Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all, I've been to Blackfield Garage Southampton to have oil leak checked out been getting a smell in the cab where oils been leaking on the exhaust, and he said there a a few leaks but that the one near the exhaust is a leaky fuel pump and that I'd need a new one. A. I just wanted to confirm this, and B. I can't get hold of a 2ltr 1983 fuel pump! German and Swedish and Just campers don't do 2 ltr ones...I'm waiting to hear back from Volkshaven, but it crossed my mind that the garage could be wrong (before I buy a new pump!) Also he quoted £1000, to strip engine a replace other seals that are leaking oil, wondered if this was a good/bad quote. Hope someone can help! P.S. Loving my van still!!

Hi Katie, until very recently I thought that the fuel pump for a 2.0l a/c was not available new but iirc Fritz said that VW Heritage sell them.

The price of £1,000 to fit new seals to the engine seems expensive when a recon engine from Elite VW in Essex complete with 2 year warranty costs £800 - £850. Also fitting is included in the price provide you can get your van to their workshop otherwise you would need to pay a carrier to deliver the engine to a local garage of your choice. You would most likely have to send them your old engine at your expense as well.

A-ha! Thanks Bowton, will try VW Herritage. The recon engine seems like a good idea, though seems drastic for a few seals, though the price issue makes sense. How come it costs less to get a recon engine, than re-con your own!!

Yes it does seem drastic to fit a recon engine when you really just want someone to fit several new oil seals. The thing is the engine will presumably have to be stripped down to fit the new seals.

Firstly you should get two further opinions/estimates of what wants doing & at what cost. Also consider: 1) Do you intend keeping your T25 for at least 3-4 years? 2) Is the existing engine the original engine or has it already had a replacement new/recon engine at some point. 3) If the engine has never been replaced, is it tired & heading towards a recon in the foreseable future?

Weigh up all these things & check your finances before making a reasoned decision. There are club members in your area who may be able to recommend a garage who will do a good job at a fair price.

Also he quoted £1000, to strip engine a replace other seals that are leaking . "How on earth can they justify that " If its a fuel pump leak and a replacement supplier problem.Justkampers supply a facet pump which is 12 volt run for aprox £40.00 as a alternative .Make a blanking plate to fit where the fuel pump was. replace with facet pump.Get some one to see if its push rod tube 0 ring seals leaking or the cork rocker cover seals drpping oil on to the heat exchangers.If it is these can be replaced without removing the engine.

£1,000
Thats a joke!
Mine is going in to be repaired this week, it also needs some new gaskets because of an oil leak,i am also getting fumes in the van!
The problem is most likely to be oil leaking on to the heat exchangers, then getting in to the van,i have disconnected mine till the leak is fixed.

Will most likely cost more near to £100 not £1,000.
Shop around cos that garage is trying to rip you off Katie.
Good luck with the repairs these air cooled vans are fun aint they?
Lee.

Hi Katie, I have been troubled with oil leaks on to exhaust/heat exchangers and got round that part of my problem by smearing silicone sealer around ends of push rod tube ends. Even after fitting new seals I still had oil leaks, hence the need to resort to silicone sealer. It's still early days but after several hundred miles the oil seals/tubes still do not leak oil. Also my fuel pump is leaking but appears to be the gasket! Be careful that the garage isn't ripping you off! Good Luck

The garage mentioned oil seals as opposed to gaskets so it could be the crankcase ones. There is the one behind the fan, if that leaks & oil gets on the fan it will end up on both heat exchangers & result in muchos plenty blue smoke. That happened to my previous van (2.0l a/c) en route to All Types 2006.

Also a worn engine can result in the sump pressurising & forcing the oil out past the seals. That's why I asked Katie about the age of the engine etc. I'm thinking about my old van & the problems I had.

I would agree with you Bowton Lad but how many garages today no how to repair VW Aircooled engines. Would this garage where Katie got her quote put all the tinware back and set the flaps for cooling correctly.for £1000, i would expect them to do it to VW factory standard.If the engine is worn best bet is get a recon from some one like Elite

Camper, you are correct, there aren't many garages you can trust with your beloved T25.

That's why I suggested that Katie should get two more opinions/estimates to try & find out if the original diagnosis was correct. I am not suggesting that Katie takes her van back to the one that quoted £1,000.

Do we have any members in the Southampton area who could point Katie in the direction of an honest VW specialist who would tell her what really needs to be done to the engine & the best/most cost effective route to take.

I think that Popeye-Doyle lives in Portsmouth, I wonder if he knows of a suitable garage? I'm sure that there are a few more members in Hampshire preferably near to Southamton who could help.

Ok, thank you Lee and Kthla, i'll be getting more quotes and my hubby will be loking to change rocker cover gaskets, as for a fuel pump gasket...can you get them for a 2 ltr pump seperatly? Any one know of a good engine specialist in the Hampshire/south area...looking to get it on a rolling road and tested.

Hi Bowton...the van is 1983, so not sure if that constitutes as a worn engine or not! ? Hey by the way this site and everyone on it are bloody fab you know....its soooo nice to be able to get such good advice and banter for free!!! Oh and forgot to say no blue smoke thank the Lord of campers!!! My hubby recons the garage priced himself out of the job so he didn't have to do it, cause he dosent really know the whole V.W thing. Hmmmmm.....

Katie, I have PM'ed Popeye- Doyle in Portsmouth to see if he knows a trustworthy garage, particularly a VW specialist in the Southampton area.
I also asked him if he knows of any other members who live in your local area. It's possible he could be away, hopefully not, but it's a case of wait & see.

Oh thank you mate, your a star. This whole 'owning a van thing' is a bit like being sherlock bloody holmes at times eh! But thats half the fun, the main thing to avoid is the worry!!! Still we knew we were taking on a project....much like our house at the mo. Oh well at least he got us to the peak district for our honeymoon! And I'm still going to go to Germany one day in him.

most places with a rolling road have a disclaimer notice up somewhere saying that basically, if they do any damage to your engine, g/box or whatever, while it's on the rollers, it's not their problem, so if you do take it somewhere with one, try to make sure they're not too leadfooted with it