petrol in a diesel engine renault master van

[julesgemini]

I bought a campervan conversion for �400 worth �3500 however there seems to be a problem. The previous owner told me petrol had been put in instead of diesel. He told me the tank had been drained. I can see that it's had a new fuel pump thing put in. He told me this was done after the tank was drained. There is alot of smoke and some loss of power. Is it the piston rings ? or whats the most likely cause is it worth fixing or changing the engine. Is it just the fuel system that is effected by this ?

[NORMANTHEDOG]

someone sold you a �3500 campervan for �400,you mean someone sold you a completely knackered campervan for �400,which will cost a couple of grand to put right.

[julesgemini]

it seems you cant add up very well a new engine will cost me �700 + �500 to have it fitted this totals �1200 as I paid �400 this is �1600 I can sell it making a �1900 profit ! So I think you comments are not very helpful , I was really looking for some machanical advise ! Somthing I guess you know nothing about!

[burnhal]

depends on the colour of the smoke- have a look here http://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/diesel-engine-sm oke.php
0h- and its probably best not to take NORM to task regarding veheicle knowledge- he's probably one of the more knowledgeable ones on here!!

[julesgemini]

Thanks thats an amazing site. I will start it up tomorrow and check the colour of the smoke. I remember it smelt parafinish and was smokie but cant be sure of the colour seemed grey but will check tomorrow

[mr rusty]

If it's had a new pump fitted it may well have not been timed properly: a diesel specialist would be able to tell you, you could check yourself but you need a dial test indicator to do it, plus the manual for the setting.

If it was whitish grey smoke, it would imply unburnt fuel, which along with the loss of power would usually mean a mis-timed pump: with diesel engines, it has to be spot on, close enough doesn't count!! It's not uncommon, especially when a diesel pump has been fitted by someone only used to petrol engines, and in bad cases you'll even find them a tooth out on the belt!

[julesgemini]

that sounds quite hopeful then. the smoke definately looks grey/white more grey though and sounds like its missing slightly.

[julesgemini]

a mechanic looked at it today, he loosened the fuel intake pipes one by one while the engine was running. Each one made a difference to the sound of the engine it almost stalled but one of them didnt seem to make any difference to the engine he thinks it might be an injector come loose inside and looks like I have to take the head off. This is not looking good but I'd still like to fix it