Technical Diesel leak post cambelt replacement

[tim051]

Hi, my lad purchased a Fiat Ducato with the following engine: F1agl411d. As part of the deal, the garage replaced the cambelt and all appeared fine. He drove home about 80 miles and has hardly used the van as he is fitting it out as a camper. At absolute max, he will have driven 90 miles since the cambelt replacement. We then noticed a patch on the road underneath the engine and we are both pretty sure it is diesel. You can see the liquid dripping (about 1 drip every 5 seconds) from behind the cambelt cover and therefore don't know exactly where the leak is from. I think I would need to jack the van up or use an inspection pit to easily get the cover off which we don't have access to either.

I have a couple of questions that someone will hopefully be able to help us out.

1. The garage are quite happy to look at the leak, but that means that we will have to drive it about 80 miles back to the garage. How dangerous is this? What are the chances of something igniting? My thoughts are that with the cool air blowing around and the fact that diesel needs high pressure to ignite that are should be ok to drive.
2. If the diesel is dripping on the cambelt, could this have an impact on the life of the belt? Could it deteriorate quicker than usual? Would the heat from the belt be an issue with regards to it catching fire?
3. Has anyone had a similar experience and how was the leak fixed.

I'm not a vehicle mechanic and just in a bit of predicament as what to do. Take it back with the possible risks involved or pay someone local to fix it at a cost to us rather than the garage where we purchased it.

Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated.
Many Thanks

 

[jackwhoo]

100% take it back .
If there is diesel inside the timing belt cover it is not a fast fix.

 

[tomson]

I've replaced cambelt in my Ducato and the high pressure pump started to leak.

How did you solve this issue? Have you replaced the high pressure pump or have you sent it for repair?

Mechanic told me that it rarely happens, but if it drips initially it often stops after a short while. If it doesn't stop a while after it won't seal itself unfortunately.

It seems it must be relatively common problem, as I've found another thread where someone mentioned diesel leak after cambelt replacement:

 

[tomson]

... right, car's fixed. They've had to remove the pump and send to local diesel service for sealing. They didn't have to touch pressure sections, but only replaced the outer O-ring on the shaft.

This pump is pretty simple design and if it leaks it can be fixed pretty easily as a DIY: https://autodieselparts.com.pl/1176...0445010318-0445010319-0445010320-pd-5697.html

Schematics: http://www.dieselcatalog.online/en/bosch/04450/0445010320.html

It sometimes leaks from the "pressure" sections, there are 3 of them. It's apparently important to tighten them back with a proper torque (8-10NM, don't quote me on that, check manual).

In my case the pump repair costed just £25!, but the total bill (timing belt, water pump, injector pump fix and gear level linkage greasing) was closer to £500, which for the amount of work wasn't that bad, but given that it was Poland I wasn't expecting it, sounds like inflation kicked in everywhere.

I still feel somewhat lucky, as it could be way worse. Including the fact that car is 10 years old, has ~280kkm and timing belt was never replaced before (it was still in a good shape though, these OEM must be really robust)

BTW. Some garages will quote you north of £200 to "regenerate" the pump, it's often unnecessary, but given the amount of work to replace it it may be worth it. Given that I've found the brand new OEM for £350, I wouldn't pay £200 unless the garage (e.g. certified Bosch dealer) is really trusted.