That's cos it's on the back of the alternator!
PopPops
Well-Known Member
Depends which you call front and back
The vacuum pump is the pulley end and is "part" of the alternator. There is an oil feed pipe from the cylinder head, the union with the alternator is known to leak, and oil drain back to the block via a rubber pipe. Not long done mine. You need to get lots of stuff off to get a good look.
Oops, yep, well on the front then!Depends which you call front and back
The vacuum pump is the pulley end and is "part" of the alternator. There is an oil feed pipe from the cylinder head, the union with the alternator is known to leak, and oil drain back to the block via a rubber pipe. Not long done mine. You need to get lots of stuff off to get a good look.
Can't say I've ever had to take mine off and yes it is buried deep.
Just like the fr!gging coolant pump which IS on the back of the PS pump.
Tother thing that bothers me is that if one goes you have to replace both, as I understand it.
PopPops
Well-Known Member
Yes, but the seal in the cylinder head, the other end of the oil feed pipe, could leak I suppose. As far as I know, that is the only oily bit on that side. If you have a 15P engine there is also the fuel return from the head to the FPR in that area, but I guess you would smell the diesel. But we know Land Rovers seem to be able to generate leaks from anywhere!
How bad is the leak?
Try & get it done sooner rather than later as the oil & grit that sticks to it acts like grinding paste on the alt. brushes & commutator as happened to mine last October ( mine was a leak from the short rubber return pipe).
Intestinalworm
Well-Known Member
Depends which you call front and back
The vacuum pump is the pulley end and is "part" of the alternator. There is an oil feed pipe from the cylinder head, the union with the alternator is known to leak, and oil drain back to the block via a rubber pipe. Not long done mine. You need to get lots of stuff off to get a good look.
Can definitely vouch for this!!! Oil sprayed all over the bottom front (around thermostat) and also soaked the alternator. The oil combined with grit acted like cutting fluid on the alternator rotor copper slip rings - destroyed them! Got a second-hand Denso alternator (AUD 40) from a wreck (old sticker indicated it had already been overhauled by an auto-electrician years before, and then just lay in a barn - nice and dry - no oil contamination). Bought new brushbox for alternator (AUD 25). New crush washer seal for vacuum pump (AUD 2) where the oil was spraying out and good as gold.
From memory, removed fan and serpentine belt, removed battery and battery box/ECU, removed belt tensioner, removed EGR bypass and hose to get good access to alternator/vacuum pump. Getting that little bottom hose stub back onto the engine sump from the vacuum pump required a bit of heat from a hair dryer. Not that hard overall.
Intestinalworm
Well-Known Member
Mine was the same! Oil and grit makes for a great cutting fluid! Still have the old alternator - maybe one day I'll see if I can repair the slip-rings; auto elecs not interested anymore - not economic to repair!
Intestinalworm
Well-Known Member
Great pics there! Looks like this is a common occurrence after a while? Crush washer and/or the return hose!
Intestinalworm
Well-Known Member
Yes, for integrated vacuum pump to get an air-tight seal.
