oil leaks

Are the valve cover gaskets a common problem of oil leaks on the VW engine?Mine seems to be leaking pretty badly on the right side of the engine.There is always a puddle under the car after it sets and while its running.What other leak areas are common?How hard is it to repair these oil leaks.I need to fix this as soon as possible so any advice would be appreciated. Thank's Gary Murch

What kind of covers? Stock bale type, aftermarket bolt ons? And what gaskets? Original cork is better than rubber.

Also the method of installation. Sealant vs. dry.

Alan,I think that they are stock valve covers.I havent taken them off so I don't know what kind of gasket is in there.I just got the car on Wednesday and it is my first Volkswagen so I don't know much about them yet.Thats why I'm asking for help.I don't even know if it's leaking from the valve cover or not.It looks like it's coming off the heat exchanger toward the rear of the car on the right side.The heat exchanger does have some rust holes in it toward the bottom.Everything under there is pretty oily.The engine doesnt seem to smoke when it's running.It was supposedly rebuilt in 03 but you know how that story goes.Any help would be appreciated. Thank's, Gary

If they are the stock type, stamped metal with a wire going across holding it on, they need the stock type cork gaskets. Some like to put a little silicone on them to keep them from leaking, I always thought it was way too much work to get them off and clean so I never did. Make sure both sides are clean when you put the new ones on. If they are the bolt-on aftermarket type, trade them out for the stock type. They ALWAYS leak unless you get the real good (expensive) ones. Other areas to look for in my experience are:
1) oil cooler in the fan shroud, you'll see oil in the engine compartment by the distributor
2) main engine seal, oil on the driveway where the engine and transaxle meet.
3) Sump plate, oil under the middle of the motor
4) oil pressure sender, oil in the engine compartment on the drivers side

Good luck and welcome to bug-dom!

Brett

Brett, Thanks so much for the info.I know that my valve covers are the stock type because they have the wire type clamps on them.I will also check out the other areas that you mentioned.I would love to get these leaks stopped.Thank's again. Gary Murch

it could be the push rod tubes

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Try new bails,I find they take a beating under tension and never regain full tension when re-used.Also,silicone the cork gasket to the valve cover heavily,so at least it will not leak at the valve cover to gasket juncture....the only place it could would be the gasket to head area.

also be sure to check all your tubing... that could be a big thing... or maybe check the valve cover gaskets because you haven't taken them off before, maybe its time for a replacement

did you ever figure out what it was.

Push rod tubes will leak after awhile, too. They're quite thin and will rust through from the outside. Sometimes, the rubber gasket at each end of the tube will go bad, too. I would bet your oil leak is your valve cover gasket, though. I've owned three air cooled beasts over the years and they all (at one time or another) developed valve cover gasket leaks. Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of air cooled VW's!

Hello,first of all thanks to all of you for your advice on my question about oil leaks.I did change the valve cover gaskets and that helped but I still have a leak that looks like it might be coming from the oil drain plate.I changed the oil I had trouble with one of the small acorn nuts when I was trying to tighten it up on the threaded stud it wouldn't tighten up.I swapped the nut with one of the other ones and it worked but now I'm scared to remove it again.How hard is it to remove those studs to replace them?I torqued and tightened the bolts in sequence like the manual says.Can new studs and acorn nuts be purchased ?Its not a bad leak but it drips enough that I keep a piece of cardboard under the car so it doesn't get on the driveway.Just an annoying little leak. Thanks Gary

you dont need to use acorn nuts and the studs do come out and i think the nuts are 6 mm metric threads

need to check crankshaft play if too much your flywheel seal could be leaking