Injector Pump Leaking (after running on veg oil)

[alpacaman]

Oh dear, a Bad Thing happened ...

I've been running my 2.4 Surf for several weeks now on SVO from the supermarket, thinned with diesel - then petrol, later white spirit, then back to petrol - at a ratio of approx 4(oil):1. I installed an electrical fuel filter heater before the recent cold spell, (although this takes some time to heat up - not a proper pre-heat solution).

All was going fine until I noticed a leak under the engine - obviously veg oil. Next day, power fade on overtaking - had to abandon the manoeuvre. Got home, much more oil leaking, can see it seeping out of the top/front of the injector pump. Oh sh1t ... ordered a pump seal kit plus a timing belt and prepared for action ... until I realised the size and importance of the job, then decided to tow the car to my local garage - they've always been good with our motors. They removed the pump - big job, hampered by A/C and Auto oil cooler pipes. Recommended that seals be fitted and pump bench-tested by local specialist, as it's taken so long to get this far. Local specialist calls and says: "sorry mate, it's fly-by-wire, pump needs to go away". I'm looking at about £1000 + VAT parts & labour already!! More, if the non-local specialist deems the pump is knackered.

I'm abandoning SVO now until a proper conversion kit has been fitted.

Q1: Did the higher viscosity veg oil cause the pump seal(s) to fail? If so, was it due to the viscosity, or some chemical component in the oil mix?

Q2: Do I change the easy top/front seals myself, leave the pump internals and hope for the best? Labour already incurred is probably £250, another £200 to get it back together. Don't want to repeat this exercise ...

1990 Surf has done approx. 125,000 Km - no service history, but everything else is in good order, touch wood.

Thanks in advance for listening and your comments.

[Morr]

....., thinned with diesel - then petrol, later white spirit, then back to petrol - at a ratio of approx 4(oil):1. I.....

Q1: Did the higher viscosity veg oil cause the pump seal(s) to fail? If so, was it due to the viscosity, or some chemical component in the oil mix?....

I would be more suspicious of the petrol or the white spirit than the veg-oil, both are far more aggressive chemical's then veg-oil, especially with seals not designed for them.
.... or of course it could simply be the the pump was already close to failure and might have gone anyway...

[dirtydog]

Morr would pump seals for most motors petrol or diesel not be similar?
i.e. would a petrol pump have massively different seals to a diesel one?

No idea which is why im asking but i thought a seal was a seal.

[da SLUG man]

Morr would pump seals for most motors petrol or diesel not be similar?
i.e. would a petrol pump have massively different seals to a diesel one?

No idea which is why im asking but i thought a seal was a seal.

i know petrol dissolves tooth brushes!

[Morr]

Morr would pump seals for most motors petrol or diesel not be similar?
i.e. would a petrol pump have massively different seals to a diesel one?

No idea which is why im asking but i thought a seal was a seal.

I can't say 100% that they are, but would strongly suspect so. Certainly in other systems such as the brake or steering system, different compounds are indeed used in them on different vehicles depending on the type of fluid to be used.

[paulh]

i know petrol dissolves tooth brushes!

Run out of toothpaste again???

[dirtydog]

I can't say 100% that they are, but would strongly suspect so. Certainly in other systems such as the brake or steering system, different compounds are indeed used in them on different vehicles depending on the type of fluid to be used.

ok thanks -anyone else know more on this?

[BUSHWHACKER]

Two weeks after I started using veg. oil I found a little puddle under the truck when parked overnight. But as soon as I started using normal diesel again it stopped leaking.
I don't bother with veg oil anymore, 'cos I hardly do any milage. Fuel pump still not leaking.

[dirtydog]

Two weeks after I started using veg. oil I found a little puddle under the truck when parked overnight. But as soon as I started using normal diesel again it stopped leaking.
I don't bother with veg oil anymore, 'cos I hardly do any milage. Fuel pump still not leaking.

i always park and leave 2 puddles from PS fluid and engine oil so I dont stand a chance of spotting a leak!

[BUSHWHACKER]

If you find a puddle near one of your wheels, it's that f*$%*"g dog from down the road.

[alpacaman]

I just picked up the pump from the local specialist, who says no-one will touch it (apparently someone got burned recently.)

Guess I'll be changing the seals myself!

Just located tigger's advice and link to photos in this thread:

http://www.yotasurf.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=17854

Cheers ...

[ssray]

Same thing here, i have been using veg for over a year and recently have a fuel oit leak, with quoites from £750 to £1400 i will be doing it myself, my question is why do my cars play up when its winter?? i could get a tan doing this during the summer instead its going to be frostbite indeed

[Danno]

I wouldn't worry too much, mine did the same, began leaking from the top cover seal.

Took it to see Tony. All that was required was the VERY careful removal of the top cover of the pump (bearing in mind my engine bay is caked in mud), clean the face plates and used some Toyota main dealer spec sealant round the old rubber seal and replaced, making sure absolutley NOTHING fell in the chamber.

Been like it for 3 months now, still on veg and no leaks!

[dirtydog]

I wouldn't worry too much, mine did the same, began leaking from the top cover seal.

Took it to see Tony. All that was required was the VERY careful removal of the top cover of the pump (bearing in mind my engine bay is caked in mud), clean the face plates and used some Toyota main dealer spec sealant round the old rubber seal and replaced, making sure absolutley NOTHING fell in the chamber.

Been like it for 3 months now, still on veg and no leaks!

good to know mate

[Philip]

Leak

On starting to use veg oil, i also had leak from top of Pump. Took it to Wade diesels, who changed seals, basically while i waited, (couple of hours) and charged me £95 and its been good ever since, which was about 4 months ago.
Philip