I took the rocker covers off my stock 62 1200 beetle and noticed some "gold dust" inside them both. Probably about as much as you would sprinkle salt on your chips. I am thinking that this is crank bearings. Is this a problem ? Any thoughts ? when i adjusted the valve gaps the engine runs quietly enough
what do u mean by gold dust is that the colour of the oil
Gold dust as particles, smaller than salt. The oil is relatively clear.
It's not a loose valve guide moving?
It was in both rocker covers. How could I test to see if its a loose valve guide ?
Could be of the distributor drive gear
I'd go with valve guide isses...
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
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something brass?, dunno much about the internals?
Stephen62 wrote:I took the rocker covers off my stock 62 1200 beetle and noticed some "gold dust" inside them both. Probably about as much as you would sprinkle salt on your chips. I am thinking that this is crank bearings. Is this a problem ? Any thoughts ? when i adjusted the valve gaps the engine runs quietly enough
I don't think engine bearings would wear like that....
and I don't think they are that color??
Valve guides maybe...
the distributor drive gear is brass... or copper looking...
has the timing changed??
distributor shaft loose??
whatever it is.... its badly worn....
best of luck
LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
The only brass in a VW engine are the valve guides and dissy drive. Bearings are alloy of tin and lead, copper and steel can be present but still wouldn't end up in the rocker cover, but I have seen valve guides getting totaled leaving behind bits of fools gold (joke)...mind you, it wouldn't be running too good.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
I had a large cylindrical thing come out in my oil once, on the first oil change of my new secondhand engine. It was about 10mm in diameter with a 5mm hole through the middle, perfectly cylindrical, and about 25mm long with a broken-off edge. There were a whole bunch of other small chunks as well. I'm not sure what all that stuff was but the engine still runs great! 🤓
waveman1500 wrote:I had a large cylindrical thing come out in my oil once, on the first oil change of my new secondhand engine. It was about 10mm in diameter with a 5mm hole through the middle, perfectly cylindrical, and about 25mm long with a broken-off edge. There were a whole bunch of other small chunks as well. I'm not sure what all that stuff was but the engine still runs great! 🤓
Sounds like the bottom end of the bakelite fuel pump block
66brm wrote:Sounds like the bottom end of the bakelite fuel pump block
Yeah, but it was still a cylinder. No breaks in the side. So how did it get off the fuel pump pushrod?!
Ignorance is bliss I reckon. The engine still runs great, so any chunks of debris are better out than in.
waveman1500 wrote:66brm wrote:Sounds like the bottom end of the bakelite fuel pump block
Yeah, but it was still a cylinder. No breaks in the side. So how did it get off the fuel pump pushrod?!
Ignorance is bliss I reckon. The engine still runs great, so any chunks of debris are better out than in.
Someone probably broke it while removing the fuel pump/push rod, they can get stuck in there and be very brittle
Thanks for the thoughts people.
I will start by looking at the distributor drive.
Would the valve guides go all at once ? The gold dust is in both rocker covers.
Is there any way this could be caused but sitting for a long time unstarted?
It is very odd that it's on both sides, how is it distributed in the cover, up the top, around one valve in particular or all over???
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
Matt, dont remember exactly, It was pretty even both sides, sitting in the lower 1/2 of the cover. The finest bits were sitting between the gasket (which came off with the cover) and the cover itself. Do you know how the oil moves & at what speed inside the cover ?
The oil is pumped through the pushrods to lube the rocker shafts and valve train. It ends up splashing out of the rockers and as the revs increace more and more gathers there before draining back to the sump. Performance engines actually start to pump the sump dry at higher than 5000 rpm as the rocker covers esp 3/4 side become full of oil, I would suggest that's not the case with your engine, but you get the idea.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
Could the brass-appearance be due to the small end bush failing? I had exactly the same symptoms once in an engine that suddenly developed a rattle/knock supposedly due to small end failure, following suspected high-speed detonation problems (due to incorrect s/plugs). Both the rattle and the brass fines appeared at the same time. (I don't know if the small end bush is made from brass...)
ACE 30 & 40 oils: specifically engineered for your Air Cooled VW
delivered (free del.) throughout Yarra Valley / Ranges, & Gippsland areas. Also ACE 20, 50 & 90.
FOR SALE: ACE 30, 40 etc. Oil formulations & Trade-names.
Woops, forgot about little end bush. Very possible cause.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
I had an idea they were brass, but wasn't sure, as not a mechanic. That doesn't mean this is definitely Stephen's problem does it? There would have to be other evidence of little-end knock developing as well, I suppose. Like a knocking sound (der!) under certain load or temp conditions. (My old engine was obviously 'terminal", but presumably such failure could start in a gradual way...)
ACE 30 & 40 oils: specifically engineered for your Air Cooled VW
delivered (free del.) throughout Yarra Valley / Ranges, & Gippsland areas. Also ACE 20, 50 & 90.
FOR SALE: ACE 30, 40 etc. Oil formulations & Trade-names.
