SEALS - Different that orig, WAS: OIL: Flood, Leak and Seeps, Will they work ? Options

[ctc911ctc]

Please see the seal picture around post #9


All,

I had all three, Floods, Leaks and Seeps. I fixed the Flood, yes the valve cover HAS to go on with the VW logo upside down! So on to the leaks. I am down to one leak, the oils is dripping off of the oil filter, a drop a minute or two while running. This leak is NOT coming from the top of the engine. Oil pressure sending unit, oil filler (OEL)and the distributor are all tight, no leaks.

Took out the oil filter, let the car leak until it stopped dripping and got under the car.

OK, I spent an hour under the car. Pretty certain that the car is leaking from ABOVE the oil filter mounting bracket. Top of the braket and the bottom part of the oil cooler are covered in oil. Sooooo, after reading everything about this within these pages I found that the oil filter bracket AND the oil cooler could be removed WITHOUT removing the engine. GREAT!

So raised the car high, put it on jackstands AND 4x4 blocks (belt and suspenders) and slid underneath. took the first nut off the oil filter mount, then I went for the one on the back of the bracket.
A - Easy Bracket nut
B - Nut on top of bracket - seen through a mirror
C - Oil Pressure regulator Access Port
D - Above the Oil Cleaner bracket - covered with oil.




As can be seen, the nut for the other half of the mount is overlapped by the oil cooler frame. THERE IS NO WAY TO GET A WRENCH ON THIS!

Not sure what to do now, live with the leak until it is time to remove the engine?

Ideas, suggestions,

Many thanks in advance.

BTW, the seeps are all from the pushrod tubes, only one looks really bad, not sure I would venture to pull the tubes with the engine in the car, though I know it can be done.

[Superhawk996]

Not sure I understand.

No special tools required other than a floor jack. Those are dirt cheap from HF. I used to do it with a small 1 ton hydraulic floor jack from K-Mart. If you have to tools to even contemplate an oil cooler project, you have what you need. Basic socket set, Vice Grips, and a hammer.

Jack stands. I hope you already are using a set if you're working under a vehicle.

Space. I've done engine drops in the dirt, outdoors. Use a piece of 1/2 or better yet 3/4 inch plywood to put under the car. Use this as the foundation upon which you can roll the hydraulic jack. "Extra" space needed is literally the 6 feet of space behind the car to accommodate the engine/trans when it's out. I've worked outdoors and had to cover the engine at night to keep rain off it. Any tarp will do the trick. Now if you're in the dirt and don't have access to plywood, I get it. I was once in that scenario and "rented" my bosses garage for a six pack . . . since I had no other options at the time being broke and in college . . . . if you can believe that.

Not trying to be a smart ass or anything just to be mean . . . Just want to reinforce that with the 6 hours or so that you already have into it this way, you could have been done. And when you're done, you'd know the seals are properly in place, on clean surfaces, and have been properly tightened.

I'm one of the worst for wanting to take short cuts. When I do it rarely works in my favor. I feel your pain and frustration because I've been there.

By all means, give the grease trick a try since you're at this point. Part of learning to wrench is learning when to give in and just do it "properly".

[ctc911ctc]

Got it - agree with you completely. So, here is the real reason:

I was surfing in Dec (something I have done all my life) and fell off the front of the wave and broke my back. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif) I know, pretty crazy. I can walk, but cannot lift ANYTHING. Laying on my back under the car is great - will recover 100% but it will take time before I am in the clear to lift or move or stretch.

Thank you VERY much for the encouragement SuperHawk!

Respectfully,
CTC911CTC

Not sure I understand.

No special tools required other than a floor jack. Those are dirt cheap from HF. I used to do it with a small 1 ton hydraulic floor jack from K-Mart. If you have to tools to even contemplate an oil cooler project, you have what you need. Basic socket set, Vice Grips, and a hammer.

Jack stands. I hope you already are using a set if you're working under a vehicle.

Space. I've done engine drops in the dirt, outdoors. Use a piece of 1/2 or better yet 3/4 inch plywood to put under the car. Use this as the foundation upon which you can roll the hydraulic jack. "Extra" space needed is literally the 6 feet of space behind the car to accommodate the engine/trans when it's out. I've worked outdoors and had to cover the engine at night to keep rain off it. Any tarp will do the trick. Now if you're in the dirt and don't have access to plywood, I get it. I was once in that scenario and "rented" my bosses garage for a six pack . . . since I had no other options at the time being broke and in college . . . . if you can believe that.

Not trying to be a smart ass or anything just to be mean . . . Just want to reinforce that with the 6 hours or so that you already have into it this way, you could have been done. And when you're done, you'd know the seals are properly in place, on clean surfaces, and have been properly tightened.

I'm one of the worst for wanting to take short cuts. When I do it rarely works in my favor. I feel your pain and frustration because I've been there.

By all means, give the grease trick a try since you're at this point. Part of learning to wrench is learning when to give in and just do it "properly".

[Superhawk996]

So, here is the real reason:

I was surfing in Dec (something I have done all my life) and fell off the front of the wave and broke my back.

Well sheesh . . . that changes everything doesn't it.

Rest up . . . do what you can. I used to road race motorcycles (if you call running mid pack racing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) ). I completely understand now.

When you're busted up you just want to just do something that feels productive other than sitting around and thinking about how you can't wait to go back at it and see if you can bust yourself up again. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

Do what you can - heal up and let us know how it goes. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)