A friend's 3.2 drained water from valve cover
03-14-2008, 07:16 AM
#1
Burning Brakes
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A friend's 3.2 drained water from valve cover
A friend's 3.2 drained 1/2 cup of water from valve cover when we were changing the gaskets. Please re-assure me this was not a damaging amount of condensation.
He drives the car every couple of weeks and I've suggested that he make sure to get it up to 180' before parking it.
He drives the car every couple of weeks and I've suggested that he make sure to get it up to 180' before parking it.
03-14-2008, 10:04 AM
#2
Racer
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That sounds to me like an enormous amount of water for an air cooled engine to have in it from just condensation. Was this in the upper or lower cover? I have never seen more than an ounce or so. I guess that it could be possible, but ...
03-14-2008, 11:42 AM
#4
Rennlist Member
It's condensation, and is pretty normal, but that much might be considered too much. Yes, be sure that the car reaches full temp when it's driven, and don't do garage start and idle - the car is better off only started when it will be driven.
03-14-2008, 02:45 PM
#5
Drifting
I had the same situation performing the routine 1,500 mile valve adjustment on my old air-cooled beetle and Thing.
About 1/2 water would sometimes drain out if I used the car for sort trips.
At least the valve adjustment only took me 30 minutes max along with the expensive $1.00 valve cover gaskets
2 1/2 quart oil change (no filter) and I was good to go
John
About 1/2 water would sometimes drain out if I used the car for sort trips.
At least the valve adjustment only took me 30 minutes max along with the expensive $1.00 valve cover gaskets
2 1/2 quart oil change (no filter) and I was good to go
John
03-14-2008, 03:24 PM
#6
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Water condensation: engine, muffler, fuel tank. Warm air holds more moisture than cold air. The warm air in a 3/4 empty gas tank looses it ability to hold the moisture and when the temperature drops the water falls out of the air and into the gasoline. That water is heavier than gas and goes to the bottom. It will clog your filter and rust your tank. Alcohol in the gas will blend with some of the water, unlike gas, they do mix. Do not let our car sit with a non-full gas tank. A car needs to be run to get hot enough/long enough to burn the moisture out of the oil and the muffler that creates water especially in cold weather. Zimmerman's statement about not running it in the garage is wise advice. What you have is a water generator for those brief start and run periods. Changing oil not only for miles driven but time/weather is good.