Re: Oil leaks

[stans4@ix.netcom.com]

On 06/15/97 11:40:27 you wrote:
>
>It is VW people like you who make it worth while to be a VW person (or VW
>Lover) like me.  I thank you for the pan info I am about to order mine now.  
>
>I have a ? for all of you about the T-3 engine.  Is there some type of seal
>for the fan that buts up against the case and the fan itself?  I am replacing
>an engine on a bug, and it had a what seemed like a greased twine seal
>between the pulley and case.  This to me would be very affective for stoping
>a leak in this area.  That is the problem I am having at this time.  I know
>my oil throw ring is good and my threads are good too, but I am still having
>problems with an oil leak.  PLEASE SEND INFO!  Thank You. WOODUP1 an owner of
>a fine 71 Type-III SQ
>
>
On sand rails and dune buggies they put in a seal at the fan end, it takes machining of the case.  Really meant for unusual attitudes on the vehicle, not to combat leakage on the level.

On a stock engine there is no other seal on the fan end of the crank other than the reverse thread you noticed on the pulley and the oil-slinger.  Are you sure you're leaking at the crank?  I've never seen that except when the oil level is much too high and/or you have severe over-pressure in the crankcase, usually due to blow-by on the rings.  On my '71 I had a  problem with oil vapor coming out on the engine from a bad plastic lid on the crankcase breather assembly(dingus to your right, situated behind the fan).  This was percolating like a coffee pot and spraying oil vapor all over the compartment.  I replaced the lid, cleaned the engine, no more vapor problems until the main bearings went.  Later engines have a vented set of heads that go into the air-cleaner, I put one of those engines in, much better design.   

If you don't know where your leak is, get it down to a car wash, thoroughly clean the engine.  Park it in an undisturbed area with some newspaper underneath and watch for drips.  The location(s) of the drips should tell you where and what to look for.

Forward leaks are either bad flywheel seal or a cracked engine case at the oil gallery.  Middle leaks could be a bad drain plate, gasket or mating surface, case could be cracked there or you could possibly have a leak at the seam if an engine rebuilder didn't do it right. I've never had a leak there, but there's a rubber hose behind the fan connecting the breather assembly above with the oil fill/dipstick tube below, I suppose this could rot and leak, kind of an engine-pull thing to replace, though.  It's really behind things. I've also had a piston crown burn through and blow oil up the filler tube and out a hole in the dipstick boot, more than just drips, though.  I suppose you could have a case crack at the rear, although I've never heard of that happening.  Clean your engine, let us hear of further developments.

PS
Just thought of it, your oil-coiler seal(s) could have blown or cracked.  Hope that's enough bad thoughts for one post.