Club 80-90 Forums

Spent the week sorting my van as it's been off the road for two years as I've been out of the country, been running well on the drive so booked my mot this afternoon for tomorrow at 3, got home and started it up and after it was running for a few min,started smoking from the exhaust and missing slightly, put new fuel in and a fuel treatment but no improvement, smoke looks slightly blue but smells strongly of fuel, going to check timing in the morning but any other suggestions would be appreciated as need to try and fix it in time for mot tomorrow or I’ll have to wait another week for an appointment.
Cheers everyone
Owen

Very difficult to diagnose with little info...
Could be several things... blocked crank case breather pipe, carb fault, choke stuck on, worn rings..
Has it had a full service and set up? carb cleaned out? any tapping/knocking noises?

Won't be the timing.

If it's been stood unused for a while could the fuel pump diaphragm be leaking fuel into the crankcase and diluting the oil ? (cannot recall if the std T25 pump is prone to this common fault - anyone ? ) Sniff the oil for petrol smell.

I take it (after being stood) you put fresh oil and oil filter in it ?

Could be a stuck ring after being stood.
Look at all 4 plugs and compare colour (I take it you know what to look for - if not post back )

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Thanks for the replies, just been out and bought some engine flush,new filter and oil, I don't really know what I'm looking for regarding spark plug colour so any advice would be gratefull,am I right in assuming this will indicate which piston I have a problem with if it is a rings fault?
Cheers,
Owen

ow75 wrote: I don't really know what I'm looking for regarding spark plug colour so any advice would be gratefull,am I right in assuming this will indicate which piston I have a problem with if it is a rings fault?

Correct

as long as the plugs have a couple of hundred miles on them, look for the following.

White looking tip = engine running too lean
A colour like a cup of tea = correct setting
Soft black sooty deposits that come off on your fingers = engine running too rich ( see note below )
Hard black sooty deposits and a general claggy look on 1 or more = engine burning oil ( not good )

Note = Rich running is caused by :-

A blocked or wet air filter.
The choke is stuck on.
Another fault in the Carb (less likely)

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I really wouldnt use engine oil flush treatment in your van,ive used it before and it made my car run crap for ages afterwards.

From what im old engine flush can damage engine bearings by drying them out while flushing.

engine flush is a waste of money!
flush with £5 cheapo supermarket oil BEFORE changing filter.