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mcduckson
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Joined: May 15, 2014
Posts: 37
Location: San Diego, CA
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 Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2015 8:54 pm Post subject: Why is this spot on engine sealed? What part is it? |
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While replacing seals on the engine I came across this. It's sealed up. (Maybe epoxied). Can anyone tell me what part it is and why it would be sealed up?
1980 air cooled vangon
Thanks! |
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a2d2
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Joined: March 28, 2013
Posts: 366
Location: EastVanagon, BC
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 2:23 am Post subject: |
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I'm going to guess that it is an "Oil Gallery Plug"... but I really have no idea what that means.
They've always been a mystery to me. Apparently the can "blow out" and cause an immediate and possibly catastrophic loss of oil but I have yet to see a satisfactory explanation as to why they exist in the first place.
I hope someone smarter than me chimes in and explains it to us both!
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1981 Vanagon, Aircooled 2.0 AFC
1978 Baywindow Bus (R.I.P.)
Last edited by a2d2 on Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:39 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Wasted youth
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Joined: July 06, 2012
Posts: 5134
Location: California's Hot and Smoggy Central Valley
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 2:30 am Post subject: |
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Cannot confirm whether that is an oil gallery plug, try asking Wildthings. But, oil gallery plugs do have a reputation for popping out. They are a plug that is pressed into a port where oil passages meet, for example. If you choose to drill them out and tap them for a threaded plug, that is usually the best course. It is careful work, not meant to be handled with unskilled labor.
They pop out sometimes after years of engine use.
I simply peened around the edges of mine with a center punch, right on the seam. The divots act like anchors. |
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Abscate
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Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22648
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 2:41 am Post subject: |
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When you build an engine the major structures are cast, but some of the internals have to be drilled or machined in afterwards. Oil galleries, or openings in the casting allowing oil to flow, are often drilled in. When you are done drilling, you put in a plug to seal up the oil flow, called an " oil gallery plug"
They don't pop out often, especially if you live cleanly.
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djkeev
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Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Abscate
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Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22648
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 6:05 am Post subject: |
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I don't think that epoxy is stock. I think I would scrape it off and tap/ plug that hole before I put that engine back in.
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Wildthings
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Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50338
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 9:55 am Post subject: |
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| That plug is on the suction side of the oil pump and does not usually cause problems. Can't say why someone smeared goop over it, maybe it was leaking and the PO wanted to seal the leak or maybe he just gooped it as a prevention measure. Your call on what you want to do with it. |
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a2d2
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Joined: March 28, 2013
Posts: 366
Location: EastVanagon, BC
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:45 am Post subject: |
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| a2d2 wrote: |
| I have yet to see a satisfactory explanation as to why they exist in the first place. |
Those were some very satisfactory explanations, I think I finally get. Gotta buy that Wilson book soon. Thanks for letting me hang out in your thread OP.
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1981 Vanagon, Aircooled 2.0 AFC
1978 Baywindow Bus (R.I.P.) |
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bluebus86
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Joined: September 02, 2010
Posts: 11075
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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common practice to put epoxy sealer on the plug to prevent or stop an oil leak, the plugs do sometimes weep, even ones that are otherwise tight (not in danger of blowing out. some builders do the epoxy thing as a mater of habbit.
others may drill and tap the hole for a pipe plug, which is very unlikely to blow out.
factory fit plugs are pressed in, not threaded.
Extremely high oil pressure can blow out some plugs, so dont rev your motor in sub zero temperatures when the motor is cold until the oil has thinned out, use correct weight oil for the temperature.
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djkeev
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insyncro
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Wildthings
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Joined: March 13, 2005
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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| djkeev wrote: |
Back in the late 1970’s my dad's new 2.0 Aircooled Westy blew out a galley plug behind the flywheel....... Was under warranty but still.....
Not common ....... But it happens.
Dave |
All too common for me. I have blown two of the plugs behind the flywheel on T4 engines over the years, both times with the engine coolish and backing up out of a parking space. Fairly thin oils both times as well. Any more, I peen the case around any that haven't been replaced with threaded plugs. Never bothered with the one at issue though as it has no pressure behind it.
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mcduckson
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Joined: May 15, 2014
Posts: 37
Location: San Diego, CA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the info everyone. I think I will leave it as is since there wasn't any oil leaking from it and I don't have the tools/skill necessary to make a plug out it. Thanks again. |
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ftp2leta
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Joined: October 11, 2004
Posts: 3271
Location: Montreal
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| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 10:40 am Post subject: |
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Because VW used self pressed oil galley plug instead of screwed one like most major companies. So with time they leak. this is why 99% of any VW engine look like crap after some years.
I use aluminum putty on those hole. But for that they need to have a rough and cleaned surface. This prevent leak for a few years.
They area also called bore holes (if my English is right).
Ben
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