HerbertFriedman
Member III
Normally the bilge on my '87 E34 is bone dry during the summer here is the SF bay area. The dripless prop shaft coupling works great. Recently after topping off my diesel tank (typically done every ~15 hours run time) I noticed what appears to be a mixture of oil or sludge and diesel in the aft portions of the bilge, maybe 1-2 cups. Pouring this mixture in a glass of water shows it first beads up, then breaks up and floats to the top. Could be from the engine, fill tube or the diesel tank but definitely not water.
Cleaned out the bilge and over the next few days, the liquid amount decreased and finally stopped. Ran the engine for 30 mins in gear at 1500 rpm with white absorbent pads under the engine, no leak there. Oil filter, fuel filters, pan gasket all dry. Filled the tank again, maybe 1/2 gal, and next day some liquid appeared in the bilge, much less, maybe 1/2 cup. Again liquid decreased over next few days.
I could feel no wetness around whatever I could get my hand on the fill tube. All the hose connections to the tank were tight. Maybe 1/2 turn on the hose clamp at the fill port. Could get my hand to most of the front bottom on the tank, no wetness there. I am stumped, short of emptying the tank (it is now full, 20 gal) and pulling the tank, any ideas out there??
Cleaned out the bilge and over the next few days, the liquid amount decreased and finally stopped. Ran the engine for 30 mins in gear at 1500 rpm with white absorbent pads under the engine, no leak there. Oil filter, fuel filters, pan gasket all dry. Filled the tank again, maybe 1/2 gal, and next day some liquid appeared in the bilge, much less, maybe 1/2 cup. Again liquid decreased over next few days.
I could feel no wetness around whatever I could get my hand on the fill tube. All the hose connections to the tank were tight. Maybe 1/2 turn on the hose clamp at the fill port. Could get my hand to most of the front bottom on the tank, no wetness there. I am stumped, short of emptying the tank (it is now full, 20 gal) and pulling the tank, any ideas out there??