Thanks to all for ideas.
Rather slow to get important things done like working on P38, as other things keep happening in general life that need fixing.
Re fuel temp sensor I will get a 1kOhm resistor on Friday when I go to town.
Local hardware shop had a pencil type tyre pressure gauge so have used it.
Ignition switch in pos 2 seems to only work the pump for a short time, take a couple a readings and virtually nothing. My 1998 one is the same, anyway......
Pos 2 in the region of 8/10 psi (other car 7 or so psi) Engine on idle 28 psi (other car only has 17 psi and it runs very well).
So 28 psi is down from the stated 34 to 37 psi. Might make an attempt to get it checked by a local mechanic but won't be able to fit that in until next week ... the busy life of pensioner!!!!
Tried the pipe off the pressure regulator no petrol came out while the engine on idle.
I put a piece of clear hose on it in a loop and went for a drive it did not show any sign of having had petrol in it.
The original hose was very old a crack was starting in it .... so I will replaced it.
The car always starts the moment the key is turned to the start position cold or hot.
Another 20 km trip yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon, revs kept to below 2000 rpm running well stopped twice idle was good.
Just before home increased speed to 100km /h and roughness came in requiring blipping of the throttle to induce kick down then run okay. But now into 50 km zone short way into driveway back to a perfect idle.
My very smart other half came over to state " well the exhaust doesn't stink of petrol today".
I checked the oil and it is just a as yesterday slightly over full so no change there.
For any important checking of the oil level I have vehicles on the known level concrete.
Off to start another busy day
Andrew
Bloody hell I only went to get a morning cup of tea and there's a reply already.
Thank you
I will definitely look into those areas after breakfast.
Andrew
I have owned my first P38 here in Australia, a late model dark green 1998 P38 HSE for the past 3 years. Had 302,000 km on the clock. He's on the rough side. One previous owner had put him on coils and did a poor job of it. Then another reinstated air bags. His first owner, in an up market area of Sydney, had looked after him very well. Then several owners in the north east of state of NSW did some probably serious 4 x 4 driving in state forests.The chap I bought him off looked after him again, but he had lost his good looks. Broken interior plastic, bits missing and under dash in need of serious work. Air suspension system had all sorts of problems. Bumpers with holes and other exterior damage.
On the 300km trip home after purchase for Au$2,500 with 6 months registration/insurance the big fella went well and even my wife took to liking him. As we neared home she leaned forward and patted the dash saying " your a good lad Bernard". "Where did that come from" I asked as we are not people that name our cars.
She told me he reminded her of the character Bernard in the 1994 UK comedy " Common as Muck ". Maybe some of you may remember the series. So he has been Bernard ever since then.
Having experienced the ups and downs and joys of P38 ownership I started looking around for a red one that was in a much better condition. I found one 2 weeks ago.
A 1997 4.6 HSE only 2 owners great condition tan leather interior never had children in the back. No book symbol on the HEVAC. Some sun damage on the bonnet clear coat but not too bad. No damage to bumpers all looking very good. It drove well and changed gears nicely. Braked well. Air suspension responded to all commands. Engine a bit on the oily side but looked like tappet cover gaskets needed. But those 20 inch Sport wheels that the elderly owner thought looked "really cool" driving round The Gold Coast would have to go !!!! Its new also elderly (75) owner prefers 16 inch, particularly on our rough bitumen rural roads where we live.
So I parted leaving Au$7,000 behind. The approximate 400 km drive home had some problems that I have asked for help on in the forum. Petrol in the oil.
Andrew
2 x P38's One will have to be de registered
1 1998 300Tdi Defender 130 with self built camper/home on its back.
1 1974 Citroen Dyane 6. We are second owners and its on its 3rd time round the clock in miles.
1 1954 Citroen Big 15. Fully restored, been in use for last 12 years
That's the fleet, no modern shares their space
Sorry about the length of the post just thought it would give the best overall view of the problem.
Just purchased lovely red 1997 4.6 HSE approximately 400 km away from home base here in Australia.
Checked oil level before leaving its previous owner, was on full mark.
200 km of cautious driving on moderately busy roads then stopped for the night.
After half an hour checked oil it was still just on the full mark.
Left early next morning very little traffic and after warming it up drove with a little bit more sprit.
Basically 100 km on I had to slow to a crawl for road works.
OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I was able to pull over safely in maybe 300 metres and switched off.
Bonnet up left it for 15 minutes then dipped the oil.
OVERFULL by about 10 mm still oil coloured not milky. Water level in the expansion tank was a little over its cold pointer.
Must be petrol in oil, thus diluting it, so pump could not maintain pressure at low revs.
Started motor, oil light on and clattering noise in top of motor.
Possibly valve / tappet area so very quickly shut motor down.
Seven hours later a tilt tray arrived from the breakdown assist organization I belong to.
I thought I had purchased a very well maintained two owner car. It looks good, but not serviced very regularly.
Put engine flush in oil. Drained it … bottom of bowl covered in balls of sludge.
New 20w 60 oil. Regular day time temps mid 30° c, 280,000 km on motor. My other P38 runs well on it.
300 ml Lifter/Tappet Fix & 300 ml MoS2 moly.di oil additive.
New filter.
Air temp sensor sprayed with MAF cleaner. New air cleaner element. Date on old one 2013.
MAF sensor and inside of its housing was black … took a lot of cleaner to get clean.
New fuel filter. You wouldn’t believe the muck that flushed back out of it.
New PCV valve … old one seized in housing took some getting out. 2 New associated hoses.
Sprayed contact cleaner on all the plug/sockets I could find in engine bay.
Fitted 2 new exhaust oxygen sensors.
Used Nanocom Evolution to reset Adaptive Values.
Started motor, on idle the top end noise not as bad. After 30 minutes on idle much quieter. Switched off.
In the morning put 200 ml oil in to bring up to full. Started it up, top end noise disappeared after a minute. Let it idle up to 68° c . Checked for fault codes. The only one that has ever showed up was
0183 ….. “Fuel temp sensor a circuit high input”. And it had now disappeared.
Took it for a drive, keeping revs down, 10 km all looking & sounding good.
Turned round, then 5 km short of home engine running rough. Only way to get home was to travel slowly & blip throttle. Possibly to use up excess petrol?? Slow speed into driveway oil light came on. In to garage motor off.
Checked oil level 15 minutes later, YES it was 5 mm over full !!
Next morning still over full but started easy. NO oil light on, idles well @ 650 rpm, warmed up to 70°c, can be reved to 2000 rpm all smooth & sounding good.
Injectors putting too much petrol into motor when driven ??
New Battery fully charged.
Any ideas where this 70 + year old should look for a solution.
Andrew
Bank 1
Pre cat O2 sensor (V) 0.02 to 2.7
Fuel trim long term % 0
Fuel trim short term % 1.25 to 5.0
Bank 2
Pre cat O2 sensor (V) 2.3 to 2.6
Fuel trim long term % 0
Fuel trim short term % - 1.25 to 2.5
Adaptive FMFR gm/s 0
Fuel Temp (C) - 255.00 ??
Fuel Level 1.46
O2 configuration 11
Pre Cat O2 Sensor Heater 1.13
Current throttle pos (V) 0.58
Stored throttle pos (V) 0.58
Adaptive air flow (kg/h) 0
Current air flow (kg/h) 21.59
Intake air temp (C) 15
Air flow sensor (V) 1.42
Secondry air status (on/of 4
Curr.run line position 31
Long term adaptive idle 43
Short term adaptive idle 43
Idle speed reference (rpm) 633
Idle air control valve (%) 74
Coolant temperature (C) 68
Battery (V) 16.00 HIGH ??