TheSamba.com :: View topic - '89 wasserboxer, oil accumulation in valve cover? Leaking!

Tue Aug 20, 2013 3:21 pm

Does oil accumulate inside the valve covers while engine is running? Or does it drain back into the engine immediately? I'm having oil leaks from the valve cover even after replacing them. But I'm also wondering if its the gaskets that I used that are no good. I used Felpro gaskets which are not cork. Do the original cork gaskets seal better?

Tue Aug 20, 2013 3:26 pm

FelPro are excellent gaskets, I use them on most motors I have.
I do run a bead of 518 around both mating surfaces the first time they go in.

Tue Aug 20, 2013 4:33 pm

insyncro wrote: FelPro are excellent gaskets, I use them on most motors I have.
I do run a bead of 518 around both mating surfaces the first time they go in. Hmmm, I guess I should have used sealer on them. Funny how I've never used sealer on the cork gaskets before when ever I replaced them in the past 20+ yrs on several of our vanagons and they never leaked oil. I'm just wondering if the Felpro gaskets don't seal well without sealer.

Tue Aug 20, 2013 4:53 pm

I use sealant on all gaskets.
I toss cork in the trash, that's me.

Tue Aug 20, 2013 5:21 pm

Those Felpro gaskets are junk, holmes!!! Too small in every dimension!! (Same gasket as Type 1 Beetle FWIW)

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=538754&highlight=felpro

Tue Aug 20, 2013 5:34 pm

Ian wrote: Those Felpro gaskets are junk, holmes!!! Too small in every dimension!! (Same gasket as Type 1 Beetle FWIW)

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=538754&highlight=felpro Well I ordered cork(Victor Reinz) gaskets and will install them tomorrow. If the leaks stop then its proof that Felpro gaskets are to small and dont seal.

Tue Aug 20, 2013 6:16 pm

I just bought new OEM bales and cork gaskets from AirCooled.net and could not be happier. Took the van on a very demanding 1,600+ mile trip and no leaks at all. (note, same at Beetle / type 1)

I used some Permatex tack n'seal on the valve cover side on the driver's side and just oiled the gasket for the passenger side so I can compare the results over time just for the fun of it. :lol:
Reportedly, not all cork gaskets are a good fit - the ones that AirCooled sells certainly are.

Fri Aug 23, 2013 2:52 pm

ourv12 wrote: Ian wrote: Those Felpro gaskets are junk, holmes!!! Too small in every dimension!! (Same gasket as Type 1 Beetle FWIW)

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=538754&highlight=felpro Well I ordered cork(Victor Reinz) gaskets and will install them tomorrow. If the leaks stop then its proof that Felpro gaskets are to small and dont seal. My new (Victor Reinz) cork valve cover gaskets fixed the oil leaking issue!!! I'm keeping a spare set of the cork style since the local parts shops only carry the Fel Pro brand.