Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all new member with questions,
I have recently bought a 1984 T3 1.9 DG Engine, Camper, with a Vege Replacement Engine with 21,000 miles done since replacement. I have verified with Vege that this is the engine they supplied and have the Vehicle history and previous MOT's so I know that the milage is genuine.
Now to the problems.
Whilst bringing the engine up to running temperature the Oil Pressure dropped to almost zilch on idle but picked up when applying throttle, then loads of Smoke and backfireing ., on further investigation I found that a good amount of Oil is coming up the breather to the Carb and that the breather pipe had collapsed. I switched off and first put a piece of 22mm copper pipe up the breather to bring it back to shape.
On dropping the Oil and Filter, I find that the Oil is diluted with Petrol. Removed the Oil Pressure Relief Valve I find that the small Piston on top of the spring has what appears to have wear marks/dishing on the top, slightly off centre about 5mm square-ish, as though it been caused by rubbing on a Cam ?? as far as I am aware this operates on on the Crankcase pressure and open's and closes accordingly and does not come into contact with anything other than its seat in the top of its houseing ??.
Thinking Pistons, Rings,Liner's or Valve wear I did a Compression Test with the Engine Cold so as not to make any possible damage worse, Surprisingly all four cylinders read 160-170 PSI and hold pressure. As the Compression is what should be expected from a new Engine and apart from the above, it sounds as sweet as you would expect a new Engine to sound. So now I'm scratching my head !.
The only other thing that I can see is that the Mechanical Fuel Pump has been removed and blanked off and a Electric Fuel Pump has been fitted, I can not see a Fuel Pressure Regulator.
Would this Electric Fuel Pump or a problem with the Carb cause over-fueling or is it more likely that the previous owner left it idleing for long periods allowing petrol to build up unburnt and go down the side of the Piston Rings, ie: Bore Wash.??
All answers greatly appreciated from anyone in the know
Thanks Mick

firstly is the engine still under any guarantee or warranty?

No Warrenty unfortunatley, Engine replaced 2003 and basically sat doing nothing for the last 8 year, I bought it off a friend of mine who did no more than 1500 mile since he bought it in 2006 and he knows absolutley nothing about motors other than be able to drive them!
Thats the reason I verified the engine number with Vege to be sure I had what it was supposed to be plus it had another owner betweeen him and the new engine

Sounds like the carb is over fuelling like you say, whether that is something to do with the elecy pump or the carb I dont know. Does it run ok when warmed up...But saying that if there is as much fuel in the oil as you say, Im suprised it runs at all..

you can re fit the mechanical pump... they are available

the petrol in the oil is not helping the pressure
I would suggest you cure that before using the engine too much

Thanks for your replies
She will fire-up and run untill she starts to warm up, then obviously as the crankcase pressure builds up and shoots the allready thinned down oil up the breather, I have to switch off for the smoke, As I've bought it to restore with a view to driving from Ireland to Romania next year, it won't be going on the road for a while yet,
Haveing said that I still need to be able to drive it to the local NCT Centre (MOT) to Register it onto Irish Plates and don't want a siezure or nicking for pollution on the way there or back Does anyone have any input regarding the Oil Pressure Relief Valve,?? the dishing on the top of the piston which sits on top of the spring concerns me most. The Fuel Pump and Carb can be changed easily later, its whats going on internally that bothers me,
Any input anyone please
Thanks Mick

High Mick. Can't help with the fuel in oil problem but I have the same indent on the oil relief plunger. It makes no difference to my 1.9DG engine. I wouldn't worry too much on that. For piece of mind, I would go back to the stock mechanical pump as they are not too dear in the grand scheme of things and see what happens.
Jake

Hi Mick
When and why was the fuel pump replaced for an electric one? I suspect it was done because the mechanical one failed, and when it failed it leaked petrol into the sump. The only real way to get large amounts of petrol in a sump is via a leaking mechanical fuel pump or a seriously flooding carb. Electric fuel pumps must have a pressure regulator of some kind fitted between pump and carb. Fuel pressure at carb is quite critical and too much will easily overcome the needle valve causing flooding and fire risk.

Personaly I would ditch the electric pump and replace it with a standard mechanical one and the correct pushrod and spacer and get rid of an unnecessary (potentialy Hazardous) electrical pump/system. Heritage have the mechanical pumps cos I recently replaced mine, it had packed up after a long period of inactivity.
With regard to the oil in sump just change it when you've sorted the flooding to be extra safe you could flush the engine with a flushing oil from any good motor factor

Hope this is helpfull Andy

Thanks Jake,
Happy to hear someone else has the same marks on the plunger and that its not a problem, I will give it some good 15-40 or maybe 20-50 Oil a new Mann Filter and suck it and see for a while, Difficult to get parts for anything old over here in the Rip off Republic. Everything has to come from UK .
So will observe Fuel/Carb/Pump issues, I think that next step will be dismantle Carb and see if the float is holed or the needle valve is broken etc.
Then go back to a stock pump. Unless anyone has any input in a different direction I'd be happy to hear it

Thanks Andy
Don't know yet when or why the pump was changed, probably as you suggest, hope to hear from the previous owners later today. I've just found a Petrol King Fuel Regulator tucked down the bottom. So I suspect a combination of the two maybe the cause of the over fueling and I will put it back to stock as you suggest. About to order Parts now. When recieved and fitted I will update and let you all know.
Many thanks to all
Best regards
Mick