The great VW oil rush!

We all know that VWs like to mark their spot with the odd drip of oil but when the clutch starts slipping and a billow of smoke is chasing you up the dual carriageway, you know that its time to change the flywheel oil seal.


This is exactly what happened to me with my temporary loan engine. Me and the other half decided to go out for an evening drive in the Beetle. It was going well 'till I pulled off a roundabout and the revs were going high without much acceleration. A glance in the rear view helped me produce a small packet in my under-garments and I swiftly pulled the Bug onto the hard shoulder.


I was slightly relived to find it wasn't on fire. However the oil was trickling from the flywheel area which means one thing - flywheel oil seal. The reason it was smoking was thanks to the oil splashing up onto the exhaust.


We limped the car home and put it to bed. I can only apologise for smoking out the cycle rally occurring our entire route home!


Armed with a new flywheel oil seal from Machine7, my mate Simon and I got the engine out in double quick time (despite the incredibly tight fit in the engine bay) before using his torque master to get the flywheel off. That tool is amazing!


We cleaned the whole lot up with a can of 3-in-One heavy duty degreaser (that stuff is a God-send) and proceeded to swap the oil seal over.


With this done we put the flywheel back on and carefully offered the engine up to the gearbox trying not to scratch any paint.


At this point it got very dark so we will have to finish putting the carbs, exhaust, valance and bumper back on tomorrow.

Provided we get it done in time it's the Beetles MOT on Saturday. Fingers crossed eh?

 

Jon's previous posts:
Fuchs

Wheels
Black

Widow Spider
Notek

Spotlight
Ragtop

Day
MoT

time
VW Oil rush
Engine

tune up
Ragtop

gets a new home
Ragtop

Beetle replica
Ragtop

rebuild video
Snapped

by Beaker
The

first MoT
BRM

Wheel detailing
Drive

your VW to work
First

drive
Project

update
61

Ragtop Update
TMI

door cards
Dropped

spindles
Full

steam ahead
Project

'61 is getting there
Ragtop

now in paint
Ragtop

mechanism
Care package
Shock

install: The last phase
Shock

install: Trials and tribulations
TMI

seat covers go on
TMI

seatcovers arrive
Front

end adjustment
Suspension

parts
Narrowed

beam
VW

gearbox
Pistons
Gearbox

clean up
Floorpan

detailing
New

parts for the '61
NOS

mirror
Chassis

strip down
Off

to the painters
First

coat of primer
New

number plates
Body

stripping
Weekend

work
The

sanding begins
What's

in the box?
On

the night shift
Body

prep
Body

seperation

Photos
Ragtop

resto photos part 1
Ragtop

resto photos part 2
Ragtop

resto photos part 3