Diesel fumes & oil gauge

[TB2]

Hello fellow BXers,

Has been a while since I last dropped by. My BX is running great, though now it's mostly garaged because I don't have any use for it in this cold. In any case, I still have two issues which I'm not sure about:

1. After a short while, I can clearly smell the exhaust fumes inside the car. It's stronger when driving slowly, but it's also there when driving quite fast. I'm not really sure if this is normal. Do other people with a TD have this problem? Could it be that the exhaust pipe is leaking and that the fumes get inside the car anywhere else than just the rear ventilation? It kind of worries me, I don't think that's very healthy on the long run and I think it's more than normal... ^^

2. The red light next to the oil level gauge still goes on with the ignition on. I've checked the oil level again and again and put some more oil in but according to the dipstick there really is enough oil in it. It just above the middle of the two markings on the dip stick. Does this happen for some, and can I just disregard it?

Thanks!

Regards,
Carl

[jonathan_dyane]

The red light next to the oil level gauge still goes on with the ignition on. I've checked the oil level again and again and put some more oil in but according to the dipstick there really is enough oil in it. It just above the middle of the two markings on the dip stick. Does this happen for some, and can I just disregard it?

The light which you describe is nothing to do with the oil *level*, its purpose is to monitor oil pressure, and so should always light with the ignition first turned on, then extinguish when the engine is started and is running. Should the light still be lit with the engine started this means that you have a wiring fault, a faulty oil pressure switch or no oil pressure which will kill the engine in seconds...

[TB2]

its purpose is to monitor oil pressure, and so should always light with the ignition first turned on, then extinguish when the engine is started and is running.

Oh... That explains it
Thanks for the clarification.

[maxgreenwood]

mines a bit fumey at times in the cabin as well, i'd be interested to hear the feedback on this one. And the whole driveway stinks when its first started up but this goes after a few minutes.

[DavidRutherford]

If you think the exhaust has a leak, the only way to tell is to have someone hold a (thick) ball of rag over the exhaust pipe while you check it over for leaks. Any leak will be very obvious like this as they tend to hiss loudly with the extra pressure in the pipe.

[MULLEY]

Can't diesel fumes also come from dodgy leak off pipes?

[DavidRutherford]

Can't diesel fumes also come from dodgy leak off pipes?

Diesel vapour, and hence smell can, yes.

However,

I can clearly smell the exhaust fumes inside the car.

Which is very different from the smell of diesel fuel.

[MULLEY]

It would appear i can't read properly

[TB2]

Yeah it's definitely the smell of fumes, not diesel fuel. I'll try and check the exhaust pipe for leaks next time I let the engine on. Thanks for the tip.