1.6 non-turbo diesel advice please!

[Scarface]

Hi all, new member here.

I recently bought a 1985 VW T25 1600 diesel. So far I have had fitted by a couple of garages new starter motor (£250) new throttle spindle (£200) new cam belt and oil, fuel, & air filters, glow plugs (+£400).
As you can tell I am not a handyman or home mechanic!
Now the clutch has gone, and I'm that's going to cost £295 at Auto Volks in Shirley, West Midlands.

Fair enough, I got the Camper for a good price I believe. However, the engine does leak oil somewhat. Not a huge amount, a steady drip, but enough to make the drive look a mess....I wondered whether I should go for a/ replacing the engine whilst I still have a bit of cash left or b/ having it rebuilt, c/ leave it!

It seems fine driving, but I'm conscious of the fact that some major expenses have already hit me and if the engine were to go in a few months I may be too broke to fix it! I'm happy with the 1.6 however, fuel consumption wins out for me over performance - took a Bedford CF to France last year and and don't want to get down to those terrible fuel costs!

So, experienced VW people - should I get the van fully up to spec and invest in new engine or re-con? Or let it go and wait and see? Or can anyone recommend a truly impartial advisor to look over the engine?

Any and all advice gratefully received - this is my first VW since being a child on a family holiday in Spain in 1962, and I'm having a lot of fun!
Cheers!
Simon

[Aidan]

Marcus, MrT25vanspares is local to you and knows diesels

[ELVIS]

I would look around and research prices/labour/parts etc ( this forum) beofre you get anymore work done .
The belt/tensioner/filters/oil would have come in at under £90 - £300+ for labour ......mmmmmmmmmmm (im crap and not a mechanic and could easily have done that in less than 4 hrs including numerous fags and tea)
£200 for throttle spindle ? what exactly did they do ? Diesels dont have a throttle body. If it was the diesel pump what exactly did they do ?
Think you should get a few suggestions/recommendations from chaps off the forum for garages.
Never done a clutch with engine/box in (always swapped em when i blew engine up!) but i wouldnt grumble too much at under £300 from what i know others have paid.

DAMN you Beaker - too slow again!

[Scarface]

Thanks for this.

The throttle spindle job was listed on the bill as:

Throttle and Shaft Kit - £20.12
Labour 4 hours @ £45 all plus VAT of course (never quite sure where the "value" component comes in with that acronym)

So I do not know exactly what they did I'm afraid, but certainly in future I'll check here first.
Cheers
Simon

[ELVIS]

im guessing its the spindle that sits in the pump body that the throttle cable connects to - im sure Beaker/Baxter et al will give you an idea as to whether you got VFM with the labour charge.

[camper]

If you study up a work shop manual for the 1.6n fitted to a T25 you may be able to do the repairs your self.It may appear daunting at first to a person with no experiance to work on these engines fitted to a T25.But take it from me with an other pair of hands if possible you can do most repairs your self.

[kit]

As said you are paying way too much for your repairs I feel, can you not get someone on here to recommend a local garage?

As for your engine I would put up with the oil leak, mine has leaked for the past 4 years and the 1.6 na goes on and on (eventually )