Oil Soaked Belly Pan

[Mattylad]

Ok, so after what feels like an eternity I have managed to get my fuel leak resolved courtesy of Andy ' the bongo king' of VISAR garage Thirsk.

However, I decided to remove my belly pan the other day as I thought the amount of time this was going on for and what looks like other oil and fluid leaks it may need a clean out. I then found that the belly pan has a dense foam (probably for sound deadening) attached. This in turn has now soaked up what feels like a barrel of oil and all manner of fluids (although im not sure any bodily ones are there).

So I tried in vain to clean it but didnt really scratch the surface. I then changed the oil, oil filter and ATF (by peli pump & removing the sump to clean filters). I ran the engine for about 15 miles and 30 mins after that to check my ATF levels then left her in a big shed over night (minus belly pan) to check for any leaks etc. In the morning, result, no leaks so replaced belly pan only to find im having drips underneath the van of what seems to be a watered down oil solution. My guess is that in my attempt to clean said belly pan (i used some muc-off bike cleaner) this has degreased some of the oil and is dripping out???

I have checked for further fuel and oil leaks and appears to be fine.

So after all this long winded bollox I ask this. has anyone ever had the same issue with the belly pan being cacked up? I am thinking of ripping off the foam and buying some new and sticking it on, has anyone done this before?

Thanks for reading my novel.

Matty

[321Away]

They're all like that, its a blessing and curse all in one, keeps your drive nice n clean, but means you dont spot a leak til its dumped loads!
Julian

[Alacrity]

Leave the pan off for a while & stand it on end on cardboard or similar for a while until it has stopped leaking, then refit it.

[Mattylad]

Im taking it that its safe to run her with the belly pan off???

Still think it may be an idea to replace the foam.

[Mattylad]

Ha ha I particularly like the idea of using the neighbours drain lol.

Well I need to do something so removal for a few days is they key me thinks.

[Triple/R]

Leave the pan off for a while & stand it on end on cardboard or similar for a while until it has stopped leaking, then refit it.

That's what i did with mine~left it in the greenhouse (on end) with loads of newspaper's underneath for a week~was amazed how much fluids & stuff came out,i also got a piece of wood & kept sqeezing the foam~it wasn't spotless after but was a lot drier.

[mikeonb4c]

Would the likes of white spirit be any good for loosening and helping to flush out oil based goo in the foam? You could try propping the engine undertray at a v. slight angle with its lower edge over a drip tray, and then slowly pouring the solvent in along the higher edge and see what effect it has. If stuff coming through into the drip tray seems like white spirit but with some discoloration, that would suggest it is having some effect. If so, recycle the contents of the drip tray in repeating the original process. You could also use a roller to squeegee stuff out of the foam. At some point, the stuff in the matrix may be loosened enough to allow the use of a detergent cleaner such as Gunk etc. etc.

I really ought to try this job on mine, since I know its well clogged after an old diesel pump leak.

PS - I see Triple/R has posted just ahead of me, and what he is finding seems to fit with the suggestion I've made above.

[Triple/R]

Would the likes of white spirit be any good for loosening and helping to flush out oil based goo in the foam? You could try propping the engine undertray at a v. slight angle with its lower edge over a drip tray, and then slowly pouring the solvent in along the higher edge and see what effect it has. If stuff coming through into the drip tray seems like white spirit but with some discoloration, that would suggest it is having some effect. If so, recycle the contents of the drip tray in repeating the original process. You could also use a roller to squeegee stuff out of the foam. At some point, the stuff in the matrix may be loosened enough to allow the use of a detergent cleaner such as Gunk etc. etc.

I really ought to try this job on mine, since I know its well clogged after an old diesel pump leak.

PS - I see Triple/R has posted just ahead of me, and what he is finding seems to fit with the suggestion I've made above.

I tried a roller Mike but didn't seem to do any good,so put some pressure on with a length of wood.

[snow_kiter]

I took mine off and jet washed it out. Didn't notice any increase in road noise. If anything I thing it may be a bit quieter.

Only problem is I didn't anticipate how much more oil was going to come out after I stood it up dry.
Anyone recommend a good product for cleaning the concrete in my yard

[Muzorewa]

Anyone recommend a good product for cleaning the concrete in my yard

Paint it green, low-maintenance grass

[mikeonb4c]

I took mine off and jet washed it out. Didn't notice any increase in road noise. If anything I thing it may be a bit quieter.

Only problem is I didn't anticipate how much more oil was going to come out after I stood it up dry.
Anyone recommend a good product for cleaning the concrete in my yard

Well hellooooooooooo stranger. How are you.

I'll be interested to hear if, once the sodden mass has dried out, the cover works any better at absorbing engine noise that otherwise makes it out to the road surface, from where it is reflected out to my deaf ears.

[stuc]

My undertray fell off in the winter with all the snow and the foam was caked in oil. I tried to clean it but was no good as the foam had come off also. I just binned it and it hasnt made any noticable difference.