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Nickel_Nackel Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2018 Posts: 187 Location: Bellingahm WA
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 5:09 pm Post subject: Crank case breather tower goop |
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I am in the middle of cleaning my throttle body and when u pulled out my hose that connects to the boot I found a lot of liquid (I’m assuming it’s just water from condensation)
On the bottom you can see some liquid. Probably nothing? Anyways
I pulled the hose off and in my crank case tower there was a lot of yellowish white goop build up.
Not sure what this is or if it’s concerning. Tbh I don’t even know what exactly the tower does but I’m in the middle of looking for an idle problem and this just happened to come up.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
_________________ 1985 1.9L Potato |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76948 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 5:16 pm Post subject: Re: Crank case breather tower goop |
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Correct, you're not letting the engine get hot enough to boil off the water that condenses inside. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6833 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: Crank case breather tower goop |
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Water mixed with oil makes that color goop.
What does the oil on your dipstick look like?
There's always going to be an amount of condensation, but if you find this on your dipstick then there are some other things to think about. _________________ This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76948 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: Crank case breather tower goop |
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Well... is your engine aircooled or water cooled?
If watercooled then you might have a real problem. _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
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Nickel_Nackel Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2018 Posts: 187 Location: Bellingahm WA
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 8:19 pm Post subject: Re: Crank case breather tower goop |
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Yeah it’s watercooled. Uh oh, what does this mean? Leak of some sort though the cooling system? _________________ 1985 1.9L Potato |
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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6833 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 8:56 pm Post subject: Re: Crank case breather tower goop |
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Nickel_Nackel wrote: |
Yeah it’s watercooled. Uh oh, what does this mean? Leak of some sort though the cooling system? |
Maybe, what does the oil on the dipstick look like? _________________ This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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Nickel_Nackel Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2018 Posts: 187 Location: Bellingahm WA
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 10:05 pm Post subject: Re: Crank case breather tower goop |
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Looks pretty normal. I did change it last year but I haven’t driven it since last summer because of this idle issue. When I changed it I didn’t notice anything strange. What am I looking for exactly like a white ish color? _________________ 1985 1.9L Potato |
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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6833 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 10:13 pm Post subject: Re: Crank case breather tower goop |
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Nickel_Nackel wrote: |
Looks pretty normal. I did change it last year but I haven’t driven it since last summer because of this idle issue. When I changed it I didn’t notice anything strange. What am I looking for exactly like a white ish color? |
Yes, if you had that then it means coolant is getting into the oil. Usually by a head gasket leak. _________________ This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.
Last edited by Steve M. on Thu Apr 22, 2021 8:36 am; edited 1 time in total |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32634 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50353
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Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 3:59 am Post subject: Re: Crank case breather tower goop |
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Assuming it is just condensation it is either from taking multiple short trips where the engine doesn't reach normal operating temperature and/or doesn't stay at temperature for long, or it could be because the thermostat is bleeding past and over cooling the engine. Firing the engine up every month or so because you think it needs to be run could be a cause as well. It is usually best to let an unused engine just sit than to run it from time to time without getting it out on the highway and getting it nice and hot.
The build up of what I call Engine Snot can eventually clog the breather hoses which in turn will cause the crankcase pressure to spike, which can cause all of the oil to be blown out of the crankcase in a very short period in time, which can lead to engine failure, so yes you want to minimize the buildup.
Having some water in the crankcase is absolutely normal as water is a product of the combustion of gasoline, but excessive buildup of Engine Snot is not. One of the fallacies of the VW engine ventilation system is that it does not introduce fresh air into the crankcase which can help evaporate and transport excess water. |
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thatbaldwinlife Samba Member
Joined: August 01, 2011 Posts: 777 Location: Out exploring
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Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 11:48 am Post subject: Re: Crank case breather tower goop |
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This is why I put on an Mann oil catch can system. Catches this sludge before entering back into the intake track.
nate _________________ 1987 Westy
Insta: @Thatbaldwinlife
Vanagon Adventure and DIY videos:
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Nickel_Nackel Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2018 Posts: 187 Location: Bellingahm WA
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Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 1:22 pm Post subject: Re: Crank case breather tower goop |
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okay so this is great information. I have been starting it up a few times every week and not taking it out to drive. so this short trip theory is probably what it is. Oil looks fine. and my coolant levels have not really dropped (although I have not been driving) I usually have to add a tiny bit a few times a year to keep the coolant tank topped off.
I have not changed the oil because I haven't driven it for the past year, but I will get to that this week.
so as far as cleaning the goop out do I need to do anything for that? is it pretty much just at the tip of the breather hose mouth because of the condensation?
engine snot is a new term I never knew about _________________ 1985 1.9L Potato |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32634 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Nickel_Nackel Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2018 Posts: 187 Location: Bellingahm WA
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Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 3:51 pm Post subject: Re: Crank case breather tower goop |
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great! thank you! _________________ 1985 1.9L Potato |
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Steve M. Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013 Posts: 6833 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 8:38 am Post subject: Re: Crank case breather tower goop |
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goldtooth wrote: |
This is why I put on an Mann oil catch can system. Catches this sludge before entering back into the intake track.
nate |
What does your "Mann oil catch can system" look like?
Thanks _________________ This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them. |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50353
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Posted: Thu Apr 22, 2021 12:29 pm Post subject: Re: Crank case breather tower goop |
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goldtooth wrote: |
This is why I put on an Mann oil catch can system. Catches this sludge before entering back into the intake track.
nate |
I have had lots of engine of various makes including both aircooled and water cooled VWs go passed the 250K mile mark with conventional PCV systems which dump the crankcase vapor into the intake air, while almost no engines with draft tubes made it anywhere near that long. In fact I believe that the conventional PCV system is the most important technical improvement done to engines in my lifetime.
What advantage would there be to not dumping the crankcase vapors into the intake? |
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