New Highway Star owner, Aberdeen

[LargoStar]

http://airylea.com

[LargoStar]

Aargh, now a MAJOR oil leak from the bottom of the engine. Thick & black, dripping steadily. That explains the burning smell. Looking more and more like a write-off

It's possible that the new rocker cover gasket isn't seated properly. The garage fitted the starter motor, alternator, fuel filter and gasket within 5 hours, hope they didn't do a rush job and have ballsed it up. Might put the bus for sales as spares or repair as it just seems to be unfixable!

[LargoStar]

Decision made, Largo scrapped! Collection booked for Tuesday.

Ps thanks to all on here who tried to help with advice and info, appreciate it

[jimmyrev3]

hi m8 sorry to hear you have decided to scrap it,just wondering what you would take for her because i really like them wheels

[tttonyyy]

Oh man I am sorry to hear that

I don't suppose there is any way to work out where the leak is from quickly? It can't have thrown a con rod or anything like that so just a seal somewhere surely - most likely as you say rocker cover if that was disturbed. Or a pipe not properly reconnected somewhere.

Would be a real shame to see such a lovely van go to waste.

Agree with Jimmy, with those alloys it looks a treat.

[jimmyrev3]

its to gud to scrap

[Jh76]

I agree as well, to good to scrap. What's the scrappy offering you?

[LargoStar]

Ok, scrappy cancelled, he's not best pleased..

I'm going to give this motor one last chance to redeem itself. Had some spare time yesterday so took out the tunnel, driver's seat and all the engine access panels for a good look from above. Without having it up on a ramp, it difficult to see where the oil is coming from, and the rocker cover actually looks fine (can't see any weeping from there). The filler cap is broken (missing a 'tooth') but seems to be sealing ok.

It's going back to the garage that did the work on Wednesday. They will deny any wrongdoing, of course, and I have no proof that they've done anything wrong. I've used them in the past and they're very good, but they were VERY keen for me to get the vehicle off their premises last week. Hmm.. will give them the benefit of the doubt for now.

Anyway, I topped up the oil and re-connected the EGR just to see what would happen. Removed and checked the air seperator, a bit sooty but no real build up of crud so put it back. Started her up from cold, and et voila - smooth idle, no stalling. No warning lights on dash (had reconnected centre engine access panel by this point). Let her idle for 10 minutes, couldn't see any more oil leaking but still not prepared to drive her any great distance.

Looked at the alternator. Small earth wire on top is connected. Belt spinning freely, no squeaks etc.

Temperature gauge still inoperative.

So, my current questions are:

1. Where are most likely sources of oil leaks on these engines?
2. Is the temperature gauge sensor located on the centre access panel readily available? Or will I have to scour ebay / scrappies / Nissan for this part?
3. I seem to have a spare electrical connection - 1 for the cigarette lighter (Black), one for the 'Snow / Power' button (White) but one spare one (White) that doesn't seem to plug into anything. What's that for?

If I don't get it sorted this week, it's going and I'll listen to offers. I bought this bus for the family to enjoy days / weekends away etc, but wasn't expecting a major engineering project!

[tttonyyy]

Sounds hopeful!

That third connector at the front of the console is for the clock, which was an option - some Largos have them some don't (yours will have a blank plate above the e-at switch/12v socket).

I suspect you'll need a breaker for that temp sensor on the engine cover.

I've only seen a couple of oil leaks, either from the rocker cover or from the pipes on the vacuum pump on the back of the alternator. Is this the side that was leaking?

On my Serena, when the alternator belt was slipping (or not fitted) it would pee mighty amounts of black oil out down the passenger's side of the engine from the union on the back of the alternator. Maybe they started her up without the belt fitted to test something, or hadn't tensioned it right, and squirted oil everywhere?

Perhaps no coincidence that the alternator was one of the things you listed as being changed.

[jimmyrev3]

the temp sensor on engine cover is for when heat builds up when standing idleing it puts fan on located below engine to blow out heat build up, it think its basically a thermistor as temp increases voltage decreases and vise versa as ther are ptc and ntc, posative temp coifecient and negative temp. check oil feed and return pipe to sump from vac pump on back of alternator especially the lower one returns oil to sump and the y fitting on engine block that feeds oil to vac pump and turbo they may have fractured it when removing alternatoras i done it once on mine. Engine temp sensor see largo temp sensor location in help section