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Smell of burning oil

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Paulc1964au Custom Title Time!

1,627 posts · joined Mar 2010 ·

#773776
Took Rosie my 69 Vdub for a spin today and while i was waiting at a set of lights I could smell something burning. I had friends in a car behind me and when we got to our destination my friend said it smelt of burning oil.

I checked the engine housing and all seemed fine and didnt smell it after that. On arrival home i decided to check over the car what i found was oil in the back of the rear left drum and wheel. I had been told that i had a possibly leaky left wheel axle seal which I can now confirm.

What i am thinking is some of the oil go onto the hot drum and caused the smell, does that seem like a reasonable explanation?

looks like i'll be booking rosie in soon for some new rear axles seals.
/url]Streetwise Aircooled Volkswagens
My 69 Bug

71-BEETLE-SEDAN AKA Josh

1,058 posts · joined Mar 2009 ·

#773783
It seams very likely, it could also be and overfilled air cleaner if you have the oil bath one, it happened to me, filled it too much and was driven round town and could smell burning oil so next time i stopped had a little look, and could see the intake of the air filter was wet with oil and was dropping straight onto the tinware.

Paulc1964au Custom Title Time!

1,627 posts · joined Mar 2010 ·

#773786
Thanks I checked the oil filled air filter and it did have some signs of oil but nothing on the manifold etc, I am still thinking its the rear axle but will keep an eye on the filter as you suggested
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My 69 Bug

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#773825
youll know if its an axle seal cos tranny oil stinks big time
but i doubt very much it would get hot enough to smell like burny oil

the engine could be leaking oil onto something hot somewhere
single port oil coolers leak down onto the barrels which gives a nice burny smell but isnt really visable till it starts dripping out the bottom

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#773844
leaking oil in/on a hot drum will smell.

If it has leaked inside (usually does) then you will need to replace the brake shoes, and both sides should be done so the wear is the same.


Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#773851
If you have that much oil coming out then I doubt they will be OK.............brake shoes are cheap and are easy and quick to replace, so $$ shouldn't be that much.


68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#773864
Paulc1964au wrote:Took Rosie my 69 Vdub for a spin today and while i was waiting at a set of lights I could smell something burning. I had friends in a car behind me and when we got to our destination my friend said it smelt of burning oil.

I checked the engine housing and all seemed fine and didnt smell it after that. On arrival home i decided to check over the car what i found was oil in the back of the rear left drum and wheel. I had been told that i had a possibly leaky left wheel axle seal which I can now confirm.

What i am thinking is some of the oil go onto the hot drum and caused the smell, does that seem like a reasonable explanation?

looks like i'll be booking rosie in soon for some new rear axles seals.
Yes
69 beetles in Australia have swing axles with the gearbox oil going down the hollow tubes to the wheel bearings..

so, You will need to refill the gearbox too...

You can buy spray cans of brakleen which is used to dispel the oil etc off the break shoes...

cheers

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Paulc1964au Custom Title Time!

1,627 posts · joined Mar 2010 ·

#773868
Thanks Lee, Adam (Polski) has the car already i dropped it over to him tonight and he had a look and definitely leaking gearbox fluid.

He did say last month when i bought it that it had shown signs of leaking and I would have to replace them however with all the driving i have been doing it got worse. I had planned to do them so Adam will do it this week as well as welding the bonnet hinge that has broken
/url]Streetwise Aircooled Volkswagens
My 69 Bug

66brm Seriously Crusin Dubber

140 posts · joined Nov 2009 ·

#773929
68AutoBug wrote:
Paulc1964au wrote:Took Rosie my 69 Vdub for a spin today and while i was waiting at a set of lights I could smell something burning. I had friends in a car behind me and when we got to our destination my friend said it smelt of burning oil.

I checked the engine housing and all seemed fine and didnt smell it after that. On arrival home i decided to check over the car what i found was oil in the back of the rear left drum and wheel. I had been told that i had a possibly leaky left wheel axle seal which I can now confirm.

What i am thinking is some of the oil go onto the hot drum and caused the smell, does that seem like a reasonable explanation?

looks like i'll be booking rosie in soon for some new rear axles seals.
Yes
69 beetles in Australia have swing axles with the gearbox oil going down the hollow tubes to the wheel bearings..

so, You will need to refill the gearbox too...

You can buy spray cans of brakleen which is used to dispel the oil etc off the break shoes...

cheers

LEE
Lee, are you seriously suggesting to reuse oil soaked brake linings rinsed off with brake clean????

WARNING Do not do this!!!!!!!!!!!! Advising someone to consider this is even more irresponsible.

Andrew

Paulc1964au Custom Title Time!

1,627 posts · joined Mar 2010 ·

#773965
I am sure if the brake shoes require replacing, Mick and Adam from RAW will do the right thing. I assume unless the oil was just burning on the rear of the drum then the pads will need replacing.

I'll let you know how it all pans out
/url]Streetwise Aircooled Volkswagens
My 69 Bug

pod i`ve got to finish this thing one day

4,980 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#774017
66brm wrote:Lee, are you seriously suggesting to reuse oil soaked brake linings rinsed off with brake clean????

WARNING Do not do this!!!!!!!!!!!! Advising someone to consider this is even more irresponsible.

Andrew
they did this to our forklift at work,and recently brakes were sticking on the side done,service bloke came out to check it out and when he took the drums off the brake lining material literally fell off🤪
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colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 ·

#774020
66brm wrote:
68AutoBug wrote:
Paulc1964au wrote:Took Rosie my 69 Vdub for a spin today and while i was waiting at a set of lights I could smell something burning. I had friends in a car behind me and when we got to our destination my friend said it smelt of burning oil.

I checked the engine housing and all seemed fine and didnt smell it after that. On arrival home i decided to check over the car what i found was oil in the back of the rear left drum and wheel. I had been told that i had a possibly leaky left wheel axle seal which I can now confirm.

What i am thinking is some of the oil go onto the hot drum and caused the smell, does that seem like a reasonable explanation?

looks like i'll be booking rosie in soon for some new rear axles seals.
Yes
69 beetles in Australia have swing axles with the gearbox oil going down the hollow tubes to the wheel bearings..

so, You will need to refill the gearbox too...

You can buy spray cans of brakleen which is used to dispel the oil etc off the break shoes...

cheers

LEE
Lee, are you seriously suggesting to reuse oil soaked brake linings rinsed off with brake clean????

WARNING Do not do this!!!!!!!!!!!! Advising someone to consider this is even more irresponsible.

Andrew

agreed. do it right. and get off the road if you see Lee driving..... and maybe even not just for this reason....
What color are your brake shoes Lee? maybe tiem for a repaint.

66brm Seriously Crusin Dubber

140 posts · joined Nov 2009 ·

#774046
Three things that are critical safety points that you just don't skimp on, STEERING, SUSPENSION, and BRAKES. These things keep you alive each day on the roads (and other road users). As a mechanic I have seen what Lee suggested and have seen what happens when the brakes warm up and the oil that was supposedly washed off, comes back to the surface and the result is like the shoes aquaplane across the surface.

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#774049
Yep, not replacing is a BIG no no............brake cleaner is for cleaning brake parts, not shoes.