Whats wrong with my engine

suew · Oct 25, 2013

Hi, just wondering if anyone has any ideas about what is wrong with my engine.

Its running fine and sounds OK except its puffing something out of the oil filler cap. Its noticeable even with the cap on. It seems to be worse on tick over and doesn't do it as much when its going faster.

Noticed it a week ago and then tonight when it was getting a service.

Nrgserv has seen it and thinks it might be a worn engine, its done 82,000 miles that seems genuine from old MOTs. Its a 1991 200 tdi. Neil thinks the stuff that looks like smoke is oil mist

Its not burning oil either.

I will be most grateful if anyone can help.

blue beasty · Oct 25, 2013

Head gasket can go between compression chamber and an oil way which might explain it

suew · Oct 25, 2013

blue beasty said:
Head gasket can go between compression chamber and an oil way which might explain it

Is there any way to test for that, thanks

jamesmartin · Oct 25, 2013

blue beasty said:
Head gasket can go between compression chamber and an oil way which might explain it

hmm no it doesnt ,the only oil way on a 200 is a small hole front rh side ,gasket cam gallery gives crankcase pressure as can cylinder to cylinder

suew · Oct 25, 2013

jamesmartin said:
hmm no it doesnt ,the only oil way on a 200 is a small hole front rh side ,gasket cam gallery gives crankcase pressure as can cylinder to cylinder

Sorry James but I dont understand that. Will get Neil to look on here

Thank you

blue beasty · Oct 25, 2013

jamesmartin said:
hmm no it doesnt ,the only oil way on a 200 is a small hole front rh side ,gasket cam gallery gives crankcase pressure as can cylinder to cylinder

My mistake, I think I must have misunderstood a previous post from you. I thought gasket around no4 was often responsible for crankpressure on 200's.

I'll try and pay more attention

jamesmartin · Oct 25, 2013

suew said:
Sorry James but I dont understand that. Will get Neil to look on here

Thank you

as pistons go up and down like pumps ,1/2 a litre ish of air is squashed per piston ,if gasket leaks that can enter crankcase and be vented out of filler cap , it can also be worn engine past the rings though oil use would be an effect or valve not opening fully and on a 200tdi a leaking pipe or servo as vac pump vents to crankcase

suew · Oct 25, 2013

Thank you, how would I (more likely Neil

) find out which it is.

Would I just get a new head gasket fitted

Just read it again, did you mean it could be the head gasket or a leaking pipe or servo

Sorry, I am completely clueless

nrgserv · Oct 25, 2013

suew said:
Thank you, how would I (more likely Neil ) find out which it is.

Would I just get a new head gasket fitted

Just read it again, did you mean it could be the head gasket or a leaking pipe or servo

Sorry, I am completely clueless

jamesmartin said:
as pistons go up and down like pumps ,1/2 a litre ish of air is squashed per piston ,if gasket leaks that can enter crankcase and be vented out of filler cap , it can also be worn engine past the rings though oil use would be an effect or valve not opening fully and on a 200tdi a leaking pipe or servo as vac pump vents to crankcase

i'm doubtful its a head gasket issue as its running too smoothly.
worn engine was my guess, but according to sue it don't use oil and certainly no visual of oil from the tail pipe on tick over or revving. also not noticeable when following.
valve's a possibility, as It gives a chugging / chuffing sound when the oil caps removed. still seems too smooth tho.
didn't know servo vented to crank case. no indication of braking issues, but will look into it.

ta muchly jim.

jamesmartin · Oct 25, 2013

suew said:
Thank you, how would I (more likely Neil ) find out which it is.

Would I just get a new head gasket fitted

Just read it again, did you mean it could be the head gasket or a leaking pipe or servo

Sorry, I am completely clueless

it could be a few things ,without looking i cant say ,your getting pressure in your crankcase which is venting from cap ,82000 is nothing but has it been serviced regular or poor materials when built , oil has a blueish tint ,id know if i saw it ,all you can do is check valves ,cap servo inlet ,remove turbo pipe ,then remove head

jamesmartin · Oct 25, 2013

nrgserv said:
i'm doubtful its a head gasket issue as its running too smoothly.
worn engine was my guess, but according to sue it don't use oil and certainly no visual of oil from the tail pipe on tick over or revving. also not noticeable when following.
valve's a possibility, as It gives a chugging / chuffing sound when the oil caps removed. still seems too smooth tho.
didn't know servo vented to crank case. no indication of braking issues, but will look into it.

ta muchly jim.

if system is sealed then it doesnt vent much

suew · Oct 25, 2013

jamesmartin said:
it could be a few things ,without looking i cant say ,your getting pressure in your crankcase which is venting from cap ,82000 is nothing but has it been serviced regular or poor materials when built , oil has a blueish tint ,id know if i saw it ,all you can do is check valves ,cap servo inlet ,remove turbo pipe ,then remove head

Thank you, it seems to have been looked after reasonably well but I have only owned it 18 months. I have serviced it regularly though and this is new, it didn't used to do it.

The only thing I have ever been concerned about is it has always appeared to run rather hot, although this has not changed in 18 months. It always runs at the top end of the white, it never crosses into the red though. It doesn't seem to matter how hard it works, it never gets any hotter.

jamesmartin · Oct 25, 2013

suew said:
Thank you, it seems to have been looked after reasonably well but I have only owned it 18 months. I have serviced it regularly though and this is new, it didn't used to do it.

The only thing I have ever been concerned about is it has always appeared to run rather hot, although this has not changed in 18 months. It always runs at the top end of the white, it never crosses into the red though. It doesn't seem to matter how hard it works, it never gets any hotter.

radiator is killer of tdis needs to be hot all over it ,worth checking

jamesmartin · Oct 25, 2013

suew said:
Thank you, it seems to have been looked after reasonably well but I have only owned it 18 months. I have serviced it regularly though and this is new, it didn't used to do it.

The only thing I have ever been concerned about is it has always appeared to run rather hot, although this has not changed in 18 months. It always runs at the top end of the white, it never crosses into the red though. It doesn't seem to matter how hard it works, it never gets any hotter.

radiator is killer of tdis needs to be hot all over it ,worth checking

doz · Oct 25, 2013

Couldn't this be just a simple case of blocked crankcase breather?

suew · Oct 25, 2013

doz said:
Couldn't this be just a simple case of blocked crankcase breather?

I dont know but I hope so

Where where is this, is it something I could have got full of muck laning

Thank you

Oldseadog · Oct 25, 2013

doz said:
Couldn't this be just a simple case of blocked crankcase breather?

Agreed!

Check the simple things first!

If you are getting smoke out of the oil filler cap, I would be inclined to replace the filler cap seal ... they are readily available and only cost pence

It is normal to have a smoky haze inside your rocker cover, as the oil gets hot after lubricating the pistons, which is what generates the haze.

Check that the breather system is working properly ... especially if it goes through a breather/condenser as yours probably will.

suew · Oct 25, 2013

Oldseadog said:
Agreed!

Check the simple things first!

If you are getting smoke out of the oil filler cap, I would be inclined to replace the filler cap seal ... they are readily available and only cost pence

It is normal to have a smoky haze inside your rocker cover, as the oil gets hot after lubricating the pistons, which is what generates the haze.

Check that the breather system is working properly ... especially if it goes through a breather/condenser as yours probably will.

Thank you, I can probably change the seal on the filler cap myself

Just looking in the manual for the breather now, flaming index, I can never understand it. I might even be able to check the breather myself

nrgserv · Oct 25, 2013

suew said:
Thank you, I can probably change the seal on the filler cap myself

Just looking in the manual for the breather now, flaming index, I can never understand it. I might even be able to check the breather myself

you cleaned the breather last night.

post a link to a you tube vid of it puffing.

(like I suggested last night

)

suew · Oct 25, 2013

nrgserv said:
you cleaned the breather last night.

post a link to a you tube vid of it puffing.

(like I suggested last night )

What you didn't suggest was how to do that. I dont have a working video camera

Was the breather the thing that I had to clean and then put the air line into.

And its raining

Whats wrong with my engine

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