Fuel coming from somewhere

[red107]

I have been helping a friend of mine bring his 78 back to life. While I was in Cali last week he was suppose to take it to get the breaks bled. Well he started it and let it run for about ten minutes. Then he says smoke was coming from the engine and it was leaking something. He is not mechanical at all. Well last night I stopped by to see the issue. He starts the car and fuel starts pouring out of the oil dip stick. Well it was a oil fuel mixture. Any ideas what caused this? The engine didn't hesitate or sputter. I shut it down immediately when I saw the fluid come out. I haven't checked anything yet. And yes I'm sure its fuel in the oil. In a four cylinder your would know if you drop a cylinder. This didn't act like that at all.

[CShroom]

Red,

I am not entirely familiar with the fiat, so take this with a grain of salt.

But could the mechanical fuel pump diaphragm be shot?

I have looked at ours, and it appears that if the diaphragm tore, it would be possible, like an older American car, for it to start puking gas into the crankcase.

The fuel pump arm goes directly into the crankcase on the side of the motor, and it sits above the lever arm, so if it began to leak internally, I would assume that the shortest path away would be straight into the block.

[red107]

Good Call, I forgot about that. I will certainly look there.

[ventura ace]

I would certainly caution him not to turn the starter key again until he gets the fuel leak fixed. And I agree that it sounds like it could be the mechanical fuel pump, if so equipped.

If there is gas in the crankcase, he needs to change the oil right away to keep from ruining all the bearings and rings.

Alvon