Should I run a mile?

[Flex]

Hi, I went to view a 97 300TDI manual Disco recently, this is my first step into the land of 4x4's and the like so it's easy to say I'm a N00B.

Anyway it didn't look in too bad condition, rust didn't seem to be at a worrying level and it had almost a full service history with many millions of reciepts.

My worry though is that when it was ticking over it smelt of burning oil when I stood near the bonnet but not at the back and it wasn't smoking. There's wasn't any oil puddle in the garage underneath it and I couldn't really spot any in the engine bay. One thing I did notice was that there were reciepts for Mineral Oil, I thought that this would smell quite different to normal oil though. There's tonnes of fairly recent reciepts for engine work and seals etc so I'm at a bit of a loss.

Just hoped that someone may be able to help and advise wether I should go for it or leave it well alone. Before anyone asks I didn't test drive it, I'm due to go back and have one as it was a bit of a rush to go and see it the other day

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

take someone with ya that knows Discos - where are ya?

 

[mjltigger]

mineral oil is normal oil isn't it...

landrovers smell oily..

 

[k341sjr]

maybee if there are recent invoices for fitting oil seals it could be oil residue from the work being carried out

 

[gotoneatlast]

Its obviously had a problem, which has been rectified, the reciepts show that, or they replaced seals and changed oil after undertaking other work, if they wanted to hide a fault from you, why present the reciepts in first place?.
I'm guessing that mineral oil would be cheaper than synthetic, esp. when replacing entire capacity after repair job, rather than topping up.
Smell of burning oil probably from excess spillage after the work on the engine casing etc., whats the condition like?. Is the Oil filter new and clean, or with oily fingerprints etc, could have been a messy job, thats all.
Go with MadHatMan, take someone along with you to check it out.
It doesn't sound like too much to worry about to me.

 

[Flex]

mineral oil is normal oil isn't it...

landrovers smell oily..

<shrugs>
That's quite a relieving thing to hear, as I say though this is the first time I've been near one. I was always more of an oldskool ford kinda guy before.

take someone with ya that knows Discos - where are ya?

I'm in Derbyshire, and the Disco's over Chesterfield way. I think I may know a man with the knowledge, I'll have to see if he's free.

 

[Sean]

Its obviously had a problem, which has been rectified, the reciepts show that, ..........................

.............. It doesn't sound like too much to worry about to me.

that's 2 assumptions that could prove to be very costly

 

[martinhollings]

if you spill an oil when filling it wall go all over the turbo and the exhaust mainifold but would burn off in 15-20 minuites

 

[gotoneatlast]

yeh i take your point,
but my single assumption is based on lack of exhaust smoke, and service record.
The others an opinion.
you Know like an arseole, we all have one...and when not caught up in it are free to use it.

 

[Sean]

you Know like an arseole, we all have one...and when not caught up in it are free to use it.

and in english please ?

 

[gotoneatlast]

Dear oh dear,
Offer the guy some help, or some of your experience.
rather than picking flies of my back.
Pull your head out your arse.

 

[thebiglad]

Dear oh dear,
Offer the guy some help, or some of your experience.
rather than picking flies of my back.
Pull your head out your arse.

And equally, why resort to foul or abusive language?

 

[gotoneatlast]

And of course you'd both be beyond all that...it being so rare.

Once more, from the top...
Help the guy out, you obviously have plenty of experience,
more than i.
The aim of the guys post was for that, thats' were i'm coming from.
By all means your welcome to your comments about my thoughts, if you want to criticise them go right ahead, but far better to appropriate them privately by PM rather than the previous arrogant and judgemental way expressed. Tell the guy that wants help, thats what you think, privately if you want, its' none of my business...
But quoting it and posting it, sorry 'fraid that does become my business, and
and i'm free to respond.
As for the language, that wasn't a resort, lets get that clear too.
I'm not engaged in a fight here,...as i say i'm responding, i've nothing to "resort" to.


Buying a second hand disco, wasn't it.
so.. whos' done that then.
I know i did recently.

 

[Trewey]

what a tw@t!

 

[gotoneatlast]

what a tw@t!

to you maybe...
but i'm speaking for myself, and i'm ok with that.

 

[Sean]

By all means your welcome to your comments about my thoughts, if you want to criticise them go right ahead, but far better to appropriate them privately by PM rather than the previous arrogant and judgemental way expressed.

hang about ya numpty - lets get this clear

OP asks fer advice, the main issue being the smell of burning oil when it's ticking over

you pop up with a few assumptions regarding the cause of the smell (spilt oil blah blah) and you end saying something along the lines of "it doesnt sound like anything to worry about"

the OP might then have thought that he'd found a goodun and spent his hard earnt, based on your assumptions

you might be right that it's nothing to worry about, but running the engine hot with next to no oil will also create that same burning smell and is allmost certanly going to cause engine damage

if you think your going to get away with typing possibly missleading info on here (and then expecting it to be pointed out to you in a PM) rather than on here where everyone can view it you might want to reconsider why you joined LZ in the first place

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

"assume"

 

[gotoneatlast]

hang about ya numpty - lets get this clear

OP asks fer advice, the main issue being the smell of burning oil when it's ticking over

you pop up with a few assumptions regarding the cause of the smell (spilt oil blah blah) and you end saying something along the lines of "it doesnt sound like anything to worry about"

the OP might then have thought that he'd found a goodun and spent his hard earnt, based on your assumptions

you might be right that it's nothing to worry about, but running the engine hot with next to no oil will also create that same burning smell and is allmost certanly going to cause engine damage

if you think your going to get away with typing possibly missleading info on here (and then expecting it to be pointed out to you in a PM) rather than on here where everyone can view it you might want to reconsider why you joined LZ in the first place

As i said i'm ok with what i had to say, i'll also add that i've found something out, about engines running hot, from your reply, which prompted your original statement after my post. Thats cool, if a little late in the day.
And i reckon you'd be assuming there,?, that he'd be spending money based on my
opinion... (I also agreed with good advice, that it'd be an idea to take someone else along).
Very noble of you to protect him from someone like me "popping up".
I don't "think" about getting away with anything, not my assumption again...yours.(my point was your coating me to get your view or experience over, you just knocked me mate...no solution or advice to balance it).
Share your experience, you have plenty of it, which i have respect for, (i just picked up something of benefit to me from your post B4, geniunely!)which is why when all is said and done I get on well with this forum, (some folk freely give advice for what i can see as enjoyment of giving it)and as for "reconsider joining in the first place".. well...i'm not questioning anything no need to. I'm OK with were i'm at.
Time could be better spent contemplating whats floatin' your boat, rather than the consequences of my posts, my motivations, and doing my thinking for me, thanks but as said B4 something i'm ok with that.
I might be right, I might be well off the mark,
but i tell you one thing , i'm interested in how he gets on.


Yeh "assume", was told and came to use that myself when learning to use a chainsaw! i do agree, oh how i wish i could live up to my own standards all the time.

 

[Trewey]

still a tw@t

 

[Sean]

why do i feel dizzy now