Club 80-90 Forums

This weekend I noticed a really weird noise on the van, it is only present/noticible when the engine is struggling up hills...

The noise appears to be coming from the back of the van. Its as if its gasping for air, like a loud sucking/breathing in noise about 5 seconds apart. Seems to be when the engine is labouring up hills and is struggling a little prior to a gear change.... any ideas what this could be?

No overheating occuring.

it would probably help if you were to say what engine you have..

Hi Rob,

Sorry matey, I thought my membership profile had updated with all that data.

It's a 1988 1.6 TD

Here are some photos of oil leaking.. not sure what I make of these really, am beginning to stress-out and worrying that my van is turning into a money-pitt grrrrr.

Link to photos:

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu22 ... 040801.jpg This is oil appearing to RHS of engine bay, looking down onto the tin engine cover under engine.

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu22 ... ngine1.jpg This is to the LHS of engine

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu22 ... ngine3.jpg This is the top of the engine.


What do you guys think? any ideas on where the leak is liekly to be coming from?

The pics are not much help.
Suggest take tin ware off engine and have a look then.
Oil breather pipe???
Is the engine smoking?

Oil in the engine tray signifies nothing other than that gravity is still alive and well ..it ends up at the bottom ...where it's coming from is a different question.

Your first pic shows the flange for the oil filler tube to be a bit cruddy ...maybe someone was a bit eager with the filling and some oil ran down there and got manky over time (big maybe)

As for that funny noise ...could that be your turbo blow-off valve? I've never heard mine, so I wouldn't know what that sounds like.
Are you shifting up or down when you say the engine struggles?

Hi Bilbo Blue,

Agreed- photos dont really help, but I am not technical, so was the easiest way to try and point out where the problems are.

The leak isn't pouring, more of a gentle dribble, which seems to 'pool' onto the tin ware over a few hours, most noticble at the end of a journey when engine is just turned off and it begins to drip through tin.


The engine smokes a bit when starting from cold, white/grey smoke which clears after 2 minutes or so. I have already changed the glow plugs and cleaned injectors.

Take the rubber hose off between the air filter and turbo and see what runs out.

Have you overfilled the oil at any stage? The JX don't like too much oil.

No, I havn't overfilled the oil since I have owned her (6 weeks or so) Also had a full service 4 weeks back and all levels were checked.

The leak doesn't appear too major, as the oil level isn't dropping by any significant/noticable amount according to the dipstick.

It's just worried that its a sign of something major!!! This T25 hobby is rather £££ isnt it... hehe

I will take that hose off tomorrow and see what is in there!

Yeah...never heard the wastegate working on one of these but? could be.
Martin

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies.

Van has gone to local garage, he has taken the tinware off the bottom of engine compartment, and it looks as if there is some staining on the
oil breather pipe. He is going to look at it properly on Monday.

Is there a gasket on the oil breather pipe? or is it a replacement of the entire pipe job?


There is also a problem when starting from cold, lots of white/light grey smoke, after 30 seconds to a minute or so, it clears and runs fine! I have changed the glow plugs, also had the injectors cleaned, but still smoking!!

Could the oil breather be anything to do with this issue? its driving me up the wall!

As for that funny noise ...could that be your turbo blow-off valve? I've never heard mine, so I wouldn't know what that sounds like.
Are you shifting up or down when you say the engine struggles?[/quote]

Shifting down matey, normally end up in 3rd on a steep hill which appears normal (ish) after reading on here, the noise is worrying though, like its gasping and trying to drag more air in!!!

I am sure I am becoming a paranoid hypochondriac!!!