Club 80-90 Forums

Hi Guys, total newbie just back from jollies and 1st time using van as a camper - round trip 2600 kms, - .

1.6TD Fully loaded high top camper, with trailer and 4 bods on board. Driving style - happy to potter at 60 on autoroute - not a guy with lead in his right foot!

MPG was disappointing avge mpg C30mpg (told that 40 was realistic) but biggest concern was excess oil use. Told that engine would use about half litre for approx 5000kms however used about 7 litres on trip overall!!! potentially v worrying.

Am I right that low mpg with high oil use suggests possible low compression?

Power seemed ok to me in fact quite pleased with cruising performance on flat and expected to drop down to 3rd for longer hill climbs. Id be delighted if there was potentially more power on tap following reasonable cost repairs.

I guess Im looking for advice from you guys to check that I'm on the right track without spending big bucks on a dead loss.

Looking for some idea as to what the most likely scenario might be (and costs). 1st action compression test?

At what point would you say it would become not viable to keep checking/rebuilding and change the engine for a AAZ? What costs would this ential? (again with avge costs)

Not able to do this myself so would have to pay out for others to do this for me.

Grateful for any ideas/assistance/ even blue sky thinking.

Live long and prosper

Your MPG isn't especially low - 30-35 is realistic for a TD depending on how it's driven. That does seem like a lot of oil, though - is it leaking or burning? If it's leaking, it'll probably be all over your tailgate in tiny droplets.

Pottering at 60 lead foot well heavyish at that rate 30 int too bad oils as said burning leaking or turbo.
Oh and yes hi welcome
M

Agreed - 50 is pottering.

Hi Guys, sorry, thought 60 was pottering, seemed to be a good 15 mph more there if needed but advised always to back off at least 10%, I guess Im just too used to the 1.9tdi grunt from my car.

Firmly believe van is burning the oil not leaking it. No evidence of drips when van left parked up.

However i did have a leak just before the jollies trip. I think its the return pipe taking oil back to the sump. Started with a little drip, grew quickly into something more sinister. Basically pipe was corroded and became more and more perforated. Did a quick repair (no time to get replacement part) by wrapping that rubberised tape (sets onto itself) around the pipe to stop the leak - worked wonders, as I said no drips since.

Cheers so far

Thanks Si, post timed 00.21 - looks like ur burning the midnight type while Im burning the mineral type! Grateful for ur input but gutted by the comment 'if its using oil its f***ed.'

Only blue smoke Ive seen was after any long period at tickover (waiting for the payage toll booth) - big cloud!

I bought it end of May, seems to have a good service history (not translated the german yet tho)with lots of receipts for work done etc. Its in good nick all round (to my eye) and it was serviced before I picked it up.
I had the timing belt changed as it seemed common sense.

Cant remember any sign of any probs till the return pipe started to drop a bit but then I had only done shortish local runs till then and barely above 55 mph for any time at all - Norfolk/Suffolk roads - Tractors n sugar beet wagons!

Took it down to quick fit safety belts to have a 2nd 3pnt belt fitted. Longer run (any prob higher mean speed) seems to have started this pipe dripping - seems its been downhill from there.

That said - It starts no probs and seems to run even n smooth - like I said, I was quite impressed with how it ran given a full load of kids, 4 bikes and a full trailer.

Oil use aside I dont really have any other issues with the way its runs.

Aiming to get up to Hudds to have you lower it and replace the shocks (bounces n squeaks a lot) and think the steering needs a bit fettling to make that tighter too - but now seems I need to get the injun sorted first.

Not afraid of spending some hard earned - but being a yorkie meself, want to spend it slowly and wisely. If thats possible with a 21yr old bus!

Mine uses a bit of oil too. The best method I've found to make it use less is simple - slow down.

Thinner oil will go quicker, what are you putting in it?

15/40 semi synth - by the bucket full!!!!!!!!!!!

horns wrote:Mine uses a bit of oil too. The best method I've found to make it use less is simple - slow down.

Hiya Mate - yes, if it runs dry on me - i'll be grinding to a halt - can't get slower than that.

Well 4ltrs per 1000 miles is going somewhere so if your sure its not leaking out and disappearing down the road or over your tailgate( and youve said it isnt) so we are pretty sure nobody is slipping out with a tube and nicking the stuff, you arent dreaming and really are putting it in the oil filler that Im afraid only leaves one thing, its burning it, it can be nothing else, so either turbo shot or rings, out of interest if you get someone to stick their nice clean finger into your tailpipe and wipe it around in there, does it come out all oily wet and horrible?
mike

metalmick8y wrote:out of interest if you get someone to stick their nice clean finger into your tailpipe and wipe it around in there, does it come out all oily wet and horrible?
mike

Thx for that micky, I trust thats not a euphormism for something that us country folk (adopted) don't quite understand!

I'll get the wife to .......................... nope, 2nd thoughts best not, she's country born n bred.

I'll check it at the w/e when I'm back from work.

I agree its gotta be burning it somehow, I'll do the best checks I can as you've all suggested (many thx and all ideas welcomed). I haven't had my hands oily in over 20 yrs - quite looking fwd to it actually. I guess its one of the many 'pleasures' that I'll no doubt rediscover now i've finally got a bus of me own.

Cheers bud

Seem to recall from the german receipts Ive got that its had a replacement turbo already - cant remember how far back off hand - something else for the weekend sir!

he he , I thought it was something that country folk would be only too well aware of
Mike