V6 LPG chugging / clonking / low power

[mr_marrakesh]

I'm going to take it in to my mechanic for it's service and mention some of the issues people have raised here and see if he comes up with anything regarding the cold start power loss problems.

Regarding the idling problems I think I will fit a scavenger fan over ride switch. It seems easy enough to do from looking at other posts. I'm hoping it might solve another problem which I've been living with / trying to pretend is not there. When the engine is straining (up a hill say) I sometimes smell something which I can only describe as like the smell of the melted wax my mum used for waxing her legs when I was a kid. I'm not that experienced with engines and if I was I'd probably be able to identify the smell. I'm assuming it's engine oil or the viscous clutch fluid or something like that getting too hot. Anyway, maybe the scav fan over ride will help. (BTW I've had this problem since getting the van so I don't think it's related to the cold start problem).

[mikeonb4c]

I'm going to take it in to my mechanic for it's service and mention some of the issues people have raised here and see if he comes up with anything regarding the cold start power loss problems.

Regarding the idling problems I think I will fit a scavenger fan over ride switch. It seems easy enough to do from looking at other posts. I'm hoping it might solve another problem which I've been living with / trying to pretend is not there. When the engine is straining (up a hill say) I sometimes smell something which I can only describe as like the smell of the melted wax my mum used for waxing her legs when I was a kid. I'm not that experienced with engines and if I was I'd probably be able to identify the smell. I'm assuming it's engine oil or the viscous clutch fluid or something like that getting too hot. Anyway, maybe the scav fan over ride will help. (BTW I've had this problem since getting the van so I don't think it's related to the cold start problem).

From memory a classic cause of this in the v6 is camshaft seals leaking and oil dropping onto hot parts (exhaust?). Scavenger fan on should hopefully help though problem will ultimately need addressing, cheapest (but not cheap) to do when cambelt change done. Could there be any link between this and the chugging problem? Oil mist getting onto components? Maybe a v6 techie could offer thoughts.

[mr_marrakesh]

Ok, there have been some developments and it looks like it is an ignition problem (kudos to Haydn). I asked a friend who's a bike mechanic and it turned out he used to be a car mechanic (dark horse). He came round and in 5 minutes worked out that the off side middle spark plug lead wasn't firing, it had a dodgy connection with the distributor cap. With a bit of a wiggle the lead was firing again. Also the off side rear spark plug hole was filled with oil and there is generally a lot of oil leaked over the rocker cover. I'm guessing that's the source of the smell. He replaced the off side rocker cover gasket and that seems to have cured the leak but there's still oil in the plug hole. Also the chuggy problem is back. Anyway, I know where to start now I think this post (http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... ion+sensor) is going to be instructive for me. I'll check inside the dizzy cap for moisture, try to dry out the HT lead / plug contacts, probably get some new spark plugs. I'm also going to PM BongoBonkers to find out more about oil in plug holes.

Regarding the clicking noise, I think it is unrelated and must be the charcoal canister solenoid from reading this post (http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... id#p686919).

I am not going back to the mechanic who tried to get me to buy an air flow meter without even doing the most rudimentary check on the spark plugs / ignition system. He really doesn't deserve my money.