8 replies to this topic

[smj]

Hi, i have just had a friend do some welding on the rear of my mini and he kept it up on ramps while he did it, the car was almost full of fuel, he finished the job, and noticed a strong smell of fuel from the front end of the car, not being mechanically minded he just phoned me to come and check everything was okay, i went to have a look and as well as the strong smell when i took the oil filler cap off the smell was very strong, and when i checked the oil level there is no visiable oil on the stick, but again very strong smell of fuel, am i right in thinking the diaphram on the fuel pump has died and where the car has been higher in the back than the front fuel has leisurly poured into the engine????? what do i do now if this is the case????

Forgot to mention the fuel guage is now reading empty so i am pretty certain thats where its gone

Edited by smj, 12 April 2009 - 07:56 PM.

[Dan]

Yes that's probably what's happened. The most important thing to do now is not drive the car. The sump is pretty much a bomb right now and when they are like this they can explode. You need to do an oil change as soon as is practical, and get a new fuel pump. If you have run any of the fuel soaked oil through the engine you should do this first oil change using some cheap oil, then run the engine with some flush for half an hour or so and change it again for good oil.

Edited by Dan, 12 April 2009 - 08:12 PM.

[smj]

thanks i thought that was what had happened, the car is a 1275cc auto, is the fuel pump the same as a manual??? any advantage of getting a blanking plate and fitting an electric pump on the car???? its a shame its happened as he was deseaming the rear bumper line for me and has done a really nice job, just unfortunate that this has happened

[ANON]

have i read it wrong..do you think a whole tank of fuel has drained into your engine ??

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

had a simial problem with mine fitted a new q&h fuel pump and some 15w40 mineral oil then next month gonna run on some good oil as oil was lasting 1 month b4 i did the pump as it was just killin the oil

[smj]

i do seem to remember it happening to someone else years ago, the car was virtually full of petrol, i guess the amount thats gone into the sump is the amount that was Higher than the pump when the car was on ramps, the guage shows virtuallly nothing, because petrol is much thinner than oil all of my previous small leaks now look like great big ones, can petrol damage any seal inside the engine/gearbox?????

[Big_Adam]

While an electric pump may seem easier, it's simpler to just replace the mech fuel pump.

But, if you're like me, then you want to go electric. You'll need a load of wire, some new fuel pump but it's fairly simple. It's just you still have to go through the hassle of taking the old pump out with the added of putting the new electric on in.

[smj]

thanks, right next daft question, Engine Flush??? do i drain the oil/petrol mix, change the filter, and do an oil change with added flush??? then run it for a short while and change that along with the filter as well, or do you reckon the petrol being thinner would of washed everything clean anyway????

[ANON]

never use an engine flush.

change the oil and filter, take it on a long run and then check the oil level. any fuel left in the engine will evaporate.