AAZ advice needed, oil breather etc

[Abscate]

I hate it when people refute stuff with evidence. Wait..how do we know that the protractor used to measure the 50 degree tip is traceable to NIST? How do we know the disassembly pictures weren't made by the Fake Moonshot Team?


Well done, guys
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.ssS!

[dom777]

Nice one! This has been a tense couple of weeks for this very new Vanagon owner!
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UK living - 1987 Vanagon Westfalia Pop Top - Wolfram Grey - AAZ 1.9TD - Manual - Imported from California via Chicago and Ireland. My First Van!

[zuhandenheit]

Today I modified my intake so I could route in the crankcase vent. My problems have only been appearing during highway travel and I haven't tested it yet.

With the engine running, I held my hand over the dipstick tube as I took the vent line on and off the intake. With it disconnected, I can feel a bit of air at the dipstick tube - connected, there is none.

I'll cross my fingers and take a long drive soon!

[artacoma]

I installed a new puck and made my own crankcase vent because I like cobbling together what I can with what I have on hand , I will likely add a catch can down the road but for now it feels like I have at least 3.25 % more power and the engine runs at least 2.86% quieter

_________________
Cheers
Rik
86 Syncro Tintop
2.5 Subie
86 Doka
2.5 Subie

[zuhandenheit]

artacoma -

How was it vented before?

--

My current theory is that my own vent has been inadequate both because it was vented to the atmosphere and I used a hose with a too-small ID.

I've tried and failed to conclusively test my vacuum pump, which I know can create problems if there's a leak in the system.

Is it conceivable that a significant amount of crankcase pressure is from the turbo, pushing air past the turbo seals and into the drain?

[dom777]

I have bought a pipe and new puck to accept it. I'll let you know how it goes.
How do you know that your can has 3% more power? Were you joking?
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UK living - 1987 Vanagon Westfalia Pop Top - Wolfram Grey - AAZ 1.9TD - Manual - Imported from California via Chicago and Ireland. My First Van!

[Gizmoman]

I would say your on the right track. Feeling a bit of air at the dipstick when it's idling is a sure sign of the vent requirement in my opinion. As for where it is coming from, my first guess would be intake air slipping past the piston rings on every compression stroke. Just imagine how much more there is when you're pushing an extra 10 psi into the engine when on boost - something you can't check in the garage unless you have a dyno

As I mentioned earlier, my piston to cylinder clearances are on the edge (loose) My turbo can boost to 20 psi and the amount of oil leaks that show up after a hard run are significant.

Air could be pushing past the turbo oil seals and back to the block but it's doubtful as the 12 gaps in the piston rings are a much easier path. Besides, oil is being pumped through that small feed line - pretty tough to get air to fight its way through that.
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82 Vanagon Westy - AAZ 1.9 TD, HE200 Holset, WAIC, 27.75 dia tires, Electric power steering, 5-speed AAP w/.078 5th
Oversize spare carrier - stock location (no longer for sale).

[artacoma]

[?Waldo?]

[zuhandenheit]

[Gnarlodious]

zuhandenheit:
You may want to read my earlier posts about the upgraded ventilation system. I arrived at this solution after two trips through the dynamometer in Denver and power driving up hills full boost with video cameras recording balloons over the vents. My conclusion was that the AAZ’s stock ventilation is fine for a Jetta but is inadequate when pushing the Vanagon. And I have a lightweight tintop, a Westy would be even heavier.

The ventilation mod is the easiest way to fix the problem. It uses cheap parts that are attached to the top cover and simply gives blowby three ways to get out of the engine.

I also modded the dipstick with a snap-on springy retainer after it kept on getting blown out and spitting oil. My engine seems to burn no oil and has good compression. Allegedly has about 130k miles on it and runs great. It just seems like the AAZ was designed for the Jetta and when working harder on the Vanagon it needs some extra design work.
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Vanagon ’83 diesel AAZ w/Giles injection, 5spd 4.57R&P+TBD and a '78 diesel Rabbit

[Gizmoman]

Very true about the "essentials" needed after the engine is built. I have to say though, even with the oil leaks, it's been an extremely reliable and satisfying build. I may just resort to a catch pan under the engine
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82 Vanagon Westy - AAZ 1.9 TD, HE200 Holset, WAIC, 27.75 dia tires, Electric power steering, 5-speed AAP w/.078 5th
Oversize spare carrier - stock location (no longer for sale).

[Team WorldTour]

[?Waldo?]

[dom777]

So, I've fitted the breather and new "puck". Not a difficult job (once I managed to undo the stubborn hex bolts that held the blanking plate)
I can now rest assured I've done some preventative maintenance at least

Now to get on to the electrics!
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UK living - 1987 Vanagon Westfalia Pop Top - Wolfram Grey - AAZ 1.9TD - Manual - Imported from California via Chicago and Ireland. My First Van!

[Team WorldTour]

...and thanks to your question, three more of us now have this mod too!
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1990 Feldjäger Syncro AAZ
Click to view image
H6 Subaru Engine Swap Thread
WV2ZZZ25ZFH094138(x)/ WV2YB0257LH057308(x)/ WV2ZZZ25ZLG113270/
"Where am I going? And what am I doing in this handbasket?" -Nicodemus Jordan
When All Else Fails: Lather, Rinse, Repeat!

[artacoma]

So 4 days ago (100kms) i installed my catch can and had a look at today and it is full!!!
My oil level isn't down by much but I don't think the new puck is diverting a drop , this can't be right, that just seems like way too much oil coming out of the top of the motor.
I think I'm going to plug the crack case vent I installed and reinstall the old puck and see how much collects in the can, damn .

_________________
Cheers
Rik
86 Syncro Tintop
2.5 Subie
86 Doka
2.5 Subie

[Gizmoman]

That much oil in your catch can is certainly alarming. I get about a teaspoon in mine after 1,000 miles (1609.34 Kms) or so.

Any chance you are overfilling the block?

I have no idea what else could do that unless your rings or valve seals are shot. Hopefully Waldo will touch base and provide some answer.
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82 Vanagon Westy - AAZ 1.9 TD, HE200 Holset, WAIC, 27.75 dia tires, Electric power steering, 5-speed AAP w/.078 5th
Oversize spare carrier - stock location (no longer for sale).

[artacoma]

I just took off the puck and the hose coming from there crankcase is fairly dry, so I think its all coming from the valve cover, I only smoke on hard acceleration and that's black, I wonder if the puck is faulty or the addition of the crankcase vent to the system is allowing so much flow that the intake is vacuuming out the valve cover,
I just reinstalled the old puck and blocked off the cc vent , I never had a baseline for how much oil was getting through before , but with the catch can now I can see what's getting by. My gut feeling is that the vacuum from the intake is just too much.
_________________
Cheers
Rik
86 Syncro Tintop
2.5 Subie
86 Doka
2.5 Subie

[?Waldo?]

Are you running back to the intake after the catch can or venting to atmosphere?