(Home) Diesel leak

Hi Thanks for a great site you have helped us heaps just reading other peoples troubles. Now I have one. I have a small leak in the pipe that is under the fuel pump. There is a rubber hose clamped to a pipe and this is where it appears to be leaking diesel. That hose goes towards the door then turns to the front of the car just before the hose goes past the water reservoir there is a t junction with an upright hose. Can Anyone tell me what this hose is and where it goes?As I can't see without taking parts off. I'm not good with technical terms.

- (#11606) Leanne from Perth W. Australia, 17 Jun 04 23:54

If it's under the pump, it's a water hose. Check again carefully, it could be the pump itself leaking...

- (#11606) David Miller, 18 Jun 04 01:01

I had a leak in much the same place. It was coming from the thermowax joint. I replace the O ring with one from a spare pump I have. Slowed it down to a drip every now and then. Tried to get same diameter ring with no luck. I have some leak stopping fluid for engines that you add to the oil, soaked the O ring in that over night and have been dry ever since. Have yet to clean the mess of off the underside yet!

- (#11606) Clive (Bristol), 18 Jun 04 12:29

Thanks for your help I thought I had better look again as I thought it couldnt be fuel hose the leak wasn't easy to see last night. I've had a look this morning and started the engine the leak is much worse when its cold. It appears to come from the area the handbook has down as part 22774.
We have a 91 townace do we need to take it to a diesel place and have other seals looked at also. We have had the van for 4yrs with little problems.

- (#11606) Leanne, 18 Jun 04 21:25

That is the main governor cover gasket. Unless you know what you are doing I'd take it to a Diesel place.
If you have covered a fair few miles since you have had it it may be worth getting the pump re-set (similar to a petrol engine tune) as well as the leak.

- (#11606) Clive (Bristol, UK), 19 Jun 04 02:32

Thanks for your help its great to have someone to talk to. We have had work done only to find 6mths later it wasn't actually done like timing belt. So we like to keep an I on what needs doing. thanks again. I wondered do you ever sleep.

- (#11606) Leanne , 19 Jun 04 03:16

Part of my job is to surf the web, so I'm on a lot of the time.

- (#11606) Clive (Bristol), 19 Jun 04 04:01

Clive if you need a thermowax o ring ive got lots
sae to me
e mail first
adgo6@aol.com

They do have a habit of leaking from the top cover as mentioned, its a fiddly job to reseal it too. some strong springs in there

Jim

- (#11606) J Adgo, 19 Jun 04 09:16

Jim
You have mail.
Clive

- (#11606) Clive (Bristol), 19 Jun 04 14:13

I have just taken van to mechanic who gets these cars ready for aust. market, they have to do a number of things before being allowed to sell them here. He did not know what I meant by a thermowax o ring. He has suggested I replace rings? and that he has to take pump out at cost of $600aus is this a big job.
thanks

- (#11606) Leanne, 22 Jun 04 23:07

A few of the O rings/gaskets/seals can be replaced with the pump on the engine.
To take it off would take a fair bit of time. if they are just going to replace the rings etc. , then I suggest you take it to a Diesel specialist and get it set up, much the same as a petrol engine tune, at the same time.

- (#11606) Clive (Bristol), 25 Jun 04 00:58

Leanne, is leak from pipe or from rear seal of pump?
had mine done at United Diesel in redcliffe. $600 to rekit, they will tell you to replace shaft... also beware the $600 is to rekit pump...not the $300 they will try and charge to remove & refit. It is a fiddly job but worth trying to remove your self. Have you found anyone who supplies parts?.. Anyone got a camshaft for sale?...lol...long story but just beware if Timing Belt tensioner bearing seizes....tears allround here...

- (#11606) darren, 28 Jun 04 20:38

Clive, my '91 Townace has also just developed a leak, apparently coming from underneath the big spring on the fuel pump. Is that where yours and Leanne's have been dripping from? If so, do you have to take the fuel pump out to verify which seal has gone? Is this a common problem with the Townie, as far as you're aware?
I'm thinking of just taking it out and giving it to a pump specialist to sort out, but I do tackle some jobs with a mechanic friend of mine. He doesn't know much about Townaces though....

- (#11606) Raheem, 8 Jul 04 14:18

had the same prob with mine, you can do this by your self.above and below the spings are 2 bolts or screws undo these and remove the assembly and you will find a simple o ring which you can buy from an auto parts place, fitting it back can be a bit fiddly.

- (#11606) neil (torbay), 8 Jul 04 16:02

Yes from under the spring thing. A new O ring cured it for a week or so. It is now leaking from within the spring. I have a spare pump so will swop the bolt on bit over. I have had two seals go in a matter of weeks so think it's time to overhaul the pump!
One thing to note is how tight the Allen bolts are, and I now know what the Allen key in the Toyota tool kit fits!

- (#11606) Clive (Bristol), 8 Jul 04 16:19