Oil leak (who hasn't had one?)

[Fahrvergnugen]

Howdy people! I have a '72 std bug with a 1600 (mostly stock)

I bought the car just over a year ago and it had a 1200cc 40 hp engine...I kid you not! The previous previous owners installed it, and that's all I know about that... After putting about 20,000 miles on the engine, I decided to Upgrade... I bought used 1600 from a buddy of mine that had absolutely no leaks! This was back in December...

THe engine has a Weber progressive and is internally stock. A few days ago (Thursday) I got a wild hair on my ass and decided to go with a chrome 36 hp shroud, an aluminum breather, and repaint all of my engine tin. I also installed an EMPI billet alum. crankshaft pulley.

Here's my problem: I had no oil leak until I installed that EMPI pulley. Now the oil leaks out from around the crank and the pulley bathes my fresh, shiny engine with Castrol GTX... I have encountered this problem before, but the problem was too much case pressure and in another instance, the case was just plain worn out... The guy I bought the engine from ran the engine in his '72 Super and never had a problem w/ it and I don't abuse the car...

My breather is clear and I dont suspect the case is worn...
a "friend" told me that my bearings are worn and this is because I use the wrong weight oil (10w30...I live in NW Florida). Any suggestions? what are the warning signs of bad bearings? the engine doesn't run hot and my oil pressure light never comes on when I'm driving, but I don't know how many miles the engine has on it... the compression is about 120 lbs on all cylinders.

the car is my daily driver and I am about to ship off for basic training...I have done several engine rebuilds for friends and never had a problem, but I am pressed for time/money and I really don't want to have to rebuild something that isn't in need of it...you know what I mean?

[bugninva]

Howdy people! I have a '72 std bug with a 1600 (mostly stock)

I bought the car just over a year ago and it had a 1200cc 40 hp engine...I kid you not! The previous previous owners installed it, and that's all I know about that... After putting about 20,000 miles on the engine, I decided to Upgrade... I bought used 1600 from a buddy of mine that had absolutely no leaks! This was back in December...

THe engine has a Weber progressive and is internally stock. A few days ago (Thursday) I got a wild hair on my Bum and decided to go with a chrome 36 hp shroud, an aluminum breather, and repaint all of my engine tin. I also installed an EMPI billet alum. crankshaft pulley.

put the stock pulley back on...if the leak stops then you know that the spiral groove in the alluminum pulley isn't right....that spiral groove is a fan of sorts...it pushes air into the engine...this keeps teh oil from leaking out(in addition to the "oil slinger")

[UncleBob]

When you installed the aluminum breather, did it have provisions for crankcase ventilation? Did your old breather? If the oil filler breather hose is capped off, it can increase crankcase pressure, forcing oil out the pulley, among other places. Or is this what you meant by 'my breather is clear'?

Also, did you loosen the bottom case nuts to help you get the new pulley on and forget to tighten them up? Just a thought.

I'd also pull that new pulley and stare-and-compare with your stock one. Look at the oil slingers. Difference should be obvious. Go back to stock, or you might try a bolt in sand-seal pulley. I've had good luck with those.

If your oil light stays out when running, then don't worry about it. Don't let your 'friend' freak you out.

[Fahrvergnugen]

Thanks for the suggestions...

My breather is connected to the air cleaner and has no kinks/ blockage in the hose.

I've never heard of loosening the bottom case nuts to get the pulley in... interesing...

the spirals in the aluminum pulley seem to be alright, and the aren't boogered up, but I installed the stock pulley anyway - I'll fire the engine up today and see if it blows up!

THanks again for the advice!

[JK]

From my experience I would say remove all that shiny stuff you spent your hard earned money on and use original VW parts. I know it seems harsh, but I gave up on that stuff long ago because it always seemed to create problems. Pulley's aren't so notorious for leak problems but the filler/breathers are as they don't breathe well or have any baffles.

[Guest]

one thing to do would be to yank the empi pulley and compare the o.d. of the pulley snout with the o.d. of the stock pulley snout that you took off of the engine... i'm talking about the part of the pulley that goes inside the case... do not loosen case half nuts to do this.

aftermarket pulleys are notorious for being too small in that area.



dan
oceanstreetvideo.com