just got burned on a car, what is it

[dieseltech]

Ok, I have been working on diesels for a loooooong time and have never come across this one, i recently bought a 1983 rabbit GL turbo diesel (rare in the usa from what i understand) anyway it did not run, the guy played dumb and said it just one day would not start. I forgot to bring a battery with me to try it and it was 2hrs from home. So while I was looking it over i notices the glow plugs were new but the glowplug fuse was burned out, So i thought it might just need a fuse a relay and a new set of glow plugs. well i tore into it and removed the injectors to bench test them since i was in there. Here is the deal, there is ALOT of engine oil in the precombustion chamber.  So i cranked it over with the injectors out and it spewed about a half a quart out in about 20 to 30 seconds cranking. thought it was turbo seals, pulled the intake pipe off, it was dry. anybody ever have this before.  I have not pulled the head or gone further. any ideas    thanks

[toomanycars]

G'day.
Yeah, unusual and I've never had the problem. Is the oil in all of the precombustion chambers? If it's only one then there may be a crack in the casting near an oil gallery. Doubt that it's the head gasket with that much oil present. Probably doesn't help you much.
Peter.

[dieseltech]

pulled it apart, it has a gas engine head gasket for a real old 1.6 or 1.7 carb gasser LOL. plus the headbolts were reused. (can see them stretched) it was the head gasket, never saw one this bad.... real bad, feeding oil from the high pressure feed into cyl 3 and 4. ya learn new things every day, the head is near perfect with the streight edge, and i will pressure test it tomorrow if i get a break. the rest of the engine looks great. so i guess i am not mad about buying the car, but i am upset that the owner was not at all honest. He new there was a problem and played stupid, that would explain the add on oil pressure guage that was BRAND NEW hooked up. oh well. $100 in parts and she will be a nice runner.

[Hammy]

Dieseltech;

 I had a 1.6L N/A motor with a similar problem. It turned out to be a cracked block, right around the head bolt area and oil passage. Looked like someone had done a head gasket, and didn't clean oil out of the head bolt holes, or they just oiled the bolts when installing them. Apparently the oil will get trapped in the bottom of the head bolt hole, and not let you get a proper torque on the bolt. After it heats up and expands in the bolt hole area, it can crack the block in some cases.  So check carefully when you reassemble.

[dieselweasel]

it has a gas engine head gasket for a real old 1.6 or 1.7 carb gasser LOL. plus the headbolts were reused. (can see them stretched) it was the head gasket, never saw one this bad.... real bad, feeding oil from the high pressure feed into cyl 3 and 4.

 :shock:  :roll: Some peoples' kids...a gasoline engine head gasket on a diesel engine...I just don't know what to say.

[toomanycars]

i am upset that the owner was not at all honest. He new there was a problem and played stupid.

Suggest you read Stephen King's "Christine"...or watch the movie! No, maybe not. You may take the car to the crusher.

Seriously, well done. Nice easy fix but don't forget to measure the piston heights. Real lucky not to do some damage with the petrol engine gasket in there!

[dieseltech]

yea i have the correct gasket but i am running into problems with the head at the machine shop