We cleaned the plugs which were white so no oil on them and redid the points gap and cleaned the distrubitor cap.
There is absolutely no oil around the motor or underneath the van and no smoke coming from the exhaust so the reason for the oil usage is still a mystery.
Marj is going to another mechanic on monday with the above info and hopefully he will shed some more light on the problem
You're a good man Ken - I wish I was a little closer - although I cannot do anything mechanical, I do have a spare set of battery thingies; can listen until the cows come home, drink most beverages endlessly; and give any amount of hugs required. Also have had daughter problems in the past, so ... Cheers, Helen
-- Edited by Esmeralda on Saturday 4th of June 2011 04:44:51 PM
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Esmeralda
It aint over until the fat lady sings, and I dont feel like singing just yet!
Thanks Ken, I hadn't posted yet as wasn't sure if you wanted me to name such a generous man and his son. What it means ladies is those were the numbers after a dry compression test. They also did a wet compression test, the results being Cylinder 1 195 Cylinder 2 190 Cylinder 3 170 and Cylinder 4 180
So that means cylinders 2 and 3 didn't change between the dry and wet test. But cylinders 1 and 4 changed a bit.
The only possibitly with the finished check up could be the Valve Stem Seals but that would have to be gone into in more depth. Like taking the head off etc. Have to say it is definitely running a lot smoother and cleaner since the check over which included a check of Airfilter tick clean - sparkplugs tick clean white - The rotor button was dirty so was cleaned - Cleaned the distributo cap and checked the timing and did the points.
Absolute magic guys. I was so exhilirated on the way home, knowing she was actually running a lot smoother already. No matter the oil problem hasn't been found. I felt like buying another 4 litre of oil and heading back up north to the sun. Maybe just have to settle with taking tomorrows paper and a full thermos and going somewhere to sit in the sun here.
Like others in this thread I commend Ken for helping out. This is an example of the forum working at its very best.
I'm too far away to be of any help so I'm wondering Ken (or someone nearby) if you could run a voltmeter over "Myrtle's" charging circuit to the house battery to check that it's working ok when Marj gets the new battery. Sorry to dob you in but I feel it's important that this be checked because if this is not working properly the battery will go flat again. If this happens a few times it will seriously shorten the life of the battery.
Well done Ken..Wish we had some blokes like you in the marsh.....Money,Money Mob here...They talk about how wonderful they are ..But rip you off as quick as a flash..I speak from Authority...
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I always leave my camping area cleaner than I found it.
Well done Ken and Son, you have taken some of the weight off HW's mind, what you have done is a good thing !! and 'KARMA' will repay you when you least expect it, and when you most need it !!!That's the way things work, Well ?? that's what i believe anyway. Good Luck to you both dazren
Geeee !!! HW, talk a little slower will you ??? i don't know what Ken and Son taught you when they were there, but you started explaining all that info on what they have done like an ''A '' Grade mechanic. [ not that you have met one 'yet' ] If it is running a little smother with what has been done, maybe, just maybe, it may not be as serious as we first thought, you have got us all doing this All we want now is the answers to this baffling problem, and you to get back on the road, and tell us of your adventures,, See Ya dazren
Ken and son what great guys you are we have all been so worried about HW what a great forum network we have here I am proud to be part of it even though I don't normally post much. Helena.
Good to see some practical help, great job Ken & son. Re valve stem seals, very unlikely to cause that amount of oil consumption. Signs of valve stem seal leakage are when motor has been running & warm if its switched of for a while, on restarting will blow blue smoke out the exhaust. As Ken has noticed no smoke from exhaust (Valve stem seals can be replaced without removing the head) Daryl.
I hope you don't mind me saying so, but is people like you and your son who restore my faith in human natue, you are truly a gem, you and your son are true Aussies and on behalf of all on this forum I would like to say a big true blue:
THANK YOU
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Goinsoon
I dont suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
See Marj, I told you you were not alone. What a great outcome on so many levels. The human one being absolutely bonzer. Well done Ken and Son. We'd better have a name for the son I reckon. He's now an official honourary GN whether he likes it or not, whether he's grey or not. Do we know if there's been any oil in the radiator or water in the oil? I suppose that has been investigated. Enjoy the sunny spot if you should find one.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Shows what a bit of networking can do. This forum has contributers from all over the country and I think its fair to say that if one of us was caught with problems in another's home turf we would willingly help if able. Isn't that what life is all about? Well Done Ken!!!!!
That was a wonderful thing to do, very kind of you. It would seem that compression may not be myrtle's problem, I'm no mechanic unfortunately but I believe anything in the range of 150 to 200 odd is acceptable ???
I am wondering if Myrtle could do with running a slightly heavier oil, I wonder what Toyota recommend??
Its an odd thing. HW, says that the Rotor button was filthy, I wonder why it was so dirty? From memory HW hadn't really covered that many kilometres since her big service was originally done by that friendly mechanic. It seems odd that it was in such a bad state.
Morning guys, very grey and cold here today, so may be sitting in front of the fire reading the paper. To answer a couple of questions asked since I was on here last night. The radiator was clean green coolant, not frothy or any other obvious signs. My own S in L was quite amazed when I pointed that out to him the night before. I'm learning fast. So no oil in water or water in oil. I have queried using a heavier oil and was told any heavier than the 20/50 would not help as it would be an effort for such an old motor to push through a thicker oil. Maybe the rotor button wasn't cleaned in the original service, who knows. Have done roughly and I say roughly tongue in cheek when the speedo doesn't work, about 3600 to 4000 ks.
I do hope Ken and his son are having a wonderful day today with their familys. Won't name son, its not my place to.
Morning guys, very grey and cold here today, so may be sitting in front of the fire reading the paper. To answer a couple of questions asked since I was on here last night. The radiator was clean green coolant, not frothy or any other obvious signs. My own S in L was quite amazed when I pointed that out to him the night before. I'm learning fast. So no oil in water or water in oil. I have queried using a heavier oil and was told any heavier than the 20/50 would not help as it would be an effort for such an old motor to push through a thicker oil. Maybe the rotor button wasn't cleaned in the original service, who knows. Have done roughly and I say roughly tongue in cheek when the speedo doesn't work, about 3600 to 4000 ks.
I do hope Ken and his son are having a wonderful day today with their familys. Won't name son, its not my place to.
Hi Marj,
I am actually staying with a friend at the moment & he is a wiz bang mechanic. I will see him this afternoon and run some of this stuff past him.
One should remember that nearly all motors use engine oil, some use miniscule amounts that are barely noticable and some motors more. Of course the older the vehicle gets the chances of it increasing their consumption increases (in my opinion) BUT it sounds like poor old Myrtle is actually hording it away somewhere......maybe she knows the price of oil is on the UP and perhaps she's stocking up on it to sell at a healthy profit at some time in the future.
I will see what my mate reakons & report back to you in the near future.
jack
-- Edited by jack biggles on Sunday 5th of June 2011 11:13:19 AM
Love your theory Jack. You may be right. But half a litre every 200 ks or so is a bit much I think. I will be happy once I know and if I have to carry extra oil so be it, just as long as I know she wil lkeep going.
Would you believe Ken is here replacing the battery terminal, just gone away to get something. What a man!!