Club 80-90 Forums

Lost all the oil from my 1.6td engine while coming home from the Cropredy Festival in Banbury Oxfordshire a couple of weekends ago. Buzzer of doom came on as I pulled off the M25 onto the A10 about 6 miles from home. Made it home ok and noticed that oil had been blowing through the number plate/oil fill flap and also directly below between the engine protector that bolts on underneath the engine. Obvious oil spots were also on the tailgate. Engine cover underside perfectly dry and also no sign of any oil leaks on top of engine. Any ideas please?

PS. I have recently renewed turbo because spots of oil were visibly blowing out of exhaust and this problem was cured.

Disclaimer: I'm a newbie.

Sounds to me like the only way it could be coming out would be the filler or the dipstick. Anything else and it would be all over the engine bay or underside. I'd trace those back first. You could also refill and start the engine while watching closely, but if it was coming out at quite a rate you'll probably find it just by looking which would be safer for the van and you.

Like I say, I know nothing, so take this with a pinch of salt and sorry if it's useless!

It is common on T3's I think it might well be the crank case seal, my tailgate is constantly covered in little oil spots.

Hi still new at this game but just recently bought a 1.9 diesel 1y engine, showed similar signs on way back from newquay.
oil coming out of oil filler & dipstick.
turned out to be gassing, ie the oil system being pressurised due to gas leaking through Knackered piston & piston rings. At least that was how it was explained to me. After refilling with oil it ran ok round town & only spewed oil out when putting engine under stress.

Hope its not this as I've just rebuilt half the engine, but it might be worth looking at.

Other causes sugested to me were blocked breather tube from crank case, or stuck valve on breather tube.

Good Luck

Excess crankcase pressure resulting in oil being blown out the filler or anywhere else it can find.
Could be a blocked breather system
Worn piston rings
Head gasket
Martin

Thanks to all that replied to my post Besides the engine spewing oil, the exhaust was becoming increasingly smoky (white clouds of the stuff ) My worst fears were confirmed when I took her for an MOT yesterday and she failed on excessive exhaust emissions. Garage carried out a compression test on the engine and it was not good news at all. So I'm now looking for a recon 1.6td engine somewhere in the Herts, Essex, London area. Can anyone please help?

Have you looked into rebuilding your own one?

kimbobill wrote:Have you looked into rebuilding your own one?

Problem is that I know very little about diesel engines so therefore wouldn't be able to do it myself. Mechanic at local garage could rebuilt it but he say's this will possibly cost more in labour and parts than exchanging the old one for a reconditioned engine

get thee sen a good manual n rip the engine bits...its only nuts n bolts n common sense......they're a very basic engine with no real surprises...save thee sen some brass n have a little scary fun....you know it makes sense(well i would and you never know if you can do it till you try)!

rikpal wrote:Hi still new at this game but just recently bought a 1.9 diesel 1y engine, showed similar signs on way back from newquay.
oil coming out of oil filler & dipstick.
turned out to be gassing, ie the oil system being pressurised due to gas leaking through Knackered piston & piston rings. At least that was how it was explained to me. After refilling with oil it ran ok round town & only spewed oil out when putting engine under stress. Good Luck

This is exactly how it was explained to me at the MOT garage. As mentioned earlier, oil spewing for a while but recently clouds of white(ish) smoke now billowing out of exhaust. Tempted to take oldiguana's advice (thanks for encouragement mate) but fear it's beyond me. Just wonder if there's anyone close to Hertford, Herts area who could give me some very welcome advice. Bought tix through 80-90 for Vanfest as well but that now doubtful if I don't get something sorted out pretty sharpish

You defiantly need a second opinion, these guys at the MOT place are they diesel experts? Just to say it is on the way out is no explanation, it could be one of a lot of things don't throw the towel in yet.

kit wrote:You defiantly need a second opinion, these guys at the MOT place are they diesel experts? Just to say it is on the way out is no explanation, it could be one of a lot of things don't throw the towel in yet.

Hi Kit. Apparently two of the four cylinders are below what they should be and the other two are only just above. Supposedly indicates knackered piston rings causing "gassing". Hence the reason why oil is being forced out of the engine. That's how it was explained to me at the MOT garage anyway. Wasn't there when all this testing took place, but think you are right. I definitely do need to seek a second opinion.

It is not ideal but mine has been doing that for the past 4 years, are you sure they went to all the trouble of removing the injectors and testing all cylinders?

kit wrote:It is not ideal but mine has been doing that for the past 4 years, are you sure they went to all the trouble of removing the injectors and testing all cylinders?

They did tell me that all four cylinders were tested. Anyway, I've now decided to have a look for a garage hopefully not too far away that will supply and fit a reconditioned 1600 diesel turbo engine. Already have a few irons in the fire. Jeez....I've spent so much dosh on this Westy Atlantic in the 18 months that I've owned it, that there's very little else that can go wrong with it

if you only failed MOT on emmissions and need to keep the van on the road for a few weeks until your sorted , use as much of diesel in the tank as possible and refill with biodiesel.