oil pump endplay question

[kshbaja]

I have read too many posts on oil pump endplay, whether or not to use the cover gasket, etc. Looking at Bentley, they specify an endplay of .004 and no gasket. I assume since they don't specify a gasket this .004 number is the final installed endplay limit.

I measured the thin gasket that came with my Febi pump and it was about .005. I am not sure how much a paper gasket compresses when installed, but this seems like the gasket alone would put you past the limit, even before factoring in the gear endplay.

What sort of thickness will a thin bead of the case sealant add to this equation?

One other thing, when using sealant between the case and pump body should the sealant be applied to the case itself, so the paper gasket sits between the sealant and the pump body? Or should the sealant be applied to the pump body, so the paper gasket is directly contacting the case?
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1986 Westfalia

[tencentlife]

The total endplay when installed should be .003-.004", no more. So you have to make the call on whether the gasket is used or not. Do the math. Gaskets are not strictly necessary if sealant alone will do the job. Sealant will compress to a thickness you will be unable to measure, maybe one or two ten-thousandths at most. A .005" thick paper won't compress even .001" under the low and spread-out pressure of the pump cover.

When you do use a gasket, like between the pump body and crankcase, you should use sealant on both sides of it.
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[kshbaja]

My gear endplay measured on the bench was about .0025. I'm leaning towards sealant only and accepting there might be some light cover plate scoring. If I put the gasket in I would be over .007. I am not sure I want to try and sand down the pump body so the gasket brings it in range.
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1986 Westfalia

[tencentlife]

Go with tighter. Remember, the endplay will never be less than you measure on the bench, because the aluminum pump body will always expand more than the steel gears. I would be happy to have only .0025" there; you'll have excellent OP.
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Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is death to doctrine.

[ZIPPITY]

I recently installed a paper gasket between cover and oil pump. (Was leaking a bit) The result is absolutely no oil pressure...

Considering the fact that my 1,9 is over 100 k miles and that there was no paper gasket before, do you think it may be what causes a lack of oil pressure ??? I checked gears, pump body...everything looks fine ??

I definitly Need some advice on this one...

[Pascal]

[ZIPPITY]

No, I did not.... Is it absolutely necessary ???

Never heard about it before !

Thanks

[Pascal]

I don't think it's abosolutelly necessary, but it will help the pump get it's prime much faster. It's in the "How to Rebuild Your VW aircooled Engine" book, but I also read to do that on the Vanagon mailing list archive. The lube (vaseline) on the pump gears lubricates he gears durring the inital start-up, but it also "seals" the gears for the initial start-up so when they spin they create betters suction to pull the oil out of the bottom of the crankcase.

Did you pull the gears and clean them off? If you clean them for inspection, did you lube them back up with oil?How long did you run it before you noticed no oil pressure?

Do a search on the Vanagon archives and you might find some tips there. I think I remember reading in there that someone took the crancase breather tower off and poured oil in the crankcase through the openingunder the breather tower to get their pump to prime. I just looked at my crankcase and I cannot see how that would work because there is a small drain hole to let the oil go back into the crankcase right behind the oil pump...but I have no direct experience with that trick.

How thick was the gasket you put on? I know the one that came with my Victor Rienz gasket kit was too thick.

This might help:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=269355&highlight=oil+pump+gasket
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'84 Westy - 2.2wbx, GT Torque-Biasing Differential
'91 EA Cabby

[tencentlife]

[Wildthings]

Add an extra quart of oil, raise the front of the van as high as you can get it, remove the oil filter, and turn the engine over either by hand or with the starter (disable the ignition or FI first). The pump will be well flooded with oil and with no back pressure against it, it pretty much has to prime immediately.

[ZIPPITY]

Thank you for your help folks,

I found the answer before tencent wrote it, so I filled the pump with oil by the filter hole, threw the paper gasket to garbage and used Reinz liquid gasket to seal the cover.

I cranked the engine and oil pressure is back. And no leaks !!!

About tencent question... I just made the mistake to believe that the paper gasket would not change the oil pump endplay... Tought it would compress enough ...My mistake

Thanks again

[tencentlife]

No worries, I was just teasing you a little.
_________________
Shop for unique and useful Vanagon accessories at the Vanistan shop:
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Please don't PM here, I will not reply.

Experience is death to doctrine.