classicfins
New member
Hi everyone...
As you know I recently purchased a VW Trike that has a stock 1971 1600 single port engine. I know I am going to have to do some engine work in the near future, but I have a couple of questions for now.
I've learned that about every 40-50 miles it's losing about a 1/2 qt of oil. It is blowing out the vent tube, and smoking from time to time at higher rpms. It does not leak when parked or idleing. But, a 1/2 qt every 40 miles or so really shocked me, especially since it doesn't smoke like a freight train or leak like a seive.
Another thing.. Once it gets down that 1/2 qt low the oil pressure falls to about 10 lbs or less at an idle, when it normally would run about 20lbs at an idle. Running down the road it holds 35-40 according to the gauge. There is never any knocking or bearing noise.
My questions are... Is it normal for the oil pressure to drop that much with such a small loss of oil? I realize that the motor holds very little oil anyway, but not sure if that drop is normal with the loss of 1/2 qt.
Also, I plan on going to a new set of 87mm jugs/pistons, new dual port heads and intake. Am I correct in thinking that since there is blow by and smoking, that the new jugs/heads will probably solve a lot of my problems?
I would prefer to have a complete turn key engine built from top to bottom, but I am on a very tight budget right now and just can't spend that much. Buying the trike and the Bunkhouse camper to pull behind it pretty much tapped out my play money for now. A piston/jug kit and heads is something I can do myself, and hopefully run it until next year and then do a complete rebuild when money permits.
Any insights and ideas you would like to pass along will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
As you know I recently purchased a VW Trike that has a stock 1971 1600 single port engine. I know I am going to have to do some engine work in the near future, but I have a couple of questions for now.
I've learned that about every 40-50 miles it's losing about a 1/2 qt of oil. It is blowing out the vent tube, and smoking from time to time at higher rpms. It does not leak when parked or idleing. But, a 1/2 qt every 40 miles or so really shocked me, especially since it doesn't smoke like a freight train or leak like a seive.
Another thing.. Once it gets down that 1/2 qt low the oil pressure falls to about 10 lbs or less at an idle, when it normally would run about 20lbs at an idle. Running down the road it holds 35-40 according to the gauge. There is never any knocking or bearing noise.
My questions are... Is it normal for the oil pressure to drop that much with such a small loss of oil? I realize that the motor holds very little oil anyway, but not sure if that drop is normal with the loss of 1/2 qt.
Also, I plan on going to a new set of 87mm jugs/pistons, new dual port heads and intake. Am I correct in thinking that since there is blow by and smoking, that the new jugs/heads will probably solve a lot of my problems?
I would prefer to have a complete turn key engine built from top to bottom, but I am on a very tight budget right now and just can't spend that much. Buying the trike and the Bunkhouse camper to pull behind it pretty much tapped out my play money for now. A piston/jug kit and heads is something I can do myself, and hopefully run it until next year and then do a complete rebuild when money permits.
Any insights and ideas you would like to pass along will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
