Wondering if there are any thoughts from the collective brains trust.
Clue 1:
Last couple of times starting up, Cosmo has taken several turns over cranking as if the fuel isn't right there in the engine - and I found that it was necessary to use the throttle to get the engine to catch. Once it has run for a few minutes, restarts are instant and don't need any extra pedalling. The battery is off my other car and is in good condition.
Clue 2: when I had the wheels off the other day, I noticed that there was something that looked like an oil leak on the UK passenger side of the engine above the driveshaft. Hoped it might be oil pressure switch or similar but in good light today I could see that this was as dry as a bone.
Clue 3: when I reversed out of the normal parking space the other day when it had been raining, about a meter back from the stationary position rolling down the wee ramp I had to stop - this normally causes water that is sitting somewhere under the engine bay (aircon drain, rain drains etc) on the undertray or subframe to run off and pool under the car more or less under the passenger footwell. On this occasion, while the water has evaporated the substantial wet patch on the gravel remains - and I checked the wet-looking gravel in the dry to find that it was reeking of fresh diesel. I can't see any obvious dripping under the car - all the exposed fuel system stuff is on the driver side of the car (fuel cooler, fuel filter etc) whereas this is under the passenger side.
Clue 4: I had the headlights off earlier doing smaller jobs, and in the approximate area of the coolant temperature sensor (AMF) and below there it looks seriously oily / wet - including on top of the gearbox casing. I haven't yet got an endoscope to be able to have a proper look.
I've not had the engine cover off, but wondered if these all sound plausible symptoms of the tandem pump or some other pipework there seeping diesel? If so I am aware of the potential issues for all rubber pipework in the area - is this something than can just be swapped like an EGR or is it a proper garage job?
Clue 1:
Last couple of times starting up, Cosmo has taken several turns over cranking as if the fuel isn't right there in the engine - and I found that it was necessary to use the throttle to get the engine to catch. Once it has run for a few minutes, restarts are instant and don't need any extra pedalling. The battery is off my other car and is in good condition.
Clue 2: when I had the wheels off the other day, I noticed that there was something that looked like an oil leak on the UK passenger side of the engine above the driveshaft. Hoped it might be oil pressure switch or similar but in good light today I could see that this was as dry as a bone.
Clue 3: when I reversed out of the normal parking space the other day when it had been raining, about a meter back from the stationary position rolling down the wee ramp I had to stop - this normally causes water that is sitting somewhere under the engine bay (aircon drain, rain drains etc) on the undertray or subframe to run off and pool under the car more or less under the passenger footwell. On this occasion, while the water has evaporated the substantial wet patch on the gravel remains - and I checked the wet-looking gravel in the dry to find that it was reeking of fresh diesel. I can't see any obvious dripping under the car - all the exposed fuel system stuff is on the driver side of the car (fuel cooler, fuel filter etc) whereas this is under the passenger side.
Clue 4: I had the headlights off earlier doing smaller jobs, and in the approximate area of the coolant temperature sensor (AMF) and below there it looks seriously oily / wet - including on top of the gearbox casing. I haven't yet got an endoscope to be able to have a proper look.
I've not had the engine cover off, but wondered if these all sound plausible symptoms of the tandem pump or some other pipework there seeping diesel? If so I am aware of the potential issues for all rubber pipework in the area - is this something than can just be swapped like an EGR or is it a proper garage job?