Help me find my oil leak! Options

[bkrantz]

As I described in my build thread, last year, once I got the engine running, I noticed significant oil drops (or more) after each drive. With winter in full throttle, I decided to drop the motor, and see about fixing the leak.

Here's the view of the front. Maybe you can see some oil.

[BeatNavy]

My two cents from my experience here: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=354879

I thought I was very thorough sealing the T1 pump and cover to the case when I replaced it last year. I don't have an OP gauge (I probably should have one) but seemingly had no issues, and the oil leak was gone. Last week I changed the oil, however, and I did see signs of oil collecting at the bottom of the cover again. Not to the point of slinging oil around, or as bad as @bkrantz has here (yet) but still frustrating (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Until I read this thread I didn't know that the OD of the T1 pump is undersized. I think @rfinegan was inferring that in one of his posts earlier in my thread, but I don't think I picked up on it. On the plus side, I do think these sealing nuts likely helped reduce, if not eliminate, the leaks: https://vwparts.aircooled.net/8mm-Self-Seal...111-115-161.htm

Bottom line: yeah, it seems these T1 pumps are very very very hard to seal, as George pointed out. I'll consider swapping it out for a serviceable T4 pump next time engine is out.

On a side note, I remember going down a rabbit hole on the Samba WRT the intense debate over advantages and disadvantages of 30mm pumps vs. 26mm. After reading that I seem to recall wishing I'd gone the 26mm route...