First ride of the season = oil leak! Options

[PaIsa]

So after the long winter, warmer weather is back. I finally completed all the work on the car and was able to get it out of the garage for a quick ride.

First here is the list of what I did on the car during the winter:

- Took the engine and transmission out of the car
- Replace most of the seals on the tail shift transmission
- Replace most of the shifter linkage balls & bushing
- Valves adjustment on the engine
- Push rod tube seal replacement
- Some push rods were replace since I destroyed some while trying to get them out.
- Valve cover gaskets replacement
- Front main shaft seal replacement (the fan side)
- Oil cooler seal replacement
- Refurbishing of the rear suspension (torsion bar, bushings, springs, shocks, etc.)
- New pedal set
- New muffler

and I am probably missing some small items.

Car runs great. Much quieter with the new muffler. Shifts very well. Pulls like it use to. No complaints, but...

When I got back from the quick ride (10 km), I found out that there is what appears to be an oil leak on the left side of the engine. There was smoke coming from oil that was sprayed on the left side and that dripped over the hot heat exchangers.

With all the work that I have done, I guess that I did something wrong since the car did not leaked there last summer. So what do you think that I did wrong and that I should look at?

The oil (appears to be engine oil) can be seen on the valve cover and was sprayed on the chassis of the car (I saw oil on the inside torsion bar attachment, on the parking brake cable, on the heat exchanger, etc.). Can it be a leaking cover gasket or a badly install push rod tube seals??

I will go out again tonight and after the ride I will get the car on the lift and take some pictures to try to better explain the situation. In the meantime, I am open to any comment or advice.

The engine is a 1.8L.

[Geezer914]

My first guess is that the valve cover gasket shifted when installed. Clean up the oil, then start the car and see where the oil is leaking from.

[PaIsa]

My first guess is that the valve cover gasket shifted when installed. Clean up the oil, then start the car and see where the oil is leaking from.

Really hope it is just this as I don't want to fight the push rod tube again!! Just getting to the valve cover gasket with the engine in the car will be a bit more challenging compare to working on it with the engine out!

[930cabman]

My first guess is that the valve cover gasket shifted when installed. Clean up the oil, then start the car and see where the oil is leaking from.

Really hope it is just this as I don't want to fight the push rod tube again!! Just getting to the valve cover gasket with the engine in the car will be a bit more challenging compare to working on it with the engine out!

You are not alone, I just did a similar job but included a new clutch. Mine is running great, but leaking more oil than before. Hoping I can remove the heat exchangers and have decent access to reseal the valve covers

[rjames]

Hopefully it's just the valve cover gasket, but if you see oil on top of the cover, it's probably more likely that it's leaking at the pushrod tube seal(s). Did you use a sealant? If so, remove it as it's not needed.

[PaIsa]

Hopefully it's just the valve cover gasket, but if you see oil on top of the cover, it's probably more likely that it's leaking at the pushrod tube seal(s). Did you use a sealant? If so, remove it as it's not needed.

No sealant was used when replacing the tube seals. As mentioned earlier, I really hope not having to deal with the push rod tube again.

Will run the car tonight and try to see where it is leaking from.

[Osnabruck914]

I just had oil on top of my left side heat exchanger. It WAS leaking from
the valve cover. New gaskets with Permatex #2 sealer solved the problem. As usual, Achem’s Razor rules the day!

Osnabruck914

[930cabman]

My first guess is that the valve cover gasket shifted when installed. Clean up the oil, then start the car and see where the oil is leaking from.

Really hope it is just this as I don't want to fight the push rod tube again!! Just getting to the valve cover gasket with the engine in the car will be a bit more challenging compare to working on it with the engine out!

You are not alone, I just did a similar job but included a new clutch. Mine is running great, but leaking more oil than before. Hoping I can remove the heat exchangers and have decent access to reseal the valve covers

a bit embarrassing, the drain plug and the strainer bolts were both somewhat loose. Hoping the correct torque will take care of things

[Jack Standz]

Best wishes with stopping the leaks.

It's really unnecessary to pull the heat exchangers to fix a valve cover leak. Doing so can create its own problems, like introducing an exhaust leak. New gaskets and the right amount of tension and hopefully you're set.

As most everyone probably knows, please be careful with the strainer bolt. If it leaks, do not torque it down more. That's not the way to fix a leak there. Figure out what the problem is and correct it (like a mating surface that isn't flat, a gasket that's torn or not fitting right, have even seen where more than one gasket was installed there).

If you over-torque it, you can create what's called "the type iv syndrome ", particularly for 50+ year old cases with too many over tightened fasteners over the years. This is not overstating the problem. It can/will destroy your motor.

[Dave_Darling]

Another possibility could be that the breather hose on the one side got knocked off the pipe that goes into the rocker box. When the pipe into the valve rocker area is left disconnected, you can get a whole lot of oil out of it.

Don't ask how I know...

--DD

[nivekdodge]

Something I remember when the car pees a little on the floor. There's a long video about the RUF yellowbird, "the first Supercar" That ends with a drive and a return to it's showroom storage space. I f you catch it right , you can see the flipped up corner of cardboard it parks on. Doesn't fix it but it's all better.

Kevin

[PaIsa]

So I started the car yesterday. Ran it for a few minutes and then brought it on the lift and took a look to find the leak(s). For now, I really feel it is coming from the valve cover gaskets. I was actually able to see oil dripping from there so I will try to get this to seal first and then retest everything.

Should I get a new gasket or I can reuse the one that is there if it is still in adequate condition. I used Victor Reinz gasket.

[rjames]

I don't know what material the Reinz gaskets are made from, but I’ve reused the cork gaskets many times without issue.

Maybe the cover is just upside down? (VW logo should be upside down).

[PaIsa]

I font know what material the Reinz gaskets are made from, but I’ve reused the cork gaskets many times without issue.

Maybe the cover is just upside down? (VW logo should be upside down).

Gasket is made out of cork and was brand new when installed so unless I see major damages, I will reuse it.

I knew about the logo needing to be installed upside-down and I tried to respect this, but the logo on my cover is pretty hard to see. I will take a good look at it when doing the work.

[930cabman]

I font know what material the Reinz gaskets are made from, but I’ve reused the cork gaskets many times without issue.

Maybe the cover is just upside down? (VW logo should be upside down).

Gasket is made out of cork and was brand new when installed so unless I see major damages, I will reuse it.

I knew about the logo needing to be installed upside-down and I tried to respect this, but the logo on my cover is pretty hard to see. I will take a good look at it when doing the work.

did you coat the new gasket with any sort of sealant?

[rjames]

I font know what material the Reinz gaskets are made from, but I’ve reused the cork gaskets many times without issue.

Maybe the cover is just upside down? (VW logo should be upside down).

Gasket is made out of cork and was brand new when installed so unless I see major damages, I will reuse it.

I knew about the logo needing to be installed upside-down and I tried to respect this, but the logo on my cover is pretty hard to see. I will take a good look at it when doing the work.

did you coat the new gasket with any sort of sealant?

Shouldn't be necessary. If you have to use something, use it sparingly and don't use RTV.
IIRC, 914rubber sells cork gaskets that are thicker than stock that may help seal things.

[PaIsa]

I font know what material the Reinz gaskets are made from, but I’ve reused the cork gaskets many times without issue.

Maybe the cover is just upside down? (VW logo should be upside down).

Gasket is made out of cork and was brand new when installed so unless I see major damages, I will reuse it.

I knew about the logo needing to be installed upside-down and I tried to respect this, but the logo on my cover is pretty hard to see. I will take a good look at it when doing the work.

did you coat the new gasket with any sort of sealant?

Nope. Install them dry.

[FlacaProductions]

I use gask-a-cinch on the cover side only. Dry on the head side. Keeps it from moving around and it works for me - but there are a lot of right answers on this one. I tried the extra thick gaskets but they were just way too thick for me. couldn't even think about getting the bale in place.

[930cabman]

I use gask-a-cinch on the cover side only. Dry on the head side. Keeps it from moving around and it works for me - but there are a lot of right answers on this one. I tried the extra thick gaskets but they were just way too thick for me. couldn't even think about getting the bale in place.

I have been using shellac based sealer for over 50 years, almost always seals good and the cleanup when removing is straightforward

[Geezer914]

Permatex Avaition gasket sealer #3 on the valve cover and a light coat of grease on the head side.