1600CT oil leaks

[shaky]

I have a 1600 CT engine (Yes the unloved one), with multiple oil leaks. All 1600's leak a bit but this is now getting bad.
Firstly I want to see what I can do without removing the engine:

Rocker cover gaskets are not too bad but an easy job to change.
strainer gaskets are fine.
Push rod tubes look fine.
The leak doesn't look too bad at the flywheel end but at the top of the engine there is lots of oil and on longer journeys a film of oil mist has deposited itself on the rear of the bus.



There is precious little info out there relating to the T25. I couldn't find anything on the wiki and googling draws a blank. The beetle folk tell of this sort of thing and say it might be the oil cooler, oil pump or Crankcase Ventilation.

Any theories on the right way to wade in would be good. I am thinking change the rocker gaskets then taking the tinware off and looking at the oil cooler. (It has had a later cooler put on without the oil pressure sender). I don't know anything about the crankcase vent but will take a look there too.

As I say any tips from the Aircooled owners would be welcomed.

Thanks,

Paul.

[ermie571]

I don't know if it helps, but my old aircoooled (2 ltr cu) vented to the engine bay through a rubber tube.

[bigherb]

You really need to wash the engine down and then see where fresh oil comes from.
Suspects for the top of the engine are oil cooler/oil cooler seals, oil pressure switch, distributor drive seal and crankshaft fan/pulley seal, the problem is the oil gets blown around by the cooling air where you see it is not always where it comes from. That kink in the breather pipe is not helping. Might be the angle of the picture but the air filter looks to be sitting too low (the breather pipe should run upwards from the breather tower to the air filter housing)

[shaky]

Thanks for the pointers. It should keep me out of mischief over the weekend.

[sarran1955]

Hello.

. Might be the angle of the picture but the air filter looks to be sitting too low (the breather pipe should run upwards from the breather tower to the air filter housing)

WHS^^

Make sure the wire filter into the airbox from the crankcase pressure tube is not crushed,,

Is there air in the oil filter box and on the filter..

and inside the rim of the fan...

but not under neath..

this might just be loads of crankcase pressure blowing oil out of the dipstick..

requiring an 'alternative vent'..

Cordialement,

[shaky]

Hello.

. Might be the angle of the picture but the air filter looks to be sitting too low (the breather pipe should run upwards from the breather tower to the air filter housing)

WHS^^

Make sure the wire filter into the airbox from the crankcase pressure tube is not crushed,,

Is there air in the oil filter box and on the filter..

and inside the rim of the fan...

but not under neath..

this might just be loads of crankcase pressure blowing oil out of the dipstick..

requiring an 'alternative vent'..

Cordialement,

Thanks Bigherb, Serran,

Hopefully this is the problem.

I took the airbox off and it has oil in it. If I put my hand over the crankcase breather it results in oil bubbling out of the dipstick seal and out of the fan end.... The fan is then distributing oil all over the engine bay. The oil cooler is pretty caked up in gungy oil..... So a big cleaning job ahead. Hopefully it is just this. I'll have to create an alternate vent for the breather as Serran says.

I might change the rocker gaskets while I am at it..... Or is that one of those ten minute jobs that turns into a days work with lots of cursing and grazed nuckles!
Thanks again for the tips.

[sarran1955]

Hello,

As the next step in getting the best out of the standard CT engine..

I've fitted the pancake air filter to test ..

and I thought this may be a £10 fix for your overpressure leaks..

This will not improve your emissions, but at least the inlet is 'after' the filter.





With the air cleaner out..



there is lots of space..

.. mind you, I'll need to store this..



Rocker cover springs removal is easy, once you have the right tool...



Doubled over twice.. pass behind the spring..

A short sharp tug..

oh.. and if you are not dropping the oil, then do this on the flat..

Cordialement,

[shaky]

An excellent idea.... I've got an old K&N filter somewhere.

I was actually thinking of a more crude breather pipe which involved venting to the outside but your solution is much better.

I keep reading stories of folk changing the rocker gaskets and finding the leaks worse when they finish but I guess getting a good set of gaskets in the first place will be the key.