Van parked up in garage for winter and this happens?!!

So I walked out this morning and the massive oil leak was appaRent. How does this happen?!! It hasn’t been cranked over for 4/5 weeks! It seems to have jus t come from nowhere. I’ve taken pics, if anyone can help please do! I’ve disconnected one hose as you can see in photos as I suspect it leaked from there but can’t be sure! Thanks in advance

 

Looks like your carbs or one of them has filled the engine with petrol. Doesn't it smell like petrol in your garage?

 

Looks like your crank oil seal behind the flywheel has taken early retirement, if oil is running from the engine/bellhousing joint.

 

Possible

 

It looks exactly like one I had in the workshop. Fine for months as I repaired it's bodywork then one morning...

 

But the oil level isn't high enough for that, or pushrod tubes, or... anything but the case half seal.

 

It’s your petrol pump diaphragm. That pipe is the breather Check oil isn’t full of petrol. . If so then swap it out. Replace or rebuild pump. Job jobbed!

 

When my crankshaft seal died it did look similar, but it's a very good idea to check for fuel in the oil, if that's the problem you could knacker the engine.

A crankshaft seal isn't fatal, just a pita to fix and you'll get a very dirty backside when you drive it.

 

Thanks everyone - it definitely smells like oil and is thicker but I suppose petrol could be mixed with it.

it’s had low pressure on idle on cylinder 3 for a while as it pops when idle (my mechanic said but also said it’s fine to drive as doesn’t lose power etc) could it be related?

 

You seem pretty sure of this mate - think this is defo it?

 

It should stink of petrol, or at least mine did when a similar thing happened, but my garage is quite well sealed and I spotted it the morning after it must have happened.
Petrol getting into the oil is the logical reason for your problem.

 

IMHO to me it doesn't look like any damage while stationary, the oil is too spread out - it must have happened before.

Check your oil level and smell.

Is the fuel pumb original - or renewed? All new reproduction did not fulfilling requirement to stop fuel while standing. So replace it with good VW original or built in an electric pump with electric shut-off valve.

If it wasn't the fuel pump, take the engine out and replace the oil seals. Also check the transmission oil level at the filler plug on the side.

Good luck, regards

 

Having changed fuel pumps where no oil came out during the process because it's above sump oil level I'm intrigued how it rose up from the sump and dumped out of there. Nothings impossible.

 

Looks like it was a very dirty/oily engine before whatever happened…it’s easier to trace/spot issues with a clean engine ( no offence intended, I just have a little OCD issue.)

 

I was about to say this but then I thought about it. We usually assume that when petrol gets in the oil it has overcome the check valves in the pump and the float valves in the carbs when there's a good head of fuel in the tank. It could conceivably also work more directly by draining through the pump diaphragm and into the chamber where the push rod comes through. There's a drain hole in that chamber directly into the sump.
All of this of course is only relevant if the oil leak is due to fuel leaking into it.
Many years ago I assumed that an oil leak was coming from the main crank seal and went so far as to pulling out the engine to fix it. It actually turned out to be a leak of ATF from the transmission.

 

I've never heard of oil pouring out of a stationary non-running van unless fuel has got in and raised the level one way or other. The oP could check the oil level. If there's none missing or it's risen that's one clue and if it's fallen that's a another. 4-5 weeks might be enough for any fuel mixed in to evapourate leaving just oil on the floor but I'd be surprised if it didn't smell of fuel still (the oil).

 

Massive sudden increase in oil level is really only addition of fuel to sump. Broken petrol pump or carburettor float valve leakage.

 

Have you checked the milage? Someone hasn't 'borrowed' your van, thrashed it, then returned it?

I remember reading about someone who couldn't understand how he was using so much petrol, until he caught his grandson 'borrowing' his car one evening.

 

UPDATE

THE OIL SEEMS QUITE THICK ON TOUCH BUT ANY PETROL WILL HAVE EVAPORATED BY NOW

IVE JUST DIPPED THE STICK AND OIL LEVEL IS OK

 

WHAT DO YOU THINK THEN?