• Registered: 2011-01-24
  • Posts: 3

Topic: Oil leak

2085 cc Gene Berg motor.  Been around the block a while.  In a '64 karmann Ghia we autocross.  Oil not leaking from fan house oil cooler or external oil filter.  Seems to be coming from the pulley end of the crank as it is spray on the pulley side of thre motor.  Motor is 7.5-1 compression.  Compresion reading 155-160 in all 4.  Leak down under 10% on all 4.  Yet we are expereincing blow by when I remove the oil filler cap and when motor is idling I feel pulsing air movement to the rhythm of the motor, I remove the dipstick and the dipstick hole spits a small amount of oil.   Engine is out and in the engine stand.  Need to have #3 spark plug threads redone, no biggie.  While it is out what else should we be looking for?  What are we missing?  Is there any seal for the pulley end of the crank that will keep the oil in?

1964 Karmann Ghia/356
  • From: Canada
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 630

Re: Oil leak

Check out sand seals.  Normally there is no seal used, just the concave oil slinger and the machined groove around the pulley, but off roaders will often install sand seals to tighten it up a bit more.

1979 Type 1 Convertible                                       1976 Scirocco (For Sale!)
1971 Type 1 Semi-Automatic Super                       1968 Type 1 Sedan
1961 Type 1 Sedan
1957 Type 1 Sunroof

Der Bugmeister's Website

  • From: somewhere over the rainbow USA
  • Registered: 2006-07-26
  • Posts: 1,889

Re: Oil leak

Do you have the engine vented properly? Vented valve covers and a breather box,

burrhead

A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion.
  • Registered: 2011-01-24
  • Posts: 3

Re: Oil leak

Sand seals.  I was under the impression that those are keeping dirt and sand out but not any good at keeping oil in.

#3 and #4 rocker cover is vented to a catch bottle for overflow.  Never had any oil in it after we have raced the car.  Just haven't vented #1 and #2 .

The car also has an Accusump that keeps the journals full of oil on hard cornering.

1964 Karmann Ghia/356
  • From: somewhere over the rainbow USA
  • Registered: 2006-07-26
  • Posts: 1,889

Re: Oil leak

What about the crankcase itself?
If it is coming out the pulley end, a sand seal is only going to mask the real problem.

burrhead

A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion.
  • TomB
  • Moderator
  • Offline
  • From: Austin, TX
  • Registered: 2004-03-27
  • Posts: 1,095

Re: Oil leak

Engine venting is the main cause of oil leaks out the pulley end. With even slight positive pressure there will be air flow past the shaft. The stock venting system went to the air cleaner where the negative pressure helped vent. Your "catch bottle" may catch the oil, but not allow adequate removal of gasses, which would then exit by the pulley carrying oil also.
If it is a venting problem a sand seal won't help.