Topic: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
Did you all see these?
http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/wired/wire … _08_08.htm
Clancy
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
Nice! i am gonna buy those because my oil plate keeps leaking.
74 Super Beetle (for sale)
69 standard beetle (for sale)
61 beetle (currently restoring)
58 beetle aka Black Beauty.
69 standard beetle (for sale)
61 beetle (currently restoring)
58 beetle aka Black Beauty.
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
Reusable? Sounds good to me. Price is OK too.
jim
'71 SB(DD only 79K(now 84K miles) & '78 FI Westy (project)
PO of '65 Beetle in '69, '70 Crewcab & '70 Ghia in '77
'71 Super inside rear vents now available
http://www.openroad.ca/volkswebbin/view … p?id=85915
PO of '65 Beetle in '69, '70 Crewcab & '70 Ghia in '77
'71 Super inside rear vents now available
http://www.openroad.ca/volkswebbin/view … p?id=85915
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
Thanks Clancy...I may have to get some of those oil drain & valve cover gaskets!
- Nick
1979 Super Beetle Convertible
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
A set arrived today and they look very good. Very similar to the ones I found at aircooled.net, but comes with the complete kit including the metal sealing washers, and the gaskets are thinner than the ones from aircooled, so fit more like the "cardboard" gaskets in standard kits these days. The "thin" gaskets from aircooled were still about .050" thick, so I wasn't comfortable that there was enough thread engagement on the plate studs. These should be fine.
The thicker aircooled would be a good fix if the surfaces were warped.
My mexi developed a bit of valve cover drip (53,000 miles - never had the covers off), so I'll replace with the silicone and let you know how they do.
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
I ordered two sets of the oil drain kit and it's coming on the way lets hope it stops the leak for good.
74 Super Beetle (for sale)
69 standard beetle (for sale)
61 beetle (currently restoring)
58 beetle aka Black Beauty.
69 standard beetle (for sale)
61 beetle (currently restoring)
58 beetle aka Black Beauty.
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
I at least saved the link... I have a drawer filled with the others. LOL
Eric - '68 "Herbie" 1835cc (O\(53)/O)
GO BUCKS !!!!!!
GO BUCKS !!!!!!
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
What have you all been charged on shipping? I bet we could have saved with a single order and a single shipping charge....oh well.
Clancy
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
Just got a note from Wolfsburg West saying not to use the silicone valve cover gaskets I just got. They say the material is affected by hot oil (which is true - I used to select elastomers for different uses), and distorts when removed so it can't be reused. They are looking for a different material.
I'll probably use them on my Mexi anyway - never need to take off the valve covers with Hydraulic lifters!
The drainplate gaskets should be fine, as only the thin inner-edge is really exposed to the hot oil.
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
Tom: Thanks for the report from WW. It's nice that they are following up on their new products and really looking out for their customers. That speaks volumes in my opinion.
Clancy
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
Won't the oil sump seals do the same thing then??
-Darby
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
I doubt if the oil sump seals will have problems. For one they are fabric reinforced, which helps keep the shape. Mainly they are wide and thin, and only the thin inner edge is exposed to the hot oil. They won't wick oil into the gasket like paper, so while the inner edge may be affected, the main surface of the gasket should be OK.
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
Update - WW responded to my questions and confirmed that the "silicone" material does have a blend of fluorsilicone to make it resistant to hot oil. (Which is what I recommended.) The Valve Cover Gasket batch they shipped had the wrong blend or ratio, ans so was not as resistant as it should have been. So this was a production QC issue, not a design problem.
The drain plate gaskets were blended correctly.
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
Thanks, Tom, for keeping us updated. Did WW give any idea as to when the new batch will be available?
Clancy
Re: Leak Proof Oil Changes and Valve Adjusts
I installed these on one Mexi a week ago, and I'm impressed. Fit was excellent, and the bottom of the drainplate has stayed bone dry. The cardboard gaskets usually "weep" for a while and have to be snugged up a few times over a couple weeks as they continue to compress - then they seal pretty well. These silicone gaskets sealed tight from the start.
Because the Mexi has a full-flow spin-on filter, I used a bit of permatex on the washers for the cap nuts, and also on the drain plug washer. (I use a machined aluminum drain plate, and the milling texture wants to weep around the copper gasket without a trace of sealant.)
One item: because these are rubber they just continue to squish as you tighten the nuts, rather than coming to a solid feel like a paper gasket. As a result when you snug up the nuts, the first ones loosen as you get to the last, so you need to keep snugging gradually to get all snug. The permatex will help keep any from loosening.
I also put on the valve cover gaskets, since the factory cork gaskets had begun to seep a bit. They easily fit dry, and seem to seal really well. I'm not worried about the material problem, since the Mexi doesn't need valve adjustments, so the covers only come off if they leak. W.W. will send me replacements when they have the correct material blend, and I'll replace them at that time.