914/6 push rod tubes leaking!, How hard is this to fix myself? Options

[Jeffs9146]

Is there a tech article on replacing the tube seals? How hard is the repair? Can I do it myself? There are two that definatly need replacing!

Any info would help! I am losing about 1/4 quart per day and it smokes bad when I drive it!

It is a 2.0L stock 6!

Jeff

[ArtechnikA]

Is there a tech article on replacing the tube seals? How hard is the repair? Can I do it myself?

Any info would help! I am losing about 1/4 quart per day and it smokes bad when I drive it!

yes, you can do it yourself. no, you can't just replace the seals unless you're pulling down the entire top end. you crush the old tubes with ChannelLock pliers and throw them away, then replace them with expandable oil return (not pushrod...) tubes. all The Usual Suspect places have replacement 911 oil return tubes. i've seen it done - having the right tool to press the tube into the crank case and cam box helps a lot. it sure looked easier doing it on the lift - you need some strength to muscle the tubes into position and expand them properly so the circlips seat.

i'm sure there are technical articles in the archives of the various sites...

there is way more room if the heat exchangers are out, but the technician doing the session said sometimes it's actually easier to be able to leverage against the exhaust for some of the return tubes, so it appears to be a wash.

there's also an oil fitting in the area of one of the return tubes that is chronic for self-loosening and leaking. it takes a cheap aluminum seal washer but it's a major PITA - probably impossible without removong the oil return tubes. if you're already in there for that, i'd see about replacing that sealing washer too...

Pelican (for instance) has expandable oil return tubes shown for $21 ea.