A sad autopsy

chitwnvw · Post by **chitwnvw** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 11:29 pm

I had the engine out. There's all of 300 miles on it.

I figured it was a good time to track down annoying oil leaks. A bit of moisture, a drop now and again from the engine-trans mating surface led me to look at the rear seal. Here's what I found.

[albumimg]651[/albumimg]

Notice the ovaling of the center hole. You know that's not good. What caused it? What did I do wrong?

Rear seal (sitting slightly proud):

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Flywheel (corrosion/rust not as bad as it look):

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Clutch and pressure plate:

[albumimg]650[/albumimg]
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I'm especially worried about the ovalling of the flywheel gasket, what caused it, is it causing oil leaks?

germansupplyscott · Post by **germansupplyscott** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 7:36 am

did you have trouble installing the engine originally? you could have dented the 5-hole washer when stabbing the engine onto the transaxle, especially if the clutch disc was a bit off centre.

also i would look at the condition of the pilot bearing, it is the little roller bearing inside the end of the crankshaft. it should always be changed any time the engine and transaxle are separated, just because it is a 4.00 part with a 300.00 installation price tag if it goes bad.

think about a new main seal, you have the silicone one - i can tell from the colour. the one you want is viton and is brown, black or a brown/black combo. we have two, one is reinze, the other goetze and i haven't found any preference one over the other. they look different but both work well.

everything else looks normal, don't be sad?

Bleyseng · Post by **Bleyseng** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 8:41 am

=D> Scott is right on the money.

chitwnvw · Post by **chitwnvw** » Sat Mar 10, 2007 8:44 am

Cool. That metal gasket had me spooked. I'd thought it had happened while running, and that couldn't have been good. I'll get the new viton seal. Are you allowed to put any sort of sealant on the outer edge of that seal?

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:43 am

I was able to buy one from VW in Chicago a few years back, on Clark Street I think? It's been a while.

Post by **Amskeptic** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:20 am

chitwnvw wrote:Cool. That metal gasket had me spooked. I'd thought it had happened while running, and that couldn't have been good. I'll get the new viton seal. Are you allowed to put any sort of sealant on the outer edge of that seal?

Check endplay before installing seal. Even at 300 miles.

It is so amazingly unlikely that it will ever leak on the outside perimeter, unless a gorilla removed the first seal with a hatchet. But Permatex #2 is a decent sealant that I have been using to seal both VW and BMW engines since 1980. Make sure it is given time to tack after installing seal.

You have the option of seating the seal all the way or seating it flush with the outside of the case opening, but it should never be proud. Your choice will be dictated by the groove in the flywheel. You want the new seal's lips to miss the groove. Install seal flush with crankcase first. Grease the flywheel and proffer it up to the crankshaft with one bolt lightly snugged, then remove and see where your new seal meets the flywheel. If the grease shows that the seal lip missed the groove you're set. Install flywheel officially. If the seal lips hit the groove, then press seal in until it bottoms out in the crankcase. Then officially install flywheel.
Colin

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:06 am

Can I apply Permatex to the lip of the seal?
Ho ho ho!

(yeah go ahead and delete but I got my chance to be funny-guy)

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Itinerant Air-Cooled

A sad autopsy

A sad autopsy