50/50 veg... now got problem

been running 300tdi on 50/50 mix for approx 3 weeks with no problems till now. thought i would change fuel and air filters and noticed oil has been leaking badly from rocker cover and the oil filter was minging in oil. i pulled dipstick to find that oil level was 3-4 milimeters above the high mark ??? i dumped some oil from the sump straight away. i had also noticed the engine has been warming quicker last week so checked coolant level and that had dropped quite a bit so i topped it up but again its dropped... so i've also got a leak now, i think its behind the water pump where it bolts to the engine. these two faults have both happened i guess roughly at the same time and since i been using the 50/50 mix.... im not that hot under the bonnet but theres something weird going on. i have now dropped back to using 100% diesel as from today as im also finding it takes longer to fire up in the mornings... i live in cornwall and the temp here aint too bad. could the veg oil be finding its way to the sump in some way ? would the increased oil pressure cause the water leak as im sure they're related ? would like to fit a heater kit but cant afford one right now.

what makes you think you have increased oil pressure? and even if you did there isn't any way it could cause coolant leak. i think going by what you say, you have a hg failure, does yer oil look a bit whiteish.. can you see any visible sign of water leaking out or is it just a drop in level?
i don't think yer veggi oil would cause a hg failure so i'd say its just a normal run of the mill HG failure.

get a leak down test done on it

oil level high on dipstick and oil filter was covered, quite a bit below rocker cover but its blacker than dogs guts. i can see droplets of water and staining. she runs ok once started... quieter and seems like more power. harder to turn over in the morning but starting up any time after that i.e leaving work... starts quite quickly. thankyou for replying slob

Have to agree with slob just a coincidence, souunds like HG could also explain external water leak due to slightly increased cooling system pressure. I would suggest tho that 50/50 dino/veg mix is a bit high esp as tdi is a bit of a cold running engine, when you have the head off drop the sump and pop a piston, say number four and have a look at the comp ring area. If heavily carboned and rings getting a bit sticky in groove that will confirm it. would suggest 35% summer 25% winter unless very cold also be governed by how good your cold starting is and adj accordingly JMHO

if yer oil level is up and you int put no more in then something is getting in there. my furst thought was water as you sed yer had a leak. but if yer oil is black and not creamy/white thats unlikey. the only other fluid that could accidently get in there is fuel. which in all probability is getting past yer rings.

either way a leak down test will confirm without the need to whip yer head off..................yet!

Could be the increased viscosity of the veg oil has damaged the lift pump diaphram and the excess oil your seeing is fuel.

There is a reason that bio diesel is made, because it really is not as simple as just tossing veg oil in the tank, especially in the winter where it can get quite viscous.

wint it be running crap if the lift pump wur gubbed?

Not necessarily, our 300tdi lift pump completely failed and it ran without too much bother, it struggled when revving high such as overtaking on a country road in 4th, but motorway speeds in 5th gear were not a problem.

It could be a small split in the diaphragm induced by the extra pressure of the SVO, especially on a cold morning where everything is stone cold.

fair do's, ah was just checkin

thank you for all your help and suggestions. my mate who's a sgt in the r.e.m.e will be taking a look at it this weekend... i will show him your comments as many hands make light work. im now checking coolent and oil level every day and for the moment have gone back to 100% straight diesel. my mate did say over the phone that **** happens and to start doing some overtime at work... ive not had the discovery long and that ive probably bought a problem that was already there... i just helped it along. again thanks and will let you guys know where it all ends.