New Type-4 Headflow Masters Engine Leaking

[VW Treasure]

image.jpeg

My very first thread here, and it couldn't have been a more potentially disastrous one.
My recently rebuilt Type-4 engine from Headflow Masters was installed about two months or so ago with the help of Colin, and it was working flawlessly. It must now have a little less than 50 miles. I've just driven it a few times for trips longer than 15 minutes, most often to and from work about 10 minutes each way. About four days ago I parked the bus in my garage and up to that point it was working fine. Last night I tried to turn it on and the battery was dead, so I left the battery charging overnight. This morning I went to turn it on and the engine seemed like no gas was getting to it, or as if the coil had been disconnected. After searching inside the engine bay, I looked down and noticed a very small puddle of oil seeping from where the back of the engine attaches to the transmission case.
I took pics so that someone can help me figure out WTF just happened!

[VW Treasure]

Pic #2

[VW Treasure]

Pic #3

[VW Treasure]

Pic #4

[VW Treasure]

Pic #5

[VW Treasure]

Pic #6

[Jivermo]

Man, and this is quite disheartening. I've watched Ray get this bus back together, with the help of his entire family, and now this. There is something seriously wrong with the quality of the Headflow Masters current crop of builds. This is an unexcusable failure. I recommended Headflow Masters to Ray, and I'm very sorry that I did so. Crushing news, this new engine problem.

[wcfvw69]

If the fluid is coming between the trans and engine bell housing, you need to dab it with your finger to see if it's oil or transmission fluid. Transmission fluid has a very unpleasant, strong, stinky smell. If it's not transmission fluid, you need to clean up the area you believe the fluid is coming from with some brake cleaner or other spray solvent. Then, start it up till it reaches temperature and see if you can identify exactly where the fluid is coming from.

VW engines can "appear" to be leaking from one area but after a thorough cleaning and inspection, you can find it coming from somewhere else. Maybe its coming from something simple to fix.

[hambone]

If it's coming from the joint between the engine and the trans, it is most likely the main seal, very common. Oil gallery plugs sometimes fail too, but not often.
The engine has to come out to replace. Most VW owners ignore a quarter-sized puddle, it is not an issue. If it is bigger, it will leak onto the clutch causing issues.

[SlowLane]

Too early to tell yet, but it could be another candidate for the GoWesty Brazilian OEM main seal which is claimed to put all other main seals to shame.

[Bleyseng]

Too early to tell yet, but it could be another candidate for the GoWesty Brazilian OEM main seal which is claimed to put all other main seals to shame.

I have to say that cured my 914 and Westy oil drips out of the main flywheel seal. In his case check to see if it's gas/oil mix as he has carbs right?

[SlowLane]

Too early to tell yet, but it could be another candidate for the GoWesty Brazilian OEM main seal which is claimed to put all other main seals to shame.

I have to say that cured my 914 and Westy oil drips out of the main flywheel seal. In his case check to see if it's gas/oil mix as he has carbs right?

Glad to hear that you can confirm GoWesty's claims about their seal, Geoff.

Yup, didn't see his other post about the gas/oil mix. In light of that, I'd say the little oil drip is now a very minor concern.

Treasure, I'm sure Colin will respond as soon as he sees your plight, but in the meantime, he has posted before about his observation that aftermarket electric fuel pumps often fail to prevent just this sort of flood. Maybe do a bit of searching around the site and you may find a proposed solution involving an electric cut-off valve somewhere.

Best of luck. Don't lose heart.

[the miz]

VW engines can "appear" to be leaking from one area but after a thorough cleaning and inspection, you can find it coming from somewhere else. Maybe its coming from something simple to fix.

I'd agree with this statement...and totally feel your pain, VW Treasure. I could probably share similar pics of oil leaks from my "Turnkey" HFM build.

At last count (i.e.: when my engine last ran, 8 months ago)...I knew I had leaks from 2 push rod tubes and the strainer plate (guess what? ...there was no strainer in there!) I'd check simple stuff like that...don't lose heart...it is annoying (and wrong) that a "new" engine should have these problems...unfortunate, that $6k buys frustration and disappointment, instead of the "Turnkey" solution that was promised, huh?

-miz

[Amskeptic]

I had leaks from 2 push rod tubes and the strainer plate (guess what? ...there was no strainer in there!)
-miz

Seriously? I missed that.
Colin
(thread being moved to Engine Forum)

[the miz]

I had leaks from 2 push rod tubes and the strainer plate (guess what? ...there was no strainer in there!)
-miz

Seriously? I missed that.
Colin
(thread being moved to Engine Forum)

...no, you didn't miss it, just in the massive sequence of events that has occurred, you may have forgotten the detail...
remember: the heinous oil leak in the push rod tube caused oil spatter all over the rear of the van...and the removal of the push rod tube to "fix" the leak is what seems to have precipitated all of my subsequent woes.
In comparison with what has happened in the interim, oil leaks have taken the proverbial "back seat"!
Also, I did buy a strainer...

miz