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Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:43 am

Hey everyone. Hope you all can help shed some light on where my oil may be leaking from. I am a newbie to this site as well as to VW's (just purchased the Ghia on Saturday). I have searched the forum and am overwhelmed with how much info there is, just not sure from what I have read which one applies to me.

Picked the Ghia up on Saturday. Guy I purchased it from said he had only driven it about 14 miles in the past 20 years. It would get a monthly start and would run for about 30 to 45 minutes. There were no oil leaks under the car when I bought it. Driving home I had to pull over after about 25 minutes of driving 60mph. I popped the engine cover and smoke was billowing out. If I started the car, the smoke went away, making me think it was coming from inside the fan shroud somewhere.

Now, since I have been home a few days with it and driven it a few times here and there, the oil seems to be leaking quite a bit. I can obviously see the oil dripping off the bottom of the engine, but that doesn't help me a lot. I also have oil on the left side of the engine bay (opposite side of the dipstick). I look ON the engine and see no signs of oil. Would the oil be coming from somewhere inside the fan shroud? What would be in there that would cause it to leak?

Now, to add to this, the car blows blue smoke once it is warm and ONLY between shifts. At idle or high RPM or just gassing it with no load, there is no blue smoke.

Any help is appreciated. I have not been able to find a local shop yet. I am in Omaha, NE.

Thanks.
Matt

Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:51 am

Theres an oil cooler, looks like a mini-radiator inside the fan shroud on the left hand side of the engine. I've heard that there is a seal at the bottom of the cooler that can sometimes leak.

Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:21 am

Like boatbuilder said. You didn't mention what year the Ghia is. The oil cooler boatbuilder mentioned is either in the fan shroud above the #3 cylinder (front LH side of the motor) of if a later model, on the front side of the fan shroud in what they call a dog house. If the oil cooler is NOT in a dog house then you're talking three seal between the motor and the oil cooler. If it is in a dog house then there are six seal you're dealing with...3 for the cooler to adapter and 3 for the adapter to motor. In either case, if the nuts securing the adapter or oil cooler are over tightened, you can have a wicked leak. The torque for those nuts is very low. I'd get under the LH side of the motor and have a look. If it's leaking as heavily as you say, you should see it easily. And while you're under there, have a look at the pushrod tubes and make certain they are sealing tightly. Keep us posted on your findings and progress.

Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:47 am

Sorry guys, it is a 1969 w/ the original engine.

Tue Aug 26, 2008 8:51 am

I have an old book "How to keep your volkswagon alive" from the previous owner. I am trying to figure out how to take the fan shroud off. Any tips? Again, I have searched on this and don't find good instructions.

Thanks for your help.

Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:44 am

matthewb1 wrote: I have an old book "How to keep your volkswagon alive" from the previous owner. I am trying to figure out how to take the fan shroud off. Any tips? Again, I have searched on this and don't find good instructions.

Thanks for your help.

You really need to get the LBB, (little blue Bentley) the Idiot book is fun but the Bentley is your bible.

The easiest way to remove the fan shroud is with the engine out of the car and on the garage floor... I havn't tried it but I've read that if you remove the generator you can lift the shroud up enough to inspect and tighten the oil cooler nuts without pulling the engine.

Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:56 am

matthewb1 wrote: I am trying to figure out how to take the fan shroud off. Any tips?
First, to reiterate 73_Ghia, get the Bentley manual. I also recommend the Haynes manual as a companion. Sometimes things are easier to find in there.

Although it's obviously easiest with the engine out of the car, I'm guessing you'd rather not. Besides, it's not really necessary. To remove the fan shroud in the Ghia, you'll need to remove the decklid springs. Either prop the decklid with something reliable and remove the springs, or just remove the decklid completely.

Remove the generator belt and generator strap. Remove the ignition coil from the shroud. It's also helpful to remove the carb.

Next, locate the screws on either side of the fan shroud. There's one on each side, between the intake manifold and the shroud. Just loosen these -- it's not necessary to remove them completely.

I think the 69 has the doghouse cooler - if it does, you'll need to remove the duct from the doghouse. Look behind the fan shroud on the left side -- if you see what looks like a big bulge on the back with a duct running into the firewall, you have the doghouse cooler. Remove the top half of the duct by removing its retaining nut, then you will have access to the bolt holding on the bottom of the duct.

You should now be able to raise the fan shroud an inch or two, and be able to remove the bolts securing the generator to the shroud. Remove the bolts, and slide the generator/fan assembly out of the shroud.

Now lift the shroud up an inch or two on the right side and locate the linkage from the thermostat. This should be the only thing keeping the shroud from coming out. You should be able to reach it with a needlenose and remove it.

The shroud should now lift straight off the engine with minimal persuasion. There is a small bar behind the shroud that links the vanes. If you have the doghouse cooler, you may need to move or remove the bar to clear the oil cooler.

EDIT:
The bad news, now that I think of it, is that I think the nuts that secure the oil cooler are blocked by the upper cylinder tin -- in which case, you'll have to remove the engine anyway, and I've just done all that typing for naught. Well, at least now you know how to remove the shroud. :)
I'm a doofus. The upper tin doesn't obscure the oil cooler at all. Have at it.

There are two rubber seals under the oil cooler assembly, and, if you have the doghouse, two additional seals between the cooler and the bracket. Keep in mind that these seals are installed without any sealant.

Wed Aug 27, 2008 3:49 pm

you DO NOT have to remove the engine to remove the cylinder tins!

Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:21 pm

The connecting bracket for the flaps needs to be removed also.
If they are there. That will have you asking what is holding it now???

Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:47 am

We ended up dropping the engine so we knew what it took. It is a very simple process.

The problem was the oil cooler seals. We replaced them and now everything is great.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Matt