Main bearing leak

Boston · Apr 13, 2016

OK so my main bearings have both started leaking

240,000 miles in

I'm a tad disapointed.

Not sure but I think I'll just run it till it dies and call it even.

A tad disapointed in VW at this point.

I paid 4K for the vehicle, dropped 1200 on front wheel bearings not more than a month ago

bought it with 160K or so on it

and now its singin its death song.

Not sure I'd buy another

oldpoopie · Apr 13, 2016

Do you mean the front and rear mainshaft crank seals? Seriously 240k and you are gonna complain? Youll grind a car into the ground just because a seal is leaking?

oldpoopie · Apr 13, 2016

Do you mean the front and rear mainshaft crank seals? Seriously 240k and you are gonna complain? Youll grind a car into the ground just because a seal is leaking?

Boston · Apr 13, 2016

I've driven a lot of vehicles long past 300,000 without a main bearing leaking.

And no, I'm not going to spend the cash to repair it. I'll just keep adding oil.

The bearings are likely still good and as long as the mains are lubricated they'll likely last a while. Leakig or not.

'

Boston · Apr 13, 2016

I've driven a lot of vehicles long past 300,000 without a main bearing leaking.

And no, I'm not going to spend the cash to repair it. I'll just keep adding oil.

The bearings are likely still good and as long as the mains are lubricated they'll likely last a while. Leakig or not.

'

Tdijarhead · Apr 14, 2016

I'd be disappointed to if I dropped $1200 on $100 worth of bearings. If thats all that was done you got hosed.

A leaking main is not a death song. Far from it, if you don't like the car or don't want to take care of it sell it.

As long as its not an automatic, I assume it's the 01 beetle in your signature, you shouldn't have much problem recovering some of your money. You have put nearly 100k miles on it.

I see cars like that going for around $1500-2000 all the time.

Yblocker · Apr 14, 2016

What the heck are you guys even talking about with this leaking main bearing thing?
Sounds like a diagnosid Ricky would make on Trailer Park Boys.

steve6 · Apr 14, 2016

Yblocker said:
What the heck are you guys even talking about with this leaking main bearing thing?
Sounds like a diagnosid Ricky would make on Trailer Park Boys.

Run and coke makes for good diagnostic skills

Rembrant · Apr 14, 2016

steve6 said:
Run and coke makes for good diagnostic skills

I'd say that Ricky would perform diagnosis by "denial and error"...

http://trailerpark.wikia.com/wiki/Rickyisms

I haven't watched the show in years, but I still remember some Rickyisms. I saw him at Home Depot about 5 years ago, and I've seen Lahey (John Dunsworth) at Tim Hortons a few times.

As for the front and rear main seals. I certainly wouldn't be throwing a car away because of them. Not a small or easy job I understand, but it's hard to blame a 15 year old car with for parts wearing out...

Boston · Apr 14, 2016

Yeah, its got a few things I've been holding off on and I'm just not sure I want to put the money into it.

Oh and the bearings. I picked up the parts and opened it up but after watching a few of the tutorials I just brought it over to a buddies shop. He brawled with that thing all day. I got it in there about 8 am and he didn't have the alignment done till about 7 PM. Oh and the parts place sold me the wrong bearings for it, classic. I'm not sure what front end bearings should cost to replace, but I'm sure glad I didn't bother doing it myself.

Anyway, it leaks like a sieve,

Yblocker · Apr 14, 2016

Leaky front end bearings are such a pain, I know.

See TPB reference above.

Boston · Apr 21, 2019

OK so 310K in and something went ping and the engine died.

The timing belt is still intact
the engine turns over
No fire
There's no smell of fuel in either the oil or the exhaust so I suspect it's the fuel pump. Whatever it was it happened instantly while I was slowing down for a light.

Any ideas

oldpoopie · Apr 21, 2019

Electrical. Check codes.
Double check belt. Have someone watch that harmonic balancer and cam pulley turn. You could have skipped or sheared teeth off the belt and still have the belt intact and tensioned

Boston · Apr 21, 2019

Yeah, I had someone watch and it's turning. So the belt is intact

haven't checked electrical yet but it seemed mechanical.

Mongler98 · Apr 21, 2019

Boston said:
Yeah, I had someone watch and it's turning. So the belt is intact

haven't checked electrical yet but it seemed mechanical.

did you line up the timing marks?

Boston · Apr 21, 2019

Nah, just pulled back the cover and watched it turning.

INSW20 · Apr 21, 2019

Boston said:
Yeah, its got a few things I've been holding off on and I'm just not sure I want to put the money into it.

Oh and the bearings. I picked up the parts and opened it up but after watching a few of the tutorials I just brought it over to a buddies shop. He brawled with that thing all day. I got it in there about 8 am and he didn't have the alignment done till about 7 PM. Oh and the parts place sold me the wrong bearings for it, classic. I'm not sure what front end bearings should cost to replace, but I'm sure glad I didn't bother doing it myself.

Anyway, it leaks like a sieve,

so this shop doesn't believe in flat-rate? as in, charging "book time" for a repair instead of "actual time"?

also, unless things are very different from almost any wheel bearing i've done (including mk6 golf), an alignment isn't necessary after replacing bearings.

AndyBees · Apr 21, 2019

I agree, no need for a front-end alignment after installing wheel bearings.

An Internet search can put you in the ball park (even on home plate) with the cost of wheel bearings.

Practically every on-line auto parts vendor use the standard OE part number. So, going to various on-line venders allows you to compare prices, brands, etc. It's really a no brainer to find parts and prices for your vehicle.

Making a wild guess, two hours per wheel would seem reasonable for wheel bearing R&R.

Boston · Apr 21, 2019

No but I don't smell any fuel in either the oil or the exhaust. So I think it's the fuel pump. Maybe.

AndyBees · Apr 21, 2019

I'm sort of lost as to how a Main Bearing leaks? IIRC, the crankshaft has 5 main bearings. It also has two Crankshaft Seals ... one on each end of the engine.

Mongler98 · Apr 21, 2019

well seeing as it had both the front and rear seals leaking, Timing belt is subject, put marks on TDC and take off TB cover and inspect.

Main bearing leak

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