leak? and smoke/steam ...

[dlorimer]

I ran my 85 VW Diesel Jetta in the shop awhile today to try to isolate a leak.  I had diesel fuel dripping off the oil pan and the bottom of the air conditioner mounts (I do not have Power steering).  I guessed it was coming from the IP, but when I checked it, everything on the IP seemed to be dry.  I found a puddle of diesel on a metal bracket in between the IP and the engine.  I cannot figure out how it got there, nor where it came from.  All the hoses are dry, and the front, right and left sides, and the bottom of the IP are dry.  I couldn't check the back (the side that faces the engine) very well, but as much as I could see was dry.
Also, I started getting a bunch of smoke/steam (not sure which exactly) from that same area between the IP and the engine.  I'm guessing evaporating diesel?
Ok, so I cleaned it all up, and ran it again, to try to see where it was coming from.  Ran it for ~20 min, but no diesel dripping, and no new puddle there.  However, the smoke/steam was still coming from that area.  I looked underneath, and there was smoke/steam coming from the oil pan, too.  I'm thinking it was the left over diesel still evaporating?  It didn't have a particular smell to it.

So ... questions -- any ideas on what is/was leaking?  Is the smoke/steam just evaporating left-over diesel, or do I need to worry about something?

[Op-Ivy]

When my pump started leaking it, at first, leaked from the atmospheric bleed. But after a while it developed a leak that would only appear when the car was starting up cold. Lasted for maybe a minute or two. It was leaking between these two pieces(I'm not sure on exact names)





And the seal that needed replacement




My bet is it is this one. I had the same symptoms as you. Try to feel underneath the pump to see if it wet where the two halves meet. One way or another, I would reseal the entire thing. If one is leaking more will, most likely, leak soon.




Matt

[dlorimer]

Yeah, that looks right ...  How easy is an IP reseal job?  Looks like age caught up to this baby.

[hillfolk'r]

ive been there with that seal a few years ago,,it can be a pita to diagnose
 usually when you remove the pump,its real easy to spot :roll:
try usin a mirror to see in there maybe before you remove the pump
i removed the pump+spotted the stain right away
id say give yourself 4-5 -6  hours of  really takin your time and lunch+coffee breaks  in between  to replace the  seal
i work  very slow on my own stuff cause the guy who pays me is a cheap bastardo
 i took all day.....if i was at work,i could probably do it in 3 hours
(time from removing the pump till its running again)
just disassemble the pump in a very clean area,and dont be tempted to remove the plunger for a gander at it
i think i used a little dab of grease to hold those springs on if ya need to
the "kits" are cheap,,like 20-25$$