TheSamba.com :: View topic - How many extra washers in the bottom end?

Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:46 pm

Bad news for me.
I have recently picked up a 71 KG Coupe in non-running condition.
It needs a new gas tank and battery. Overall the car is in very good original condition.
While waiting for parts to arrive, I'm changing the oil and find a ton of metallic paste and two halves of a washer in the gunk..
Even I know that's not good.
So the question is....
Is there any point in trying to get this engine to run as is, or am I resigned to doing a rebuild before I even get started?

Regards,
jb

Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:53 pm

Post a pic of the wasjer that you found so that we can determine where it came from. It could be a distributor drive washer or a rocker shaft washer, maybe something else but a pic will help. Is is really thin or thick?

Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:16 pm

It's 1/2" OD. Plastic!

Thanks,
jb

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Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:35 pm

I am drawing a blank on what that is for in the engine. I thought maybe the fuel pump bake light but I have never seen it black only brown. A little piece of plastic run through the gears is not going to hurt anything but really small pieces that it makes could get into the oil passages. Do you have any knowledge of the life of the engine or mileage?

Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:39 pm

That could be an old valve stem seal.

Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:41 pm

iowa vw wrote: I am drawing a blank on what that is for in the engine. I thought maybe the fuel pump bake light but I have never seen it black only brown. A little piece of plastic run through the gears is not going to hurt anything but really small pieces that it makes could get into the oil passages. Do you have any knowledge of the life of the engine or mileage?

92K original miles. . Has been sitting for about 12 years. Based on how bad the oil was, I'm guessing the valves hadn't been done in a while.
No idea how it was running when it was put away.

I feel much knowing it's plastic and not metal.
Thanks,
jb

Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:29 pm

"That could be an old valve stem seal."

Agree.

Did you take out the screen when you changed the oil? My suggestion is to "feel lucky". If the engine rotates freely, fill engine with 5W-20 oil (2.5 qts). Take your spark plugs out, and with a freshly charged battery, crank the engine using the ignition key until the low oil pressure warning light in your speedo goes out. Crank another 20 sec. Install your plugs, then start the engine. Either drive car carefully or let sit and idle/occasionally rev for about 15 min. until the engine gets warm. Stop engine, drain the oil, and notice carefully how the oil, bottom sump plate and screen look. If all looks OK but with remnants of residual sludge, then I'd fill with 10W-30, let engine cool overnight to adjust the valves, and drive the car. Try to drive on routes so that the engine gets warm. Repeat the clean-out after about 100 miles.

Hope to see you and the car at some VW meets next summer; CT has 2 big ones (Litchfield/Harwinton in June, and Bug-A-Fair in Terryville in Aug.).

Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:35 pm

mharney wrote: That could be an old valve stem seal.

Bingo. Removed 3 or 4 of those things when I first changed oil on my '71 Ghia. Pieces were in the heads and some on the sump plate. I also had that grey metallic paste but after 2 or 3 oil changes it cleared up. After that I put another 50,000 miles on the motor with no problems.

Rome, good advise on the oil. People, for whatever reason, feel they need to run 10W-40 or 20W-50 weight. Might as well try to lubricate the motor with tar.

Fri Nov 28, 2008 7:17 pm

Thanks for the replies.
I finally got the engine running tonight after some carb cleanup.
It hadn't been run in 15 years, so that was to be expected.
In any case, it sounds ok running.
Waiting for new brake lines to come in before I can drive it and see how it really is.
I definitely plan on changing the oil again after a 1/2 hour or so of run time.
Regards,
jb