Oil smell cabin blower?

gmsk · 2020-11-29 22:29:41

Hi everyone
Firstly, thanks to everyone who have helped me so far, as I convert a 2003 2.0JTD into a little camper for spring.

So far.
I’ve stripped and cleaned the van and changed the the brakes (discs and pads) and had the garage change brake pipes and so it’s MOT. It’s now got 12 months MOT and I’m ready to move onto the next job. Board and insulate.

But before I do that I’ve noticed that when I put the blowers on I sometimes get a dirty oily smell. Not all the time, but when the van is stopped and idling and when it’s on warm it’s more noticeable. Sometimes on the motorway. It reminds me of what the heaters on an old diesel bus used to smell like in the 80’s.

Any ideas?

I’ve scrubbed the cabin and it smells lovely until I start driving and then smells a bit dirty.

Where does the air come in from outside? Is it just below the windscreen? Anything I can do as a DIY’r?

I’ve read that sometimes the oil may need changing - as I’ve only just got the van I can’t be sure, but I think it was changed 9 months ago and only done 3k since then.

Had a look in engine bay and underneath and can’t see any leaks.

Thanks for reading.

vaz2121 · 2020-11-30 00:52:46

I'm pretty sure air is brought inside via below windscreen....... I have on my van a very small weep from the rocker cover {plastic} and a little oil over time can make a big mess............
Also we have for the Memsahib a petrol engined car that was bought really as a replacement for her in the 306 ........ But it's just not for me as I prefer the 306 ..............
Anyway this replacement car also has a plastic rocker cover like the DW8 and I'm convinced with all the heat cycles the plastic warps and the seal becomes as hard as a Who*** Heart and doesn't seal properly........
I've had rubber seal changed on car and I'm sure it's warpped {cover} even more during removal as it still gets oily Smelly usually when sitting at lights {But not always} Etc.............

Think it's an occasional drop on hot Cat, manifold or exhaust, But never have I seen any smoke coming off it, But I'm starting to see evidence I'm sure allways being parked on same spot.........
But it's taken almost a year to start to leave it's mark.........
That's how much it takes......

{Have a look around turbo area see if it's awfully oily}

gmsk · 2020-11-30 09:55:47

Thanks for your reply. That’s useful.
I’ll perhaps put the van on ramps. I have 2tonne ramps, think they’ll be fine. And given engine a bit of a clean.
Any suggestions on products to use for cleaning engine etc.

kenbw2 · 2020-11-30 23:31:07

I've had literal diesel (or rather vegetable oil) leaking around the engine compartment and definitely noticed it when idling. But not if I'm driving down the motorway or whatever.

Do you also notice the smell while driving?

woodbine · 2020-11-30 23:34:09

I use tried and tested Gunk engine degreaser. Or Screwfix do one, but not tried it.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense- … lsrc=aw.ds

JohnDragonMan · 2020-12-01 04:15:50

i had a car that had a perished crank case breather pipe. that was pretty unpleasant. and also one with a rocker cover gasket leak. engine was like new under all that oil though when cleaned haha.
just remember if you ever do replace the rocker gasket make sure that both surfaces are oil free. i used sealant on both sides of the gasket. dont tighten the rocker down too much. i only used about 8nm of torque which is about hand tight with a large screw driver handle just ad a dab of thread lock on the bolts if you are unsure. on that car its been holding up now for 9 years big_smile

gmsk · 2020-12-01 18:06:07

Thanks for help on this. I've had another look under the bonnet and I think I've spotted a leaky area, just to the left of the air filter box..
Is that the crank case breather pipe?

From left

From right

and from front
https://dispatchexpertscudo.org.uk/foru … 155/2.jpeg

vaz2121 · 2020-12-15 14:35:02

This is just my twopence worth and I could just as easily be wrong.............
The pics you have posted do obviously show oil deposits on and around that area of the engine...........

My DW8 engined 306 with over 200,000 miles on it and close up looks much the same as that and looks terrible............
Which will be years of oil change spills and general misting/weepage............
But crucially it doesn't leak oil everywhere or drip and leave a mess anywhere or smell {other than exhaust diesel or cooking oil whatever it's burning at time}..............

If it's a leak it'll be near somewhere hot and transferable to there............
Or as JohnDragonMan says "It'll be escaping from a breather somewhere somehow and finding a way inside .............

{Is it Breathing Heavily ?}.......... Years ago I had a Ford Pinto engine that breathed so heavy it blew the oil filler cap off

Personally : That looks to be at front of engine and looks to have acumulated there for a while also not enough oil it looks {Athough damp looking} more a misting/weepage {It may warrant investigation} Nor do I think anything is getting hot enough in that area to cause what you describe ..........

And the Crank case breather will run from Funnily Somewhere on Crank case to the inlet tract it's possible to run via rocker cover {allegedly after a sequence of baffles to get oil out vapour ............. {So is there a diconnected or burst pipe around there}

See if you can find a schematics of the engine that'll (possibly on forum here somewhere) most likely show where what your looking for is

Another thing has come to mind and "Is it a blocked breather that's building pressure forcing out gases and causing smell" {usually you'd notice other or more oil leaks}

Last edited by vaz2121 (2020-12-15 14:57:57)

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#1 2020-11-29 22:29:41

Oil smell cabin blower?

#2 2020-11-30 00:52:46

Re: Oil smell cabin blower?

#3 2020-11-30 09:55:47

Re: Oil smell cabin blower?

#4 2020-11-30 23:31:07

Re: Oil smell cabin blower?

#5 2020-11-30 23:34:09

Re: Oil smell cabin blower?

#6 2020-12-01 04:15:50

Re: Oil smell cabin blower?

#7 2020-12-01 18:06:07

Re: Oil smell cabin blower?

#8 2020-12-15 14:35:02

Re: Oil smell cabin blower?

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