this (or at least that the heads are going to have to come off).

First culprit for petrol in sump is pump,second is carb float needle not seating. That is for ridiculous amounts of fuel.Pump would be my guess. I would go down Kev the rev's route,sensible advice from him.