It's official ...

[Julian]

... I admit it, I'm a complete Muppet who shouldn't be allowed near engines in the future.

Yesterday, I took the vacuum and lift pumps off the Disco to try and find out why the level of rust inhibitor had increased on that side of the engine.  I think I may have found the problem ... the end cover of the vacuum pump is riveted on and it was that that appeared to be leaking.  Rather than drill all the rivets and muck about with the pump internals, I reset the rivets using the vice jaws and a lump of steel rod.  The gap between body and cover closed noticeably squeezing oil out.  Only time will tell if it's cured the leak, allowing most of the rust inhibitor to lubricate the engine.

Feeling quite smug I jumped in the car and set off for a near by town.  300 yards down the road the engine all but died.  It would only do about half revs in 2^nd gear.  Yet another of my heroic failures!

This morning I discovered the problem ... I'd got the suction and discharge pipes on the lift pump round the wrong way!  So the LP was trying to suck fuel out of the filter and pump it back to the tank!

I'm amazed it ran at all.

[K.H]

Should do the MPG the world of good, dont think it will catch on tho?

[photoman290]

... I admit it, I'm a complete Muppet who shouldn't be allowed near engines in the future.

Yesterday, I took the vacuum and lift pumps off the Disco to try and find out why the level of rust inhibitor had increased on that side of the engine.  I think I may have found the problem ... the end cover of the vacuum pump is riveted on and it was that that appeared to be leaking.  Rather than drill all the rivets and muck about with the pump internals, I reset the rivets using the vice jaws and a lump of steel rod.  The gap between body and cover closed noticeably squeezing oil out.  Only time will tell if it's cured the leak, allowing most of the rust inhibitor to lubricate the engine.

Feeling quite smug I jumped in the car and set off for a near by town.  300 yards down the road the engine all but died.  It would only do about half revs in 2^nd gear.  Yet another of my heroic failures!

This morning I discovered the problem ... I'd got the suction and discharge pipes on the lift pump round the wrong way!  So the LP was trying to suck fuel out of the filter and pump it back to the tank!

I'm amazed it ran at all.

you could do one of those videos where god told you how to increase your MPG to 1000 MPG by buying my carefully researched book. only 5.99 plus a free  gift.

[Julian]

you could do one of those videos where god told you how to increase your MPG to 1000 MPG by buying my carefully researched book. only 5.99 plus a free  gift.

Dam, I never thought of that before disclosing the secret!

[Tony]

Sounds about as far as I got when running only on the fuel in the filter

Horrible feeling that finding somewhere safe to pull over - quickly!

[Jamesrl]

You'd better get the mrs to to put L and R on all your shoes to prevent further errors, while she's at it put back and front in y'pants.

[Julian]

Sounds about as far as I got when running only on the fuel in the filter

Horrible feeling that finding somewhere safe to pull over - quickly!

I know exactly what you mean ... I drove into some bushes on a roundabout, but managed to keep the engine running for a short while and then when there was a break in the traffic limped home at about 10 mph.

[Julian]

You'd better get the mrs to to put L and R on all your shoes to prevent further errors, while she's at it put back and front in y'pants.

If she did that I'd be looking for the steering wheel every time I looked down and saw LR.

And I don't wear any, that way I can never get them in a twist.

[Soft top]

Yesterday, I took the vacuum and lift pumps off the Disco to try and find out why the level of rust inhibitor had increased on that side of the engine.  I think I may have found the problem ... the end cover of the vacuum pump is riveted on and it was that that appeared to be leaking.  Rather than drill all the rivets and muck about with the pump internals, I reset the rivets using the vice jaws and a lump of steel rod.  The gap between body and cover closed noticeably squeezing oil out.  Only time will tell if it's cured the leak, allowing most of the rust inhibitor to lubricate the engine.

That is a common problem with the Britpart vacuum pumps. I have repaired 3 of them now by drilling out the rivets and using nuts and bolts instead.

[Julian]

Yesterday, I took the vacuum and lift pumps off the Disco to try and find out why the level of rust inhibitor had increased on that side of the engine.  I think I may have found the problem ... the end cover of the vacuum pump is riveted on and it was that that appeared to be leaking.  Rather than drill all the rivets and muck about with the pump internals, I reset the rivets using the vice jaws and a lump of steel rod.  The gap between body and cover closed noticeably squeezing oil out.  Only time will tell if it's cured the leak, allowing most of the rust inhibitor to lubricate the engine.

That is a common problem with the Britpart vacuum pumps. I have repaired 3 of them now by drilling out the rivets and using nuts and bolts instead.

Didn't know that ... so my summation was right ... that's a first!

I don't know if it was Britpart ... are the originals fixed differently?

Is there a gasket under the cover?

I'll keep an eye on it and if it's still leaking do as you've done.

[Soft top]

They all look the same but you can tell if its Britpart when it starts leaking 
There is a rubber gasket under the cover. It is safe to take the cover off. Nothing will spring out when you do.

[Soft top]

'ere yer go. How to do it.....
http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=56096

[Julian]

Great info, thanks.  If it starts leaking again I'll try that.  Just worried that side of the chassis might rust now.

[Julian]

Hmm ... having read all of that thread, it seems that there shouldn't really be any oil at that end of the pump ... it appear it indicates leakage past the piston.

Need to keep a close eye on it me thinks.

[Jamesrl]

Just worried that side of the chassis might rust now.

At least it'll match the rest of the chassis and body work.