Taco Plate Gasket

[dtrumbo]

This should probably be in the "Stupid Questions" thread, but the doo-dad on the bottom of my Type 4 engine that we've all come to know as the "taco plate" is leaking oil.

What is the "taco plate" actually called, what does it do, and (most importantly) does anyone know where I can get a replacement gasket?

According to Bentley, they call it the 'oil pan' which is less than descriptive and is easily confused with the oil strainer cover which is the only gasket I can find from my usual stable of online parts vendors.

Any help is much appreciated.

[vwlover77]

I think it's official name is the "Inspection Plate". Not sure what can be inspected by removing it, though!

Here's a link to the German Supply replacement o-ring.

http://www.germansupply.com/home/custom ... at=&page=1

[airkooledchris]

as far as I know the only good you get from having this as a removable bit is so you can drill it out for a oil temp sender.

or better yet, get someone to fab up one from aluminum with a threaded hole for the sender built into it:

[dtrumbo]

Here's a link to the German Supply replacement o-ring.

http://www.germansupply.com/home/custom ... at=&page=1

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

That looks great, but wouldn't the fins on that fancy al-you-mineum plate reduce the temperature you were trying to measure?

[airkooledchris]

That looks great, but wouldn't the fins on that fancy al-you-mineum plate reduce the temperature you were trying to measure?

that was a thought someone else had initially, but the guy that made them up said he was taking temps via the classic VDO and 914 taco plate before switching to this one and didn't notice any changes in max temp under loads.

I wasn't running an oil temp prior to picking one of those up so I couldn't compare it myself, but from how it's made it doesn't seem like the fins would make much of a difference. I use it more for it's trending than to actually get a spot on reading. if my temps start to spike up drastically, ill pull over regardless of what the # is (and I know there's no good reason it should be spiking)

[dtrumbo]

I use it more for it's trending than to actually get a spot on reading. if my temps start to spike up drastically, ill pull over regardless of what the # is (and I know there's no good reason it should be spiking)

I suppose that's exactly what you should do with any of these temperature (oil, CHT, etc.) gauges.

[Ritter]

http://www.germansupply.com/home/custom ... at=&page=1

Accept no substitutes. I tried and tried with a black seal purchased elsewhere. Nothing like changing your oil four times over a couple of days due to a leaking gasket....

[dtrumbo]

Already ordered. Scott's listing says it's Genuine VW which can't hurt. Thanks everyone!

[hiwaycallin]

Where exactly did you get this?

[chitwnvw]

Is that from Phil on TS?

[satchmo]

This should probably be in the "Stupid Questions" thread, but the doo-dad on the bottom of my Type 4 engine that we've all come to know as the "taco plate" is leaking oil.

What is the "taco plate" actually called, what does it do, and (most importantly) does anyone know where I can get a replacement gasket?

According to Bentley, they call it the 'oil pan' which is less than descriptive and is easily confused with the oil strainer cover which is the only gasket I can find from my usual stable of online parts vendors.

Any help is much appreciated.

It is called the inspection plate in most places. In Porsche engines I guess they had a slightly different plate that housed an oil temp sender. Otherwise, the plate doesn't serve any purpose on bus engines except to plug a big hole in the bottom of the case.

The sealing o-ring usually comes in a rebuild gasket set. Not many folks sell just the o-ring. I did find it at German Supply, however:

http://www.germansupply.com/home/custom ... 297&page=2

Good luck, Tim

Nevermind.....I guess you got all this info already

[Bleyseng]

A lot of 411's and 914's came with a oil temp gauge and they used this taco plate to get the sender up into the hot oil in the oil sump. Remember the type 4 engine was designed for the 411/412 models originally...then squeezed into the 914 and finally in Bay.