'72 VW Beetle Oil Change howto?

[K. Roman]

I have a friend who will be traveling to Reno in a couple of days and I wanted to tackle an oil change before she left. Anyone know the process for this car? I've done multiple changes on 911's but never even seen an old VW engine underneath.

Is there a sump plat like on a 911?

Help please!

Keith

[cantdrv55]

Maybe they can find the info here?

www.thesamba.com

[widebody911]

Purchase a sump kit, which should consist of a set of dump gaskets, copper gaskets for the plug and sump plate nuts, and a screen.

Warm up engine.
Drain oil
Remove sump plate
Clean sump plate
Install sump plate with new screen and gaskets; I use Aviation Permatex on mine
Install drain plug
Add 2.5qts of oil, season to taste

Also:
Remove aircleaner
drain oil
clean crud out of the oil bath
add fresh oil (what you had leftover from the engine oil change)
Re-install air cleaner.

Probably not a bad idea to do a valve adjustment, while you're gettin' dirty...

[Tobra]

second the valve adjustment idea, it is very easy(done with cold engine), takes me about 20 minutes to complete all of the above

They should take a spare fanbelt too, just in case

[GothingNC]

Don't forget to use new valve cover gaskets after the valve adjustment.

The're real cheap.

Also check around for exhaust lekas where the heater boxes connect to the muffler via clamps.

I wouldn't worry about replacing the sump screen, I just clean out mine and replace.

[Tobra]

I would not even worry much about taking the sump off if you are in a hurry. I always took mine off and it was alway mighty clean already.

May want to check the timing or something too if they are driving that far. Little too much advance on a type 1 VW motor and it gets mighty hot.

[Tishabet]

The single handiest tool on long road trips in a beetle is your copy of Muir's book "How to keep your volkswagen alive." More tips and tricks than you would believe, still the high water mark for automotive repair journalism, IMHO.

[K. Roman]

Thanks guys. I'd like to do the valve adjust, but don't know what to adjust, too rookie at this.

So, did the oil change, cleaned air cleaner and sump, and screen.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

You adjust the valves the same way you would on your 911. Do a search on the 911 board for valve adjust to get familar with the procedure. Afterwards, looks up the specs for a 1600 dual port. I cant remember them off the top of my head

www.thesamba.com is a great reference

I have a copy of the John Muir book if you need it as well

[widebody911]

I've you've never had the sump plate off of this car, remove it. You never know what surprises are in store. I did the oil in my '56 ghia a week or so ago, and I was horrified at the crap that I found on the plate, and I was driving it like that (albeit just around the block

Do a google on +VW +"valve adjustment" and you'll get a ton of howtos, like this one: http://www.type2.com/bartnik/valveadj.htm

[K. Roman]

Thanks again for the info. No feeler gauge in my tool box, so we just did the oil, cleaned the filter, screen etc. Added a new rubber hose that connects to the right on the air cleaner (what's it for? Don't know) because the old one was damaged. then washed and dryed it.
I'll post a pic of it soon, the car is yellow with big colorful daisies painted all over it. It definately looks like a SF landmark on wheels.
The girl I know who painted it did it for AIDs charity. Each flower painted on it required some donation. She ended up donating 1,800 dollars to the charity.
Sweet girl.

Keith

[Tobra]

Sorry dude, I am a compleat idiot myself

This will have all you need to know, check out the Tech Talk with Rick and forums in particular. Has SB and Standard Beetle info

Superbeetles.com

Here is my old bug, fine handling little car, one of the cleanest old cars I have seen.

[widebody911]

Here's my first car, a 1969 bug


And my current project, 1956 ghia