what are they and do i need one i have heard /read of off roaders using "sand seals" i intend to do alot of offroading and after investing alot of $$$ in a vw motor what can i do to try and minimize the unwanted crap from getting into the engine
reading up on these sorta things mate a sand seal is a seal that goes behing the harmonic balance or crankshaft pully to stop shit from getting in there u could also thr ducting your air intake into the vehicle so it sucks clean air which is what i intend to do.........
| Quote: |
There is an oil slinger on the crankshaft behind the crankshaft pulley..
Its like a large flat washer only its slightly concave,
and throws the oil back into the engine...
I have seen on VW accessory websites in the USA that sell a seal that is glued to the special crankshaft pulley..
so You don't have to have the engine case machined to accept a so called sand seal...
the pulleys and seal came as a set, and were fairly expensive...
The VW engine was designed to breathe out crankcase vapours fumes out past the oil slinger...
as some one pointed out, if You were in deep water etc it may be a problem, but the only problem I've heard of is
a slight oil leak , if You park with the front of the car up a very steep incline...
Maybe some of the Baja and Buggy people can tell You what they do with the crankshaft pulley-
if anything...
cheers
Lee
http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug
Go the sand seal:thumb........its about $65 including the pulley, which you need to use with the seal. Type 4 motors use this type of seal design as
standard.
The seal is easy to fit as it just pushes into the front of the case.
If the vehicle is going to be near sand, well I would be fitting one 
Picture of the one I have on my 1916.
and the pulley that came with it. Don't really like all the holes, hopefully it won't crack between them!
thanks craig could you tell me i could get one of those mate