Is a little oil leakage / petrol smell / non-start normal?

[LittleRedVan]

I know this post is a really stupid one from a woman who knows very little about owning a classic van, but I've only had my shiny new rebuilt and reconditioned 1972 Westy for 5 days and I'm panicking!

Couldn't resist taking her out for a sunset spin this evening. She started perfectly first time so I let her tick over and warm up while I got the dogs in. We pootled 15 miles doing about 40mph and noticed a smell of petrol in the cab, then stopped for 20 mins at a scenic spot (with no phone signal). Could smell petrol quite strongly in the cab and at the left rear, opposite side to fuel cap. When I tried to restart her she turned over but wouldn't fire - cue panic attack. This went on for 5 mins, then in desperation I just kept turning her over and flooring the accelerator - finally she started and I revved her hard so she wouldn't stop!

Managed to get her home absolutely fine - a bit faster this time getting up to 50mph. The petrol smell was much stronger, so much so I had to open the window, and now she's back it's really strong. Can't see any petrol leaks but there is slight oil leakage from the engine oil drain plate (according to my Haynes manual) and around the surrounding end of the gearbox. Been under my van with a torch and touching / sniffing anything that looks damp - it's just oil, not petrol. Checked the oil before I drove her and it was just under the top line (and she's done a 240 mile trip home last Thursday without problem).

So, my question is, are these little quirks normal for a 39-year old van, regardless that it's been stripped down and had a photographic rebuild? Am I over-reacting?! (Obviously I'll ring the garage I bought her from tomorrow, but third party opinions would be appreciated).

Thanks,
Lilli

 

[triothreetrio]

Hello If you asked me don't drive until the petrol is sorted I'm paranoid about petrol smells as they cause fires and last thing want is it on fire

 

[71Westy]

Welcome! Well, the old saying goes that VWs either leak oil, or are about to... So a little oil around the sump plate is commonplace (although easily rectified if that is where its leaking).

However, a strong petrol smell is not normal. Do call the garage tomorrow.

Hot starting can be tricky anyway, so that may not be related. But a strong petrol smell is bad news - if you have a leak around the petrol pump and carb, then that can cause a fire on a hot engine. You wouldn't see petrol underneath if that was the case. (It may be as simple as a perished pipe or loose connection, so it may not be really bad news).

Nick

 

[Merlydog]

Hi Lilli,

As a woman I hear your cry! I was exactly the same when I started and as you, I also had exactly the same problems your describing.

Firstly your hot start, yep been there. I'm assuming your on a single carb? They're renown for it. I found adding a hot start relay helped but didn't cure it completely. It sounds like you flooded it when you were pumping the accelerator, which is why you smelt the petrol even stronger once you finally got it started. When your engines hot it might help to just slowly feed the accelerator in, rather than pump it. I've been there myself trust me! :lol: Try feeding it in first see if that works. Could be so many other things but try that first.

The strong smell of petrol is not common place. I also suffered it, mine was a poor fitting petrol cap. Replaced that and hey presto. I would get it checked by the Garage though Lilli, these beasts are renown for setting on fire and better to be safe than sorry.

Oil leak, yep.. It's taken me around a year to finally stop all mine. It's not really right but most have a little drip. Ask the garage, they might just nip your plate up a little bit. Not too tight though, they thread easy.

I've owned my current van nearly two years. In those two years I've learnt soooo much! I've started to do bits myself to save on garage costs! Your on the right forum for friendly advice. I'd have not done half without the help of these guys.

Good luck with it all. They are high maintenance and always need a little bit of something. You own a fabulous piece of history though and once your got all the niggly bits done you'll be over the moon i assure you!

Do you have any pictures Lilli?

 

[ZedBed]

Petrol smell definately NOT NORMAL. Don't drive it at all until you find where it's coming from and fix it.

I had the same experience myself just today. A friend dropped his van off last night for me to MOT today. It STANK of petrol this morning when I drove it the 100yds to the MOT station - so much so that I expected to see a trail of petrol in the rear view mirror.
A petrol pipe had split after the pump (T4 engine) so it was pumping it out while the engine was running. How he hadn't disappeared in a ball of flames I don't know.

 

[LittleRedVan]

Thanks guys - especially Merlydog I'm paranoid about petrol and fume smells, leaks, creaks, everything! You don't realise how easy it is owning a modern car - get in, drive, get out and forget about it! I've saved up for my van for 20 years and I just want to have a long and happy relationship with her and I'm panicking and a little disappointed that I've paid ALOT of money for her. :?

Well, my hubby's picking up a new petrol cap from Halfords for me today. I'm just about to ring the garage I bought her from (VW Kampers in Brighton) and I've found a few aircooled specialists near Wales, so I've got a few calls to make!

There's no 'new' leaks under her this morning but there's still a slight petrolly smell near the tailpipe.

I hope the joy of owning a van outweighs the headaches!! :|

 

[ZedBed]

Once you've ironed out the teething troubles you will be able to treat it like a modern car - get in and drive with the odd service.

Like Merlydog says - get to know it and do some stuff yourself. It's all straightforward once you get your head round it. You'll get plenty of encouragement on here.

Saving for 20 years? 20 years ago you'd have got a minter for £1200.

 

[LittleRedVan]

Ironically I used to live near you, Zed! If I was still in Cambridge I'd be knocking on your garage door today!

Yes, she's early 40th birthday pressie to myself and I've had a saving fund for a long time (not exactly 20 years, but I've dreamed of having one for that long!) as I knew I wanted a full resto job rather than buying a banger and doing her up myself.

Anyway, a nice guy from Aircooled Classics in Newtown has taken pity on me and said he can come out to me this afternoon to look at her, then I'll book her in for an independent mini-service with him in a couple of weeks to sort out any quirks.

Fingers crossed!! I'll post an update when he's been.

Thanks guys, I'm very grateful for the advice - I'm so glad I joined the forum

 

[LittleRedVan]

Just a little update on this thread... Mechanic has been and apparently my fuel pump has gone despite it being new - just one of those things I guess. Just ordered a better quality one from Just Kampers, with the mechanic's guidance, so hopefully this will fix the problem. I'm just thankful he was able to come out so quickly! I'll get him to give her a mini-service next week just to be on the safe side, but he said she looked like a decent van, so that's good

Really grateful for your advice though - it made me act on the situation quickly.

Lilli

 

[Merlydog]

Great news Lilli! Nice simple fix Unfortunately the aftermarket parts can be a bit of a gamble on quality. I went through three starter motors at the beginning! Least now your buying from Just Kampers if it's not right you can send it back & get a replacement. Not that I'm sure you'll have any problems.
Happy Camping! :mrgreen:

 

[Mark Space-Ratio]

On my first van I had a leak in a braided fuel line connecting to the fuel pump. I experienced an overwhelming smell of petrol, luckily I was stationary and about to drive off. I found that although the pipe looked decent the braid was soaked with petrol and initially not easy to spot. I stripped off the braid and found that the rubber had cracked all along the line but not quite enough to leak everywhere but just at one point. These were original lines so I replaced them with modern rubber pipe where the braid is sandwiched between the rubber for strain relief. I don't trust aftermarket braided pipe as they are thin and quality is questionable. I actually bought some braided and thought it was rubbish when it arrived so now just keep that in my spares box in the van just in case. They are also sold in different internal diameters so they need to be correct for the pump and steel pipe from the tank that they are connecting to, it must be a tight push fit.

Whilst your mechanic is fitting the new pump get him to assess your fuel lines and see whether he thinks they will last. Rubber loses its elasticity in the heated engine bay environment. If you have the rubber T piece attached to the engine bay roof and two steel pipes running off up to each outside air intake then it is worth getting the rubber T piece checked too. This is a breather pipe for the tank and maybe fitted to your '72, it was on my early '73. This is also a source of fumes if a failure.
Good luck
Mark

 

[AGC]

Lots of good advice re the petrol smells so now some advice re starting problems

When first starting from cold depress the excelerator to the floor and then release slowly to engage the choke. start the engine straight away with foot off accelerator pedal

When starting from hot depress the accelerator to the floor and start engine with accelerator fully depressed. I find this the best way to start a stock engine. Also when started drive away immediately. This is better than letting the engine "warm up"

 

[geenjay]

Lots of good advice re the petrol smells so now some advice re starting problems

When first starting from cold depress the excelerator to the floor and then release slowly to engage the choke. start the engine straight away with foot off accelerator pedal

When starting from hot depress the accelerator to the floor and start engine with accelerator fully depressed. I find this the best way to start a stock engine. Also when started drive away immediately. This is better than letting the engine "warm up"

i agree with the starting procedure thats how ive started mine for 20 years including starting in the hot medertrianian climate and dont leave it on the drive to warm up the extra fuel on choke washes away the oil on the bores leading to premature wear just be moderate with her and dont scream her down the street when shes cold i cruise mine on the motorway between 3000/3500 rpm some criuse at 4000 but realisticly anything over 4500rpm aint good there a quite low reving engine by modern day standards so welcome to the slow lane ok so everyone else is flying by but i know they wont be grinning from ear to ear when they see another vw camper ..welcome to the mad house.... :mrgreen:

 

[gibzy76]

Try Jason at the V-Dub Factory Cymru or Paul at VW Dubs and Bugs. Both are in Newport, both garages are on Facebook.

Both guys are really competent and have done jobs for me in the past

 

[antoine]

just thought id mention a top little vw garage in talybont too if you have any isses, its at the top of station road, but i cant remember a number or anything. its worth a drive out, the old fella who runs it has been fixing aircooled dubs since they were new.