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Wed Oct 22, 2008 5:47 pm

I'm 38 years old and just now getting myself educated on the Bug in hopes I will find the one for me to care for, for the rest of my life. I will be using it as a daily driver, car are meant to be driven. Anyway the guy selling the car has said"

"There is the usual minor oil leak common to most VW engines."

When I asked where it is leaking from his reply was:

"The split case design of a VW engine often leads to oil leaks from the heating and cooling of the engine. It is not a problem since the leak is very minor. I have never had to add oil between changes."

Since I have never heard this before I would like everyone and anyone who is smart on VW Bug engines to post a comment on whether this is a true statement and if so which engines, all of them?

Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:03 pm

Yes, ACVW engines can leak oil. The amount and location depends on who assembled it and the quality of the job.

Where is it leaking oi from? The valve covers are easy to fix, the oil cooler requires a bit of work but is diable with engine in car, the front seal will require the engine to be pulled.

Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:09 pm

He said it is not leaking from any seal. Here is the full quote. I missed the first sentence.

"The oil does not appear to be leaking from any seal. The split case design of a VW engine often leads to oil leaks from the heating and cooling of the engine. It is not a problem since the leak is very minor. I have never had to add oil between changes."

Does this make sense to anyone?

Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:11 pm

Mine doesnt leak. It marks its territory!!!!

Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:17 pm

two things...

1 - sounds like it leaks

2 - sounds like he's trying to sell a car

Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:23 pm

It was a bumper sticker i read on the back of a bus. Od Volkswagens Dont Leak, They mark Their Spots. I just changed it a little.

Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:14 pm

willburreod wrote: He said it is not leaking from any seal. Here is the full quote. I missed the first sentence.

"The oil does not appear to be leaking from any seal. The split case design of a VW engine often leads to oil leaks from the heating and cooling of the engine. It is not a problem since the leak is very minor. I have never had to add oil between changes."

Does this make sense to anyone?
Yes, that makes sense. A lot of them leak. Not all but, yes, lots of them do.
There are 32 seal points on the pushrod tubes alone that are possible leak points. Then you have the sump plate, valve covers, cylinder-to-case joints, oil cooler, front main seal ...

If he's being honest about never having to add oil between changes then I'd say it's "normal". There are a ton of places that the engine can leak from and it can be hard to tell exactly where it's coming from.
He's probably trying to prepare you so that when/if you see the oil drops you won't be alarmed since you're not familiar with Volkswagens.
If you test drive the car, when you stop park the car where you can easily see any oil dripping. As long as you don't see more than a few drops I wouldn't be too concerned, especially if it's an older engine with a lot of miles. A puddle, even a very small one, then I'd start being concerned.

Post more details on the car if you'd like, as there are lots of helpful, knowledgeable people here than can give you more advice.

Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:24 pm

I've got no leaks. but it took me about 10 years to get it that way.

Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:39 pm

How did you do it? I know of people with brand new turn keys that leak a little.

Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:09 pm

Mine didn't leak until that FREAKING mouse built a nest in my fan shroud :x Didn't find out until the motor got hot and started having little pieces of fiberglass insulation shooting out of the heater and defrost.

Wed Oct 22, 2008 10:25 pm

mine won't leave a drop on the ground no matter how long it is parked or ran, but the whole motor seems to almost secrete oil...

Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:14 am

mine leaks... but i'm trying to resolve that right now!!!! the guy i bought the car from told me the same split case design leak story... my personal theory is they will leak only if you allow them to, and i'm trying to win the leak battle with mine currently....

Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:44 am

Mine doesn't leak. But I recently rebuilt it. Used Permatex on the case halves, and everywhere the paper gaskets are, except the sump plate. I greased the gaskets on the sump plate and they don't leak either.

But I only have about 300 miles on the engine, so we'll see.

Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:49 am

My motor's been together for 4 years & has never leaked a drop yet.

Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:36 am

Like I said, it all depends on who and how the engine was assembled.

I have thrown together engines the did not leak and have assembled engines that did. Some I tore back down, others I ran the crap out of.

Some do not leak until you over heat them, some never leak, some never stop leaking. Some just seem to sweat oil but never drip. These things are strange and crazy.

Some engines just outright frustrate you with their desire to drip. Just ask Bon2198.

Mine did not leak until I ran that cool Scat serpentine pulley system. Now it drips out the crank pulley area (replaced stock) about three drips a day on average. Yes, I bothered to 'study' the amount.

One day I'll tear this engine down and see if I can make it stop. Right now I am living with it and the $hit I get from my wife about the oil on the brick paver driveway.

Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:36 am

I have a couple of beetles and a Ghia. The only engine I have that doesn't leak oil is a rebuild in my cellar with a dry sump. Going on 3 years now - hasn't leaked a drop. :D

Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:37 am

No leaks here.

Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:40 am

I know I'll get flak for this, but a motor doesn't have to leak. If it leaks, somebody was lazy, plain & simple. I've had 4 VW Beetles, & I've gotten all of them to stop leaking by sealing them correctly & without using RTV like frosting. Mark, I'm currently running the BMD serp pulley & have had no problems. Not even sure how that would cause a leak since there's no seal at the crank anyway, but I've had no problems.

What are the chances it has a little breather filter on the oil fill tube instead of being hooked up to a carb? If this is the case, easy fix. That's how I bought my last bug. The PO I bought it from was sick of it leaking oil & was kinda pissed when I fixed it in 5 minutes in my driveway after giving him the $$$.

Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:25 pm

I think a little bit of a leak is normal depending on the age of the motor. I would drive it until it's nice and hot. Park it over night. Put a piece of card board like a pizza box under it and take a look the next day to assess the situation. If it was covered in oil that would be a warning sign. If it had just a few stains I would say that it was just marking its territory.

Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:55 pm

Leaks are not unusual, I wouldn't say they are an accessory that comes with the car. I have 3 bugs and none leak. If I had a leak, I would fix it. Bugs are not designed to leak but it is something that many people aren't going to dig into their engine to fix. I do, I also fix my faucets when they drip

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