Exhaust fumes in the cab and smell of petrol from under the bed

I'm looking for any help.

I'm getting a lot of exhaust fumes in the cabin of the camper and a smell of petrol from the bed box area.

I know the van needs an exhaust as it was idling on the drive tonight and it was blowing quite bad, the biggest surprise was that the carbon monoxide detector in my garage went off tonight as it was idling! It was outside in the fresh air and the monitor is about 5 metres away from it! I think it might need the setup looking at!

The petrol smell is a concern, you can only smell it when driving.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

Sounds like you have a hole in the petrol tank , and you prob need a new exhaust !!!

 

I've been looking for a petrol tank but can't find one for a 1973 bay. I need to order an exhaust tomorrow as well!

It could be a fun weekend if I find a tank as well!

Thanks

 

Are both those pipes an engine out job?

 

Check all Your fuel pipes, from the filler all the way to the engine. Also all the breather pipes from the tank, they go from the top of your tank up into the air intakes and back to the engine bay into a charcoal filter, then through another pipe to your carb/FI air filter.
Also check under your rock and roll bed, where it screws too. A previous owner may have used to long screws and punctured the fuel tank.

 

Thanks Oscar, can I find all these pipes without taking the engine out?

 

I'm soooo slow at typing.

 

no need for engine out , as for the fuel tank i wanted to put a new one in my 1978 bay but i couldnt get one anywhere so i refurbished the one i got and everything is now ok !!!!

 

Thanks, will try and trace all the pipes tomorrow, could be a long day!

 

The exhaust smell your getting is probably from rusted heat exchangers that are part of your exhaust system, you can wire them up in the off position to stop fumes entering the cab , though you will get cold as they are part of your heating system....better cold than poisoned.

 

An engine with no cat pumps out a load of nasty stuff so the detector is bound to go off. If it didn't you have a problem with your detector. That's pretty normal.

The smell of fuel could be from many sources. Check your fuel tank breathers. There are 7 little pieces of pipe that connect it all up. It's not uncommon for one or more to fail. Like wise filler neck.

If its a 1600 you'll need to remove the engine to get to be 4 breather connectors behind the firewall and check the filler neck. But don't rule out the sender unit seal failing.

 

If you smell petrol in the bus, but just when driving, check the condition of petrol pipe(s) after the pump. Smelling exhaust fumes doesn't mean you need a new exhaust - it would be making a racket if it was holed.

 

It is a1600 so I'm going to have to take the engine out, anyone got any idea how high I will need to lift the back of the bus to drop the engine out?
I'm using jacks and axle stands as I don't have access to lifts and the like.

Thanks

 

You don't technically need the engine right out of the van, just lowering it should provide access though awkward. You need enough space for height of engine+ jack, obvious really.

 

If you use a set of Halfords ramps you should be able to lift the rear of the bus enough by driving up on them to get the engine out without needing axle stands - remove the carburettor from the top of the engine, then just use a reasonably high lift trolley jack like the Halfords 4x4 jack to support the engine and wiggle it out on. If your bus is lowered or has a tow bar you might need to take the rear bumper and towbar off to provide enough room.

But dropping the engine on the ground inside the engine bay will leave enough space to reach over to the firewall.