should engines leak oil?

[marco]

I'm not talking big leaks, but the 'marking your spot' kinda leak. I've been told a few times that 'they all leak a bit' surely that's not right. If put together properly shouldn't they be oil tight?

 

[martin.sim]

I'm sure they should be oil tight but both mine did little wees, must be an old age thing


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Why didn't I buy my bus years ago !?

 

[Trikky2]

Seepage, where its a bit oily, is quite common as they get older but they should not drip oil.

 

[Tofufi]

No, they shouldn't drip oil.

No, I've never reliably managed to get one of mine to not drip oil (but I've never done a crankcase-split engine rebuild).

 

[AGC]

Run 'em dry then they wont leak.... (this is the only way to STOP them leaking in my opinion )..... Fucks the engine but keeps the driveway clean!

 

[Retroman]

Or as one VW off road racer told me years ago..."if oil comes out then dirt can't get in!"

 

[Happystamps]

They shouldn't leak oil, no ;-)

My old bug loses about 1/4 pint over the course of 3000 miles, but I'm pretty sure it's burning that

 

[67panel]

Bit from the breather on mine after towing the race beep other wise dry,race beetle engine dry until a rod let go :roll:

 

[marco]

Ok, so they shouldn't, but do just when I bought my van it had a 'recon' engine but leaked oil, the vendor said "they do leak a bit" then at the weekend it was at a vw specialist and when my youngest son pointed at the oil drip on the floor the mechanic said " yep, reminds you to put oil in" It's difficult to see exactly where but appears to be at the split in the case. Would I be trying to achieve the impossible in building an oil tight engine?

 

[mike202]

depends where the leak is and if you can stop it. Mine leaked from the distributor mount because someone didn't put the right seal in, put a new seal in and now no leak.

I think most engines will leave a spot or two on the floor but shouldn't be much more than that.

 

[neilswheels]

If it's built right it wont leak.

Rear mains oil seal is a really common leakage point, as is pushrod tubes and valve covers. Mine drips a bit, valve covers mainly, tho' the sump drain bolt drips a bit as well. I'll fix it, one day...

 

[bermuda blue]

Generally they all seem to sweat a bit , but I did once own a '66 Karmann Ghia for 7 years and it never shed a drop in all that time (nothing) -so it
is possible.

 

[matt69bay]

I like to think of it as a gradual oil change

 

[martin.sim]

I like that

 

[K@rlos]

No engine should leak oil. As said a bit of sweat maybe but if a recon engine leaks then it's not been built very well.

 

[Skyguy]

I think that as they get older they get more lime us (old mans bladder).

 

[sparkywig]

I think that as they get older they get more lime us (old mans bladder).

Speak for yourself.