Smell of diesel

Oct 16th, 2002, 19:39

There is a distinct smell of diesel from under the bonnet. Is this normal or a leak?

George

Resident near Leuven in Belgium

'87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler
'88 745 Turbo Intercooler

Oct 19th, 2002, 14:58

Hi George!!

Imagine upsetting people like that Tut, tut!!

Anyway, at last I got it to work, so now I can reply :-)

There shouldn't be any smell of diesel under the bonnet, unless you've got a leak, or the fuel filter is not installed correctly, or the fuel rail has a break on it, all of the above would affect the running of the car, Is this the case?? do you experience poor running, stuttering/spluttering?? It must show up something on the car surely??

I feel that there is more to this than you've said, Although I don't have a Volvo Diesel, I have had my fair share of diesels, and used to service them. I can't say there was a smell of diesel at any time, other than a leak or spillage.

Hope this Helps.

Regards
Dave M

Oct 19th, 2002, 17:19

No, there are no running problems apart from two: from cold start, it hesitates a bit too much and smokes badly. The smoke soon goes away and as the engine warms up, it runs perfectly fine. My local Volvo dealer said the fuel pump leaked a little bit and that I would need a knew one, for 1200 quid! As the also said that with a leaking fuel pump, I would always have difficulties starting, which I do not (it fires up very well and as my glow plug light is not working, I sometimes start it up straight away and it fires up every time, apart from cold), I thought: "well you would say that, would you not". Are there seals that I can replace in it? Are there any good ways of finding a fuel leak?

George

Resident near Leuven in Belgium

'87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler
'88 745 Turbo Intercooler

Oct 19th, 2002, 20:44

In answer to your questions George...

1/Sounds definitely like a set of Glow plugs are on the cards for Cold starting, this will also improve hot starting a little.Another improvement may be to replace the seals around the diesel injectors as they will be perished and drawing air:-)

2/The Diesel pump... Yep! it can be overhauled but it is a specialist job as it requires the pump to be recalibrated when finished. Not one for the DIYer! Ther are various places up here in Scotland that will carry out the service and supply 12 months warranty for the pricely sum of £80 - £90 quid and it comes back as good as new !:-)

Hope this Helps

Regards
Dave M

Oct 19th, 2002, 20:53

Well, I have six brand new glow plugs so that cannot be it. I'll have a look at the seals. Now, as for the fuel pump, that sounds very interesting but the calibration, I presume, needs to be done with the pump in the car? I mean, I could not remove it, post it to them, and then re-install it myself, could I? This is what I am about to do to the turbo in the other one, to Turbo Technics in Northampton. You would not believe the prices over here for Volvo repairs, I was qouted 3750 Euros from an independent Volvo garage for replacement of an B230FT engine, this is over 2000 pounds and the engine would be second hand!

George

Resident near Leuven in Belgium

'87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler
'88 745 Turbo Intercooler

Oct 19th, 2002, 21:54

The pump can be done in situ or sent away for calibration, no problems there:-)

One other thought... is it a 5 cylinder or a 4? If it's a 5 then it's the old LT35 engine meaning that you can go to Germany and get a VAG pump that'll bolt straight on no problems, and all for half the price!!! I have a colleague over here that operates a mail order system then sends a transit van over to Germany and brings back the parts at HALF THE PRICE!!! Might be worth a look, if it is a 5 pot!!

Regards
Dave M

Oct 19th, 2002, 22:25

Yes and no, this is the 6 pot engine from the LT35 range, although in the VW they may have been 5 pot, I would not know. I already get most parts for my cars from a company in Hamburg, but I will look into the VAG end. Have you got any addresses for those firms in Scotland?

George

Resident near Leuven in Belgium

'87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler
'88 745 Turbo Intercooler

Oct 19th, 2002, 22:40

Will comeback to you on this... two that spring to mind are Turners diesel in Govan,Glasgow and Taggarts of Motherwell.... ooops! LS in Garscube Industrial Estate, Glasgow.

Will find more accurate info and comeback to you, Now remember .. No more "Cruise Missiles" because I haven't came back Immediately Te..he

Regards
Dave M

Oct 20th, 2002, 11:48

I was born impatient, sorry about that. If I had realised there were technical problems going on, I might not have posted that other message.

George

Resident near Leuven in Belgium

'87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler
'88 745 Turbo Intercooler

Oct 24th, 2002, 19:22

Gottcha!! The injector next to the fuel pump (is this no 1 or no 6?) is leaking all over the place. Found this out after a good washing down of the engine. Well, a replacement is on its way.

George

Resident near Leuven in Belgium

'87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler
'88 745 Turbo Intercooler

Oct 16th, 2002, 19:39	#1
George Holmer Guest Location:	Smell of diesel There is a distinct smell of diesel from under the bonnet. Is this normal or a leak? George Resident near Leuven in Belgium '87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler '88 745 Turbo Intercooler

Oct 19th, 2002, 14:58	#2
Dave M Guest Location:	RE: Smell of diesel Hi George!! Imagine upsetting people like that Tut, tut!! Anyway, at last I got it to work, so now I can reply :-) There shouldn't be any smell of diesel under the bonnet, unless you've got a leak, or the fuel filter is not installed correctly, or the fuel rail has a break on it, all of the above would affect the running of the car, Is this the case?? do you experience poor running, stuttering/spluttering?? It must show up something on the car surely?? I feel that there is more to this than you've said, Although I don't have a Volvo Diesel, I have had my fair share of diesels, and used to service them. I can't say there was a smell of diesel at any time, other than a leak or spillage. Hope this Helps. Regards Dave M

Oct 19th, 2002, 17:19	#3
George Holmer Guest Location:	RE: Smell of diesel No, there are no running problems apart from two: from cold start, it hesitates a bit too much and smokes badly. The smoke soon goes away and as the engine warms up, it runs perfectly fine. My local Volvo dealer said the fuel pump leaked a little bit and that I would need a knew one, for 1200 quid! As the also said that with a leaking fuel pump, I would always have difficulties starting, which I do not (it fires up very well and as my glow plug light is not working, I sometimes start it up straight away and it fires up every time, apart from cold), I thought: "well you would say that, would you not". Are there seals that I can replace in it? Are there any good ways of finding a fuel leak? George Resident near Leuven in Belgium '87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler '88 745 Turbo Intercooler

Oct 19th, 2002, 20:44	#4
Dave M Guest Location:	RE: Smell of diesel In answer to your questions George... 1/Sounds definitely like a set of Glow plugs are on the cards for Cold starting, this will also improve hot starting a little.Another improvement may be to replace the seals around the diesel injectors as they will be perished and drawing air:-) 2/The Diesel pump... Yep! it can be overhauled but it is a specialist job as it requires the pump to be recalibrated when finished. Not one for the DIYer! Ther are various places up here in Scotland that will carry out the service and supply 12 months warranty for the pricely sum of £80 - £90 quid and it comes back as good as new !:-) Hope this Helps Regards Dave M

Oct 19th, 2002, 20:53	#5
George Holmer Guest Location:	RE: Smell of diesel Well, I have six brand new glow plugs so that cannot be it. I'll have a look at the seals. Now, as for the fuel pump, that sounds very interesting but the calibration, I presume, needs to be done with the pump in the car? I mean, I could not remove it, post it to them, and then re-install it myself, could I? This is what I am about to do to the turbo in the other one, to Turbo Technics in Northampton. You would not believe the prices over here for Volvo repairs, I was qouted 3750 Euros from an independent Volvo garage for replacement of an B230FT engine, this is over 2000 pounds and the engine would be second hand! George Resident near Leuven in Belgium '87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler '88 745 Turbo Intercooler

Oct 19th, 2002, 21:54	#6
Dave M Guest Location:	RE: Smell of diesel The pump can be done in situ or sent away for calibration, no problems there:-) One other thought... is it a 5 cylinder or a 4? If it's a 5 then it's the old LT35 engine meaning that you can go to Germany and get a VAG pump that'll bolt straight on no problems, and all for half the price!!! I have a colleague over here that operates a mail order system then sends a transit van over to Germany and brings back the parts at HALF THE PRICE!!! Might be worth a look, if it is a 5 pot!! Regards Dave M

Oct 19th, 2002, 22:25	#7
George Holmer Guest Location:	RE: Smell of diesel Yes and no, this is the 6 pot engine from the LT35 range, although in the VW they may have been 5 pot, I would not know. I already get most parts for my cars from a company in Hamburg, but I will look into the VAG end. Have you got any addresses for those firms in Scotland? George Resident near Leuven in Belgium '87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler '88 745 Turbo Intercooler

Oct 19th, 2002, 22:40	#8
Dave M Guest Location:	RE: Smell of diesel Will comeback to you on this... two that spring to mind are Turners diesel in Govan,Glasgow and Taggarts of Motherwell.... ooops! LS in Garscube Industrial Estate, Glasgow. Will find more accurate info and comeback to you, Now remember .. No more "Cruise Missiles" because I haven't came back Immediately Te..he Regards Dave M

Oct 20th, 2002, 11:48	#9
George Holmer Guest Location:	RE: Smell of diesel I was born impatient, sorry about that. If I had realised there were technical problems going on, I might not have posted that other message. George Resident near Leuven in Belgium '87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler '88 745 Turbo Intercooler

Oct 24th, 2002, 19:22	#10
George Holmer Guest Location:	RE: Smell of diesel Gottcha!! The injector next to the fuel pump (is this no 1 or no 6?) is leaking all over the place. Found this out after a good washing down of the engine. Well, a replacement is on its way. George Resident near Leuven in Belgium '87 745 GLE Turbo Diesel Intercooler '88 745 Turbo Intercooler

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