From owning a type 4 engined bay for two and a half years my first annoying oil leak was from a bloated oil swollen dip stick bellows , so i replaced it with a new one ...it lasted one year then it started to go soggy and cracked and started to leak again .......so i replaced it again but this time it lasted 3 months and started to leak oil real bad . Does anybody know of a company that supplies decent quality bellows or are they all the same quality , i know they are not expensive but Boy are they a pig to fit ......just wonder'd if there is a decent quality one that you can buy .
I have the same problem just now. I'm considering replacing this fourth set of bellows with a piece of rubber fuel line and a couple of small clamps. I frineds done this and does not have a leak (there) anymore. Worth a try I figure.
This is a typical problem, cheap rubber being used!! I have no answer I'm afraid but have the same problem, along with many others. Try using cable ties - it helps
What would be useful would be if people were to identify where they had purchased them from - then we can all go back to the suppliers and tell them they are selling carp! They may be oblivious to this!
Or we can all go here to buy them. Anyone up for buying a job lot? http://airheadparts.com/vintage-vw-parts/engine-compartment/boot-oil-dipstick-viton-021119245
I bought mine from VWH. l am on my second one now. l have now resorted to using a thin cable tie at the bottom.
while stripping my engine saturday we found a piece of pipe and 2 jubilee clips - no leaks so i'm leaving it.
The issue seems to come on older engines if there is any blowing of oil up the dipstick tube and how careful you are to avoid getting the seal soaked in oil from refills etc. I've bought various and they all seem to be of the same quality. I found that a proper fuel hose clip works a treat and prevents any movement. The older harder rubber ones were useless but they all now seem to be the softer rubber. The trick is to make sure the bellows are compressed when you install them and stay compressed when you fit the clips, this way they have room to move when the engine cools/heats
It shouldnt need clipping and should be fit for purpose if bought new. What the age of the engine got to do with anything.
Holding them in place with clips is just belt and braces. Some do some don't. Don't shoot the messenger, I neither manufacture or sell these! I'm just saying they may he made to come into contact with oil but not to be soaked in oil. If it's an older more worn engine with oil blowing up the dipstick tube, or oil leaking out of the back and soaking the bellows it's no wonder they fail. My first engine was a spewer and I fitted loads if these and they all failed. Since then I've not had issue but then the engines I've built don't leak oil so I now consider they're fit for purpose. I've had mine from stateside, VWH, JK, they all seem to be of the same material and quality. I currently have 5 ( soon to be 6) running engines and none of them leak. The best answer is to do away with the filler neck all together but top pouring is a pita, especially if you don't have an access hatch
Dicky have you ordered them all for your self or are you selling any of them ...if you are i will buy one , otherwise i will order some . cheers
Mine was from JK and Heritage .....Your absolutely right joker but idon't fancy doing up my engine at this stage for the sake of a 6 quid piece of rubber.
Yep, those guys up there seem to be making it out of decent material. They should last for ever. Which begs the question, why don't our UK suppliers use viton?
Dicky please confirm if these are for you or those that want one? I'll want one but if all for you then I'm happy to order for the masses and distribute.
Razzyh they are about 2 quid each i think, but the shipping they say is about £44 so we need to establish how many we all need ...and how many people are interested I would certainly have three plus the extra to compensate for cost of shipping
