Leakin' Landliner!

[fremsley]

Hi all,

Well I've finally been out in the landliner for the first time - out to the New Forest for a night. However, a few dodgy things are evident.

1. Filled up the water tank and found water pishing out of the pipes to and from the tank - any suggestions on how to fix?

2. More worrying - filled up with petrol and found fuel pishing out from underneath - stopped leaking when tank about 3/4 full - any ideas?

Engine gets very hot - and max speed is 50 to ensure she doesnt get too steamy! Once stopped she does tend to vent a lot of steam from the overflow - any ideas also?

Apart from all this it was a very comfy night!

Cheers

Simon

[FredTransit]

The drinking water is no biggie, just get some new pipe and replace it. The petrol is a bit more serious. I don't get why it's stopping, usually it's the other way round, you fill it so far then it leaks. Could it be the filer neck? The engine does sound like a head gasket, does it use a lot of water, or is there steam coming out of the exhaust?

[fremsley]

Hi Fred,

Cheers for the advice - is there any specific sealant i should use on the water pipes - i had a look and they appear to be connected by rusty jubilee clips?

As for the petrol - sorry not made it clear - i fill it up and it leaks and then stops at 3/4 full.

Engine; Using a quite a bit needed topping up this morning after 70 odd miles yesterday - have been using aux fan some previous owners fitted to keep temp down - steam coming out of the overflow only it seems.

Apologies - i am very mechanically challenged!

Cheers Simon

[Wolfie]

1, get new pipes, heater hose ones should be ok or go all fancy and get the expensive fresh water grade ones from caravan shops. Jubilees are fine

2, Petrol tank sounds like it has a leak, get another one or empty the one you have drop it out of the van and check all over for leaks.

3, could be thermostat stuck.

[FredTransit]

Heater hose is made of rubber, and will make the water taste horrible. How about plastic hose pipe?

[Watto]

The water hoses will run inside the van as well so worth checking/replacing all connections. I wouldn't use the water for drinking unless you add sterilising tablets (and then it doesn't taste too good).
I use the water in the tank for washing but take bottled water from home for drinking. I would recommend using the proper hose from camping shops as it it quite thick walled and is stronger than garden hose and less likely to spring a leak in the future.
I replaced all my hoses for less than £20. I didn't use any sealant, just secure the hoses to the fittings with small jubilee clips.

Don't take chances with the fuel tank - replace it or get a professional repair done

Buy a bottle of 'RadFlush' and follow the instructions on the label. Reverse flush the coolant system if you can and then replace the radiator cap.

[fremsley]

Cheers all.

Transit addict - you in west sussex? I'm in Worthing - can you reccomend anyone who can help me out with the tank and engine - i'm useless at things mechanical.

Cheers

Simon

[Watto]

Simon,

Sent you a PM

[greek]

Might be a good idea learning a few basics in mechanics, Running an old moter it always helps
fremsley

[fremsley]

Yes indeed - my dad is the one who knows all things mechanical (but up in Shropshire and sick of fixing motors). Sadly, i never learnt the art and stuck more to the mental health nursing. I did mange once to change an alternator on my old MK2 years back.

Ta

Simon

[jnwferguson]

Hi
check the filler pipe there is a rubber hose between neck and tank this can perish had similar problem years ago.
cheers jim

mk2 lwb
mk2 mobile home

[jnwferguson]

Hi
regarding your water tank make sure you flush out your system.I use puriclean ,you get it from halfords or most caravan shops I have used it for years on my caravan and now my camper never had a problem with drinking water .
cheers jim.

[fremsley]

I must admit i did fill it right up and got a bit of a spit back from the cap. Only after did i see juice dripping merrily from the tank itself - could this be that rubber seal?

[FredTransit]

How much dripping out, and for how long? If it was only a bit for a few seconds, you could be right.

[fremsley]

Oh a good few minutes -then she stopped and the gauge measured 3/4 full - mind you i've never seen it move much anyway. I had to use quite a few shovels of sand at the garage to cover up the spill - about the size of a manhole cover. Whats the best and least flammable way to check this out?