Leaks Galore

[Poor-sche Lover]

Hola, folks

I have a couple of questions. I recently discovered the joy of acquiring two bouncing baby pushrod tube seal leaks. By now, I am fairly competent at taking apart the engine. My main question is this. Are the o-rings special, or can I just find something at my local NAPA that will work?

Thanks for all your help. You guys are awesome.

[seventythree]

Viton O-rings will last longer, but any O-ring material should seal initially if the bores are properly preped.

[yoh!!!]

I would try with the local VW dealer. Ask for the early aircooled VW Vanagon seals for the same spots. They might even have them in stock.
As far as the Viton O-rings go - they have the reputation to seal the engine for a longer period of time, but they are difficult to get...
... most of the time they are not available.

Patrick

[ruddyboys]

You can order individual seals from PP for about $2. I just ordered the kit inner and outer for $12.

[John Rogers]

Several things to do and check when you redo the push rod tube seals: Make sure there are no burrs in either of the sealing areas where the orings go. You can look with a mirror and inspect the ones that come out closely. Clean the area really well with cleaner. Use the hi temp o-rings as already been suggested. Next, you can try some hi-temp synthetic grease to coat the o-rings very well so they will seal. Remember they have to move some to account for expansion and contraction. Finally, make sure the tube seats in solidly, you should feel a little bump when it goes in fully. Don't get too depressed, making the tubes seal takes some practice. Good luck.

[karlp]

I might be wrong, but I don't think the Bus rings are the same, at least not at the head end. I put some in from a Bus, they were black, 4 months later they were leaking like mad. When I finally took the time to fix it I bought some from PP that were green or orange, I don't remember which. The black ones were hard as a rock and just cracked to bits when I took it apart.
I put a thin bead of RTV in the pushrod groove and then a thin bead of RTV on top of the o-ring. This is not a recommendation, just what I did. I cleaned up the stray RTV as best I could. ~ 5 months, no leaks.

Karl P.

[Zeke]

Also check the tubes themselves for hairline cracks along the seam. Yes, there is a seam, ask me how I know. A seam will develope a crack due to the nature of how people remove the tube, ie., pliers.

[Loan Dog]

I replaced my O Rings and tubes with new ones from Pelican a little over two years ago, initially, with the engine still in the car. It never leaked a drop of oil (until I burned two pistons on the track last July) I agree completely with Zeke that old tubes should be checked pretty closely, or better yet replaced. They're pretty cheap and they look cool, all shiny an' stuff under there.
Don