Aircooled VW South Africa

I've been trying to eliminate oil leaks for the last few days.

Pushrod tube seals are OK

Dizzy O-ring has been replaced

Oil pressure sender has been replaced

Oil cooler seals I replaced yesterday

Still there is some oil dripping down the oil filter and I think the dipstick boot is another culprit

Well I'll just keep at it
Oil cooler mounting boss

Oil cooler


1.9l WBX dizzy

New and old seals

Air-cooled motors don't leak oil, they mark their spot!!!. One thing I hate is the dreaded oil leaks I have noticed on a new rebuild, not all but often, that the motor starts to show signs of sweat after about 2000Kms and the rear main seals start to leak a little soon after that. I always use Payern gaskets and Erling rear main seal. I have an issue with the rear main seal I have tried several brands, I avoid the double lip seal like the plague a load of crap the search for the perfect seal goes on. Good luck with your leaks, Eben I know the feeling.

We do have a bit of a seal quality issue over here.

Especially pushrod tube seals as well.
It seems like they just sell you normal o-rings with the same ID and OD.
These are made of the wrong material and then fail just after you install them.
The black "kind of natural rubber" feeling ones get rock hard and crack while the orange ones get straight edges and don't seal well at all either.

I had one kind of seal that always kept its shape and it was yellowish in colour.

I suppose these were Viton seals but I'm not sure.

Do any of you guys know where you can get Viton seals in SA?

Hi Eben
The seal at the rear of the engine close to the fan may also be at fault. I have found that even new oil pressure senders leak.
As for o rings Viton is available from Hydraylic supply places.
I use Curil sealant on case halves and Locktite 518 on some of the trouble some places like oil pumps pushrod seals I install with a little oil.
I have found quite a few oil coolers to leak as well.
I have found that the flywheel surface scores with use and this scoring damages the seal when the engine runs. I usually have the seal surface ground and polished like the crank. some of them are not even round anymore.
I avoid Payen gasket sets for beetles as they are not particularly good.
The Best I have seen is German Elring but beware there is a US made Elring which is not as good. For main seals I trust Elring. I normally use Elring for type 4 and Brazil sets for Type 1
Armand

Thanks for those tips armand.
You mentioned getting the viton seals from hydraulic suppliers.. do you perhaps have the ID and OD for both inner and outer seals?

I could try measuring myself but I'd rather have their correct specs.

Thanks again.

As for crank seals, they are all standard sizes. Take your old one (or the new crappy one) to bearing man, SKF or any of the other bearing houses and buy a good one from them