I’ve owned a 1994 Automatic Autosleeper Omega for 6 years and after a 10 day trip around Ireland with the family I was getting a horrible burning smell going uphill. I got the gearbox oil changed on the way home, thanks to some help from old threads on this site, thanks guys. 
 

Bit of a back story, it’s had an oil leak that’s worsening and it leaks at rest. Failed on emissions in December and blanked off the EGR and it passed. Crank pressure was too high the mechanic said. There are oil spots on the rear door, that are pretty hard to clean off to be fair.

The van has been driving really well and gearbox works well.

 

The new mechanic has put the main oil leak to the low pressure oil pump, and says that’s most likely the smell going up hills. 
 

I asked for his view on the engine oil in the exhaust…..piston rings. He says they can’t get them anymore. So it’s rebore and bigger rings or find an old one and hope the rings are ok?

 

does anyone here have any sage advice….i like the van and will spend a bit as family would enjoy it for a while longer…

 How many miles on the engine? If it isn't significantly down on power, I would wonder about the rings being the problem. I don't suppose it is very economical but how's the consumption?

Has there been a compression test carried out on each of the cylinders ?

Unless the engine has intergalactic mileage, it's not common to need replacement piston rings.

49 minutes ago, Jake the Rake said:

I’ve owned a 1994 Automatic Autosleeper Omega for 6 years...

I would have expected that to run like a Swiss watch!

Get you coat, Tom.

I would go as far as to say that if it starts well, then your mechanic may very well be mistaken. I would be giving the breather system a Hard Stare. You are looking with torch and mirror for any rubbed, squashed or disconnected rubber tubing. How much oil does it use?

 

It’s done 54000…it used 1/2 litres over 700 miles… the mechanic puts that down to the low pressure oil pump…

no compression test on the cylinders

power is really not an issue….full tank of fuel 420-440 miles…starts easy every time…

34 minutes ago, Jake the Rake said:

It’s done 54000…

It's not even run in yet !!!

I'd bet your pension (always pays to gamble with other peoples money) that it does not need new piston rings.

5 minutes ago, unofix said:

always pays to gamble with other peoples money

Have you considered a new career in politics?😀

I'm with the piston ring doubters here. 54k on a diesel, not down on power, starts easily, doesn't sound like lack of compression, though a test would confirm one way or the other. 

Injector issue or valve stem oil seals, perhaps?

Stem oil seals unlikely at this mileage  but possible. Excess crankcase pressure might make it worse- the fact it needs topping up for leaks suggests that it isn't fuel dilution either.Another sign it isn't rings. I would guess a crank oil seal would have given way under the pressure to cause the leak so my money is on the crankcase ventilation. How did you blank off the egr? Is it effectively bypassed?

Further questions: is it leaking from low down? Drippy ones often do. If so, which end of the engine?

Low pressure oil pump is the mail oil leak…getting replace in a couple of days…mechanic also pointed to front camshaft seal also. He says there’s quite a few small leaks, but said that’s not abnormal on those transits..

 

Re crank pressure, the only breather is the dip stick hole or the place where you pour oil in….

 

ta for all the pointers so far….

Oh, all right then.

The low pressure oilpump is the source of the leak and you have an engine without a crankcase ventilation system.

I'll let you get on with it.

Well how's it going @Jake the Rake ???

Have you fixed it ? What was the actual problem ?