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Symptoms of petrol in engine oil ?
Posted: 24 Apr 2008, 08:50
by Ian Hulley
Quite a few knowledgeable people are thinking that we have petrol leaking into our engine oil which is killing the viscosity and causing a complete loss of oil pressure.
SO ... what would the signs be in the used oil ? Would the petrol and oil separate or stay mixed ? Petrol on top of oil or vice-versa ?
Many thanks, Ian.
Posted: 24 Apr 2008, 09:01
by Titus A Duxass
It should stay mixed, you are actually thinning down Hydrocarbon substance with another. They are both miscilbe and form a homogeneous mixture.
Unlike water and oil which are immiscible.
Posted: 24 Apr 2008, 09:05
by steve8090
Ian
Considering yours runs on LPG and has a valve that controls the petrol it is not coming through the inlet tract, that we can establish as fact, the only other way it can get in there is through the bottom of the fuel pump if the gland has disintergrated (spelling??).
You will smell petrol in your oil it is very distinctive, it mixes freely with oil seeing as they both originate from the same source and yes it will thin the oil down tremendously affecting its ability to protect your engine, needs sorting fella

Posted: 24 Apr 2008, 09:15
by Ian Hulley
Thanks for the replies .... the van is sat at home ... fresh (thicker) oil in. The old oil didn't smell of petrol ? The oil pump seems that it won't come up to pressure and clear the tappets ?

it's not even putting the flashing oil light out and a very short run results in The Buzzer OF DOOOOOOOM
Any thoughts appreciated.
Ian ..... from the window ledge

Posted: 24 Apr 2008, 09:23
by steve8090
The only way to be absolutely sure is to put an oil pressure gauge on the engine, VW spec for that motor is 2 bar pressure @ 2000 rpm and a warm engine. If this is proved to be fine then you have a defective high oil pressure circuit, either replace the sender and track the fault through or earth the yellow wire from the white plug on top of your motor, this will disable the high pressure circuit and put you back to a standard oil pressure warning light, which if comes on is a very last resort.
One other thing to check is a sticky pressure relief valve, behind the big steel slotted screw at the side of the oil pump, pressure check should be the first call though.
Posted: 24 Apr 2008, 11:03
by Ian Hulley
Cheers Steve .... seems bizarre that both engines (one 2.1 and one 1.9) should have identical symptoms ... as I lay awake in the wee small hours pondering the commonalities between both occasions, which as I see it are fuel pump, oil and cooling system.
Ian.
Posted: 25 Apr 2008, 13:24
by VWCamperfan
I dont like to mention this but some joker isn't pouring something down your oil filler tube are they? Its easily accessable from the back and unless you can fabricate a lock to go on there anyone can get to it.
Posted: 25 Apr 2008, 13:45
by R0B
Posted: 25 Apr 2008, 15:27
by VWCamperfan
Ahh, I really should stay in more!

Posted: 26 Apr 2008, 06:37
by T'Onion
Well, is it running ?
Posted: 26 Apr 2008, 07:00
by Rozzo
well???
Posted: 26 Apr 2008, 10:24
by T'Onion
WELL ???????
Posted: 26 Apr 2008, 18:06
by Rozzo
WELL!!!!!
Posted: 26 Apr 2008, 22:33
by mininut
WELL?
Posted: 26 Apr 2008, 22:46
by ermie571
we need to know!
C'mon....
spill the beans....
got everything crossed for you!
Em
x