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EXTRA CUSTOM VAN: Fuel / Head / Pump worry!

martinnit

Member
hi folks,
got a bit of a problem with the van (have inserted an image to show off the NATO green custom spray)

Ive not busted a head gasket before so im not sure whats the issue: Sorry if this is a bit of an essay.


Its pissing down with rain, flooded, and ive been out driving round splashing through puddles and generally having a good time, but i felt the engine drop out of power at one point, as if electrics had gone awry or something. It was fine after that for 20 minutes. Then for a short period i felt as though there was less power available in terms of accelleration, but running ok. Shortly afterwards i lost power totally, although the engine continued to run, albeit asif choking a bit, and i had heaps of white smoke pour out (like when starting on a cold morning). I revved for a bit, and things chilled out, then headed home, some smoke for the next few hundred yards.
On the way back i had two more occurances of the van losing power. (foot on pedal, no grunt) However inbetween, it ran fine.

I filled up a tenner of diesel from empty this morning.

Ive never blown a gasket, but pressure / power loss and white smoke says that. But then again, it ran fine for the majority of the trip. Pulling over and having a look in the bonnet, there is no steam, no oil leaks, and no white smoke from the exhaust, revving away happily now.

Its too wet to go further, but before i take it to the garage i wondered if anyone had any opinions - Could this be crap fuel / wet weather / too many puddles?

or do i need to stop trying to convince myself that it isnt knackered?!

cheers

mart


van.jpg
 
highly likely... i guess my question is, if a head goes would i "know about it" and have permanent power loss and smoking instead of the intermittent (30 seconds max) drops and gurgles i got today?
 
AFAIK, with previous experiences with HG failures, it varies from car to car, so being a diesel, i'd hang around and someone who'll know for certain will probably tell

power loss is a common sympton tho
 
head gaskets are not uncommon and its an easy job to takle yourself.

Is it runnign on all 4? I mean is is noticeably a lot more lumpy at idle?

How does it rev? Like its going to stall or juist slower and smokier than before?

Check the head thoroughly for any noises or signs of blowing fromt he join betwen it and the block.

However I think you may be very lucky and just got some shite fuel in it.

Get a small can of diesel (another petrol station), pop the fuel pipe of the filter housing and put it in the can (make sure its the feed not return) and start it up, it may take a bit of cranking. If the engine now runs better then a bad batch of fuel.
 
sweet cheers,
yeh its running on all four, doesnt jump or bump, just goes slower, no power as if its just going to cut out (like from electric fails or something)

Will have a fiddle and post the results.

thanks for tips :)
 
well there are variables ben, often a big gulp will bend a rod and you'l get a ticking from the bent rod hititng the bore and a loss in power but not enough to make it only run on 3 just a bit lumpy.

other times it'll pop a rod through the block, sometimes it'll just lock solid and be fine when emptied out.

More often than not it'll pass some water through just fine
 
thought id check in and let you know the results.
i took chris's advice and changed fuel.
It seems to have sorted itself out since then: slowly getting better as ive worked my way into the new fuel.

I noticed low water and smoking + power loss and so thought HG.
but started fine, no spunk on the dipstick or in the oil after taking cap off and having a gander. No funny noises. I did notice water loss. I think this may have been a separate issue that was discovered after "looking" for a problem with HG in mind.

Topped up water, took it easy, no big puddles, new fuel, all good.

I suspect that it was either shite fuel or it must have been taken a fair amount of water onboard somewhere where the van has struggled to shift it.

Touchwood shes running ok.
thanks again for tips and saving unnecessary garage bill.
cheers
 
thought id check in and let you know the results.
i took chris's advice and changed fuel.
It seems to have sorted itself out since then: slowly getting better as ive worked my way into the new fuel.

I noticed low water and smoking + power loss and so thought HG.
but started fine, no spunk on the dipstick or in the oil after taking cap off and having a gander. No funny noises. I did notice water loss. I think this may have been a separate issue that was discovered after "looking" for a problem with HG in mind.

Topped up water, took it easy, no big puddles, new fuel, all good.

I suspect that it was either shite fuel or it must have been taken a fair amount of water onboard somewhere where the van has struggled to shift it.

Touchwood shes running ok.
thanks again for tips and saving unnecessary garage bill.
cheers

what better tribute to being a full paid up memeber? :D
 
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