QuestionI am directing these questions to you because there is no expert in the Volkswagen department.
1979 VW rabbit diesel.
There is a good deal of engine oil oozing out of various parts of the engine.. down the side of the head coming from the top, there is good deal of oil in the air filter and is also puddled in the housing that holds the filter, and there is what looks to be an oil sludge (very thick and black) leaking from one of the injectors.
The head on this engine was rebuilt 30,000 miles ago as well as new injectors and an injection pump. I've replaced the air and oil filters regularly.
Also how does one go about "tuning-up" a diesel engine? Injector timing?
I apologize if these questions are none of your concern. Thank you for your time.
Nick Clulow
AnswerHi Nick,
As you may have noticed in my profile, I am not listed as an "expert" in VWs. However, I do have some VW experience. Not a lot on the diesel but I do know what you need to do. First, you need to find a shop with the tool (as I remember) needed to set the timing of the injection pump. Then you need to remove the valve cover and either replace it or try a "sometime works" trick of heating the inside plate of the cover that has the breather mesh in it, with a torch to the point that it will cook the mesh inside, then blow it out with an air hose. If you got it hot enough to burn all the caked oil, it will blow out as dust. If no dust comes out you didn't get it hot enough. You have nothing to loose since if you can't clean it, it needs replacing. After the decokeing you need to soak the cover in a cleaning fluid of some kind. Mineral spirts or gasoline or such then blow it out with air to dry.
You could have a piston ring problem causing excess crankcase pressure but do the valve cover and set the injection timing first as the valve cover stoppage is a common problem on the Rabit Diesel. If the black oil leakage at the injector is at the base it is just a lose injector or bad injector seal.
I hope this helps,
HMF
