Expandable Oil Tubes
Expandable Oil Return Tube Kits
The principle point of failure are the two seals on each end. After many years of service, the seals get old, and begin to leak. The good news is that there is a relatively easy fix for these leaking tubes. Unlike the 914 oil return tubes, there are no pushrods running through them. To replace the oil return tubes with factory original ones, you need to take off the heads. However, there are replacement expandable tubes that will allow you to replace a tube without even taking off the valve cover. This technical article will detail the process of removing the old tube and installing a new expandable tube.
The first step in beginning the replacement process is to make sure you’ve identified exactly where the leak is coming from. You would hate to do this job, and then figure out that the oil is coming from somewhere else. Before you begin, take your car to a self-serve car wash that allows you to wash your engine. Drive the car back to your garage and immediately look underneath. You should be able to figure out exactly where all the oil is coming from. If it is coming from the oil return tube, then there will be oil on the ground right below the tube.
The next step is to empty the oil from the car. You don’t absolutely need to empty the oil, but it will make the job a little bit neater. When you remove the oil return tube, a small stream of oil will run out, so make sure that you have a drip pan to catch the oil.
Now, get the expandable oil return tube ready. Place the seals on both ends of the tube, lubricating them by dipping them in some fresh motor oil. Make sure that when you place the tube down, you place it on a clean cloth – you don’t want to introduce any debris into your motor. After you have the two seals on the ends of the tube, place the two smaller seals on the inside of the push tube. These two seals prevent the tube from leaking within itself. You should lubricate these two seals as well. The tube should now resemble. Now, push on the little circlip that comes with the tube.
This rather large clip prevents the tube from coming apart when installed in your car. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers to make sure that you put the clip on without damaging both the clip or the tube. Now, insert the smaller tube into the larger one. It should slide in quite easily. Note that if you are not careful while installing the tube, you can bend it, and then it will be almost impossible to expand when you’re underneath the car. The assembled tube should now resemble.
Now, you need to remove the old tube. On some cars, you may need to remove the heat exchangers or headers to gain access to particular oil return tube. Be careful when pulling the heat exchangers off of the heads as you don’t want to accidentally remove the head studs. The best method for removing the oil return tube is to just take a pair of vice grips and crush the tube until it’s bent. Then twist the tube with the vice grips until the tube comes out of one end. If the seals are truly old, then the tube should come out easily. Once you get the tube out, if you didn’t empty the oil out of the engine, it will begin to flow a little. Make sure that you have a drip pan ready.
Insertion of the expandable tube is straightforward, although not too easy. Begin by placing one end of the tube into either the main engine case or the port nearest to the heads. Depending upon your leverage, or your particular car, you will have to figure out which end is the best to start with. Make sure that you place the smaller end of the tube nearest to the heads. (the larger of the two tubes should go into the heads). The reasoning behind this is that if the tubes are ever going to leak, they will probably leak worse when the engine is warm and the oil is hot and very thin. When the engine is running, the oil will be flowing from the
heads to the main engine case. By placing the smaller tube within the bigger one, the oil flow will not press up against the seals. It’s not a very big deal as to which way it goes in, but it may make a difference many years down the road when the seals begin to deteriorate.
After you have one side of the tube inserted into the case, then you need to expand the tube to reach the other side. There are a few ways of doing this, and none of them work too well. I would suggest holding one end of the tube lightly with a set of vice-grips, while pushing against one end of the tube with a screwdriver.
Be careful while expanding the tube. If you damage it, then it will be almost impossible to expand the tube under the car. After you have the tube expanded and the seals are firmly mounted on both ends, then slide the circlip down until it reaches it’s groove, securing it under the car. Use the needle-nose pliers again to avoid damaging the tube. After you have installed the tube, check to make sure that everything is seated correctly.
There should, of course, be no oil leaking out of the tube. After the tube is installed, then reinstall your heat exchangers or headers if you had to remove them to gain access. Use new copper exhaust gaskets between the heads and the pipes. Reinstall your muffler if you had to remove it too, using this opportunity to install new gaskets as well.
To veiw this products Click Here