Re: cooler seal Poll

[Bernard Seront <serontb@wanadoo.fr>]

>
>In the spirit of data collection, I'd like to ask ANY listee, 
>anywhere in the world, who has seen the 3 extra oil cooler seals like 
>Paul has, to please post this fact back to the list.
>
>If you have seen these, please tell us where, and anything that you 
>know about them.
>
>-
>*******************************
>Jim Adney, jadney@vwtype3.org

I was puzzled (regarding past discusions on the list on the subject) when I
dismantled my engine (71 Notchback, fuel injected) to find these 3
"spacers" on the bolts (I will call them spacers instead of seals here as
this is I think they purpose). They are metal, contain no rubber or
compound part at all, and they clearly avoid over compression of the 2
usual cooler to case seals.
The seals I found on my engine were of the wrong style (I guess): black
with a 10mm/8 mm hole, although the engine is dual relief, and the oil
cooler definitively has 10 mm holes.

On another side I bought a standard "1300,1500 and 1600 cc engine gasket
set" (Made in Brazil, no brand name, 111 198 007 AF): I got 2 sets of oil
cooler seals: the thick 8 mm ones for older engine/cooler, they are red;
the thin 10 mm ones for dual relief case/10mm cooler, these are green.
I also got two of these seals directly from my local Wolkswagen dealer (021
117 151 A,  after looking at the part list, type 3 section, with the
clerk). These ones are 10 mm, identical to the ones in the Brazilian engine
gasket set but red. The part list and diagram on the computer (if VW could
make that available on CD ...) did show some spacers on the bolts (it is NLA).

Now I checked everything on my case and oil cooler:
- With the spacers on, the new seals are slightly loose, it is impossible
to tell if this would leak without pressure testing. I could rotate the
seals with the tip of a small screewdriver. This looks too loose for my taste.
- Without the spacers : the seals are clearly over tightened. Furthermore
the torque needed to have the oil cooler seating correctly on the case is
too high for 6 mm bolts, I cannot imagine it being right.

When I put back the engine together I will certainly instal the spacers. I
will file them to get a correct seal.
On a side note both the Haynes and the Bentley manuals warn not to
overtighten the oil cooler seals, as this would leak, and both talk about
the spacers for both the early (8 mm) and the late (10 mm) oiling system.
The only exception being the 10/8 mm adapter seal to use with a combo early
case/late cooler (or vice versa) and NO spacer.

Bernard.

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