Club 80-90 Forums

Hi Guys & Gals,

I've decided to remove my engine to sort out the oil leaks, the leaks being cam shaft seals and gearbox to engine seal. And i want to give the engine and bay a damn good clean!

I've noticed when removing the inlet manifold that its full of oil and the inlet ports on the head are oily, would this be inlet valve stem seals?

Its not the turbo as I've recently fitted a new one and its ok.

Also as I'm goning to this trouble what else is it worth checking, replacing, servicing etc before i put the engine back in?

All advise will be greatly appreciated.

Will put some pic's on here of the removal etc when i work out how to!

Many thanks in anticipation.

Hi mate,
I would look at changing the cambelt and tensioner and I would check the glow plugs.

Yes it could be the valve guide seals, but it might just be oil left behind from your previous turbo if that was losing oil.

To do the valve guides its usually a head off job which will cost you a gasket and a set of bolts.

But wait.

http://www.pureluckdesign.com/vw/vsc/

I recon that's worth a shot first, whats the worst outcome?

Look in the rubber breather pipe from the cambox cover down to the turbo inlet (rubber swan-neck) If it`s oily then your engine is breathing heavily, worn rings / pistons / bores or worse.

Won`t be the inlet valve-stem seals, oil won`t get back from there into the inlet manifold and turbo-inlet manifold hose, it`d just burn the oil as it sucked the air in.

Thanks for the advice,

Hi Paul, Hope you and Glen are well?

Checked the breather pipes and they are quite oily but not convinced that it could be piston rings etc, surely it would be lacking somewhat in power etc but its pulled strongly in all the gears and never missed a beat.

Inlet manifold is very oil though, but i'm presuming that was because the old turbo was pumping it in.

Also would you expect to see oily residue in the bell housing? There has been a leak that has been running over the top of the bell housing to engine gasket so I'm assuming its that? Checked the oil seal behind the fly wheel and its all dry, haven't taken the clutch and flywheel off as yet but it seems dry. the input shaft seal seems ok from transmission as no visible leakage.

Would you recommend changing the clutch?
Thrust bearing is dry so gonna re-grease it.

Obviously goona change the timing belt and tensioner, where would be the best place to get advice on this?

Many thanks