Diesel Leak?

Morning guys.

My 2.1TD smells heavily of diesel after it has been driven, and appears to be leaving small drips of it on the drive.
If you open the bonnet and have a sniff, it literally stinks of the stuff from somewhere down the back of the engine.

Of course, I can't see a thing down there, so have no idea where its coming from. I've checked at front, round the pump etc, and there doesn't appear to be any leaks there.

Are there any known / suspect points that it can leak from, or have I just got an interesting magical mystery to solve?

Similar life breaking experiences appreciated.

Many thanks.

Ciarán

Hi Cirian

On 2.5's Noz targets the metal/rubber fuel pipe connections in the two pipes on the bulkhead of the engine bay just round the back of the engine from the drivers side strut. Regular point for the rubber to split and spill diesel. The 2.1 must have a similar steel to rubber pipe change to give the flexibility needed to connect the fuel lines to the engine. I guess Peter N may well be able to confirm 2.1 pipe routing.

Regards

XMexc

Thanks John, the pipe joints make sense. Heres hoping the 2.1 does have a similar setup, as you said.

Cheers

Ciarán

The end of the heater unit has a couple of plugs in it from casting. These on my previous 2.1 were what leaked. I found it by removing the pipe at the filter and blowing back up towards the heater unit through it. The fix was to fill the area with chemical metal. Worked a treat.

Hi Assich,

When you say the heater unit, do you mean the wee fuel preheater (which gives joy to so many by going porus) on the top edge of the head?

If so, this is already bypassed on mine. Thanks for the suggestion, though.

Yes, the pre-heater. Also I would asdk is it porous or just the casting "plastic" plugs. As I said, easy to find out by blowing back up the pipe.

I may well have to resort to pipe blowing later!

Don't muck about - just bypass and you'll have no problem from that again You don't need it in the UK

Hi Ciaran

The injector leak off pipes are the most likely suspect but I would think that you you have already checked them. Its got to be something on the pressurised side of the fuel line i.e after the pump, unless you park it facing downhill with the front lower than the back. I cant think of anything that would cause a leak at the back of the engine. There is a plastic to metal join but that would normally let air in, rather then fuel out, unless parked as above. Could be the pump itself. The only sure way is to clean the engine with detergent, or have it steamed cleaned, and then just watch!

Peter.N.

Hi Peter,

Thanks for that, you've raised a very interesting point. The smell is definately emenating strongest from the back of the engine, which makes me think maybe its running down the front, dripping off the rear of the sump or something, and the fumes are wafting up the back.
If you say it has to be on the pressurised side, I must have overlooked something, I'll have to check it again in detail tonight, it must be the leakback pipes or similar.
Strange thing though, my drive is a perfectly flat surface, to the point where you could leave the car without the parking brake on and it wouldn't move a milimeter (and to the point where rainwater doesn't drain away, genius that!). Anyway, theres no parking on a slope, so I can't think how the diesel appears to be coming from the rear, unless its being pushed there by the forwards motion of the car when driving.

Your suggestion of having it steam cleaned is a good one, as the engine is filthy from previous oil leaks, that coolant hose bursting, etc, so its hard to reliably see anything. Might even deploy the wee household steam cleaner, courtesy of 'er indoors, should be enough to clean small areas for checking anyway.

I'll report back any findings for future reference.

Many thanks.

Ciarán

This post has been edited by Ciaran on June 27, 2007 09:50 am