Lost Oil, Push Rod Seals?

[TakeLifeEasy]

Drove down to Devon yesterday and noticed a load of oil on rocker cover case. Checked the oil level and almost all gone. Took off the rocker cover and the gasket had broke but what seems to be gaskets on the push rods are broken up and hanging on the tappets. Not knowing much but I assume this is not good?
Replaced the gaskets and am about to fire it up again but before I do, thought I would check with you guys to see what the damage is.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5usV8coTRBAQmNUbzNsQ2E4SmM/edit?usp=sharing" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Picture of the tappets.
Any help gratefully received

 

[Trikky2]

The picture won't display.

I don't know what you mean by push rod gaskets. There are gaskets on the pushrod tubes but there's no way they could ever end up on the tappets.

Unless you mean valve stem seals, they are little rubber type washers. If its those then just ignore them, they will not be the cause of any oil leak.

Most engine builders don't even fit them any more since their only purpose appears to be to go hard and fall to bits in as short a time as possible and then lay around inside the rocker covers to scare and puzzle dub owners when they next do the valve clearances.

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

I think what you have explained is what I am seeing, just updated the picture so you should now be able to see it.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5usV8coTRBAQmNUbzNsQ2E4SmM/edit?usp=sharing" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Do you think this is what you are mentioning....hope so

 

[Happystamps]

Oooh no, those are pushrod seals... that's a bit of an arse. If you look on the other side of the cylinder head at the push rod tubes themselves, are they leaking loads of oil? It's a head off job to replace them with standard equipment (cheap) or you can keep the heads on and replace them with spring loaded tubes (cheap for **** ones, pricey for decent quality)

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

Can't see oil the other side however, just replaced the rocker cover gasket and ran it up the road and oil is everywhere again so it must be coming out from where you mentioned.
Nightmare, stuck on a caravansite in Woolacombe in Devon thinking what next to do?

 

[Trikky2]

Picture works fine now.

Good grief! They are pushrod tube seals. I have never seen that happen before. I can't imagine how they would go from not leaking to that state on their own. Bizarre.

As Happystamps said, unless you want to take the engine out and the heads off, your only solution is spring loaded or threaded extending pushrod tubes.

Maybe give Alex a call at heritage and see if they can send a set with seals to you at the site?

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

Maybe a bit beyond me so trying to get hold of South West VW to see they can help. If we can't get hold of them, does anyone know anyone in the North Devon area who could help with this?
Before we set off, the only thing we noticed was a poor tickover as the twin Empire ICT 34's seemed a little out of sync but apart from that, all was OK and was not loosing oil.
Many thanks for all your advice, very much appreciated

 

[Harlequin]

pm aogrady on here he's in Barnstaple & will have contacts close to you

 

[ozziedog]

I looked at that before I went off today and I also thought that it was pushrod cover seals but I didn`t believe my eyes and as I was late for our cruise I thought I was just being a daft old **** (again) :lol: If they have managed to do this, I don`t think for one minute it`s just happened, it had to be some ` `ISSUE ` ` with the rebuild for them to be all over the place like that. Is it possible you`ve run over something and damaged the tubes?? My biggest concern would be the amount of rubber swishing about in the oil ways that may give you a very very nasty problem. If it was mine, I`d want the engine out, heads off, then have a real good look in all the oilways then try and clean them out and it could be a bugger to get it all out without stripping the whole engine.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,, Sorry to be over dramatic about it

 

[ozziedog]

Is it possible that someone has installed these on the wrong side of the pushrod cover / tube and they were never in the right place anyhow and now they`ve destroyed themselves ? That`s the only thing I can think of if it wasn`t leaking much before and now it`s gushing out and those are wrecked. Can you see the other end of the cover / tube because you should be able to see the seal and it would look like a white washer, and have a look at the other side too. If you wipe the cover / tube off they will be plainly visible.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :|

 

[Johnny69]

I think ozziedog might be right - they must have been installed incorrectly for them to look like they do.

Hope you get sorted out mate

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

Hi Ozziedog, we have had the van for 3 years now and it was renovated for us. I guess we have done about 6000 miles in total. Not had any problems for a while now and this just happened on the journey down. It may have been a problem for a while then. I checked the other side and I can see the same seals also hanging off and I guess that is where the oil is poring out? Can't remember anything hitting the van/engine and we are real careful in it and in the way it is driven. I have had an intermittent tickover problem for a few weeks when the engine would cut out occasionally when the van stopped. I assumed this was a carb problem.
I noticed parts of the seals in the engine bay when I stopped. From your description, it does not sound good.

Thanks for taking the time to respond, very much appreciated.

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

A couple more pictures of the pushrod seals. This is the other side where the pushrods go in -https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5usV8coTRBAVHZoMlczc09iSkk/edit?usp=sharing

This is the other side of the engine, not sure they look much better?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5usV8coTRBAa1RGSndRdmRfTjg/edit?usp=sharing" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[jonboylaw]

In your situation, if you have recovery then use it, else get a set of spring loaded quality tubes and seals delivered. Will then be a case of removing the rockers, extracting the pushrods (keep in correct order) then with a big set of pliers crushing and pulling the old tubes out, clean the seals out, new seals and tubes in. Should be a couple of hours to do both sides.
Good luck !


Sent from my GX64 SatCom phone using Tapatalk

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

jonboylaw, many thanks, that doesn't sound too bad a job. We have decided to get the van back home via Greenflag and then take it from there. More worried about what caused this in the first place now....maybe we will never know!

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

Trailer of shame
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5usV8coTRBATnVkcExIcHB6WWs/edit?usp=sharing" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Just organising with Graham at Midland Early Bay when we can ship the van to him for some open heart surgery!

 

[sharky71]

feel for you chief,not nice when your on site and you have a serious problem!!
hope all tuns out ok.

 

[Marvel]

I believe this happened to mine on the way to VoWo this year. I think it may have been caused by fuel in the oil where the float was sticking open and overflowing when the bus was standing. Just a thought.

 

[TakeLifeEasy]

Well Marvel funny you should say that! Today, it is off to Midland Early Bay to be fixed. Before it went, I checked the oil and noticed it was over the full mark which was interesting as the last time I checked, it was just over the minimum mark. Quick email to Graham at Midland Early Bay to tell him this to see if it would help diagnose the problem when the van arrived at his premises. Within a few minutes, he asked me to smell the dip stick for fuel......well, it stank of fuel!
Did it cause much damage to your engine?

 

[Marvel]

Erm, in a word, yes. I lost most of my oil and it broke.
Currently with the builder having new rods, crank, rings and bearings. Not cheap on a stroker motor and one very pissed off wife since it's only 2 years old.