(03-11-2015, 10:33 PM)Jed Clampit Wrote:  Best of luck with your op remember do what the doc's  say you may feel good but don't over do it you could set your self back so take your time 

Thanks Jed...much appreciated...

I decided earlier to go out and have another Tinker with the van just to get a little more familiar with the engine and its layout...for whatever reason I decided to check if the van was levelish...we have a slight gradient to the drive...or I thought it was slight...I put 2 spirit levels in the back of the van...one going across..the othe back to front...oh it was out alright...I jacked up the front and placed it on 2 block stands I made for the Merc...it leveled up a treat....6" lift at the front and the van was bang on level both ways...checked the oil and it was way over the Max mark...ended up draining a full Ltr...what a terrible schoolboy error is that...and I made it....the oil is black as coal and some lumpy goo came out with it...this oil I put in about a week ago.. ( I am going to drop the sump to clean it out and give the filter a good clean)....Im tempted to do an Oil flush before dropping the sump..my idea was to do a short run to warm up the engine pour in a can of engine oil flush do a steady 5 mile run then drop the oil..sump and filter...give everything a good clean...new filter..fresh oil...new sump seal...any thoughts Gentlemen please,
Regards,
Steve..

Drop the sump and clean the strainer, use cheap oil and a new filter and run around light for a few days then drop the oil for decent stuff and another filter. Use the oil as a flushing agent.

(04-11-2015, 01:36 PM)geoff Wrote:  Drop the sump and clean the strainer, use cheap oil and a new filter and run around light for a few days then drop the oil for decent stuff and another filter. Use the oil as a flushing agent.

Will do..thanks Geoff....

Sorry Steve,i thought you had already done this,dont touch the head yet untill youve completed all the obvious and previously talked about possibilities.An oil overfill on this engine can cause all sorts of problems,you will find even overfilled by a small amount can create a loud engine rattle and a lot of smoke.I always keep mine one notch below maximum or fill with 4.5 ltrs including a filter change.Wise words from Jeff.

(04-11-2015, 02:22 PM)bikergraham Wrote:  Sorry Steve,i thought you had already done this,dont touch the head yet untill youve completed all the obvious and previously talked about possibilities.An oil overfill on this engine can cause all sorts of problems,you will find even overfilled by a small amount can create a loud engine rattle and a lot of smoke.I always keep mine one notch below maximum or fill with 4.5 ltrs including a filter change.Wise words from Jeff.

Thanks Graham..Im going to do what Jeff suggested tomorrow..I have some "Shell Helix Ultra 5/40" that I shall use for the "flush" and will get the Vauxhall liquid sealant that you suggested..I think it was you...the old memory is fading..lol...I cant get over the fact I had a litre too much oil in the engine...not something Ive ever done before...Ive drained it down to about half way between the notches and been out for a gentle 5 mile run with a half hour stop...on re-starting there was very little smoke...and none whilst running..on stopping and switching off I couldnt smell any burnt oil..there was a slight breeze..but prior to draining off the overfill there was always the smell...I will keep chipping away at it till its right...another engine clean is on the cards after this little phase just to make sure that there are no leaks/seepage through too much oil...what a plonker I have been eh!..."Old Smokie" still drives well though ....thank you fellas for all your help...I would be lost without it,
Regards,
Steve.

Good one Steve.Its all sounding good and i think all will be ok.Good luck tomorrow and let us know how you get on.It should be nice and straightforward for you,take your time,keep stopping for tea and toast and be methodical and most of all be safe.Good luck.

Keep an eye on the engine oil see if the level goes up again you may have fuel leaking from the fuel pump back into the engine making the oil level going up ??

Thanks Gents...Well I went for a little drive this morning to get the oil nice and warm for when I drop it...as always I look through the mirror at the exhaust..expecting some smoke...well today it was as if someone was crouched down against the bumper having a fag!!...so I reved the engine a little....virtually zero smoke...Ive seen worse on a newish car...so that cheered me up no end. I then drove the couple of miles to Euro car parts for more oil, another filter and some gasket goo...couldnt see any smoke in the mirror at all...same on re starting and the drive home..no smoke visible..however when I got home there was a wiff of burnt oil..not strong though.I had a brew and did a few things in my little workshop got my tools etc ready...jacked up the van put it on blocks and slid boards underneath all whilst the engine cooled...Ive drained the oil..dropped the sump, The sump has a little sludge inside but no chunks of anything...the filter on the oil pump looks clean from what I can see through the small mesh hole..will I need to take this off to clean or could I dose it in engine cleaner...rinse out with a parrafin gun then blast it with the air hose, the chain and sprocket look in good shape...Im going to strain the oil/gunge thats left in the sump just out of curiosity,Ive still to clean off the old silicon gasket as it started to pour down...but will work on the sump pan in the workshop...any recomendations for a silicon gasket cleaner...or just scrape it off carefully...I did notice while under the van a track of burnt oil on the underside of the exhaust manifold..this I think is the burning oil smell I had earlier...its an old track...I have suspected that the lower rocker gasket has a leak...but thats for another day...lol...once again gents..thank you so much for your time and patience in helping this old duffer,
Regards,
Steve
ps...feet up and a brew now

Hi Steve.Thank you for posting this feedback,i was walking the dog this afternoon thinking about how you would be doing as the weather has been pretty lousy down here as well.Anyway im so pleased that you have now all but eliminated the smog coming out from your new vehicle and am sure that once you have got new oil in and given it a nice run it will be fine.Personally i wouldnt start useing engine cleaner and certainly not parrafin on any of the internal engine components as it does sound as if you have had a good sniff around and all appears to be good and clean,and dont forget now the engine is going to be looked after it will continue to be " self cleaning " as it were,in other words ,dont go looking for things that you really dont need to.Have a good look at the " gunge " thats left in the bottom of the sump and if thats all it is " gunge " then give that a good clean out ,get the old gasket off with a broken and sharpened hacksaw blade and " glue" it all back.The oil smell i would confidently suggest is the leak from your rocker gasket, mine is seeping as well and from what im given to understand they do tend to,but in your case when its creating a smell problem id probably tackle it once everything else has been sorted,at least while its off itll give you the opportunity to have a quick check of the valve gaps and test the glow plugs just to make sure all 4 are working as this can also create smoke if one or two have given up the ghost and gone to meet the great scrap yard in the sky.Enjoy your well earned rest.All the best.