oil leak

Oct 30, 2019
1,021
Hi, on my recent sailing trip I had noticed a oil leak coming from
the front of the engine (021 gas) at the crankshaft. It only leaked
when the engine was running. No, the crankcase was not overfilled. In
the past I have had the flywheel off the engine but, never seen any
crankcase to crankshaft oil seal at the front. Can anyone tell me how
the oil is retained in the crankcase. Checked the engine parts manuel
and no seal was shown. Has anyone had this particular problem and
what was the fix. Being a retired mechanic I had overhauled hundreds
of engines,and they always had a seal of some type to keep to oil
from coming out of the crankcase via the crankshaft. This is a new
one on me? Anyone have any help or information regarding this
problem? All responces will be appreciated. Thanks Walt,Vega 161
 
May 9, 2011
1,000
Dear Walt,
The trouble is that I am a retired export manager in the chemical business
,so my knowledge of oil leaks in the Volvo Penta is no woth a penny!
However, tomorrow I will check in the Vega Handbook ( compiled years ago by
Art Levin) to see whether this problem is mentioned.The book in in my Vega.

So 'see you tomorrow'

Regards,
Henk Jansen
Netherlands.
 
May 9, 2011
1,000
Hi Henk, The engine is an Albin 021 gas, not a volvo penta. Maybe your manuel
will show something different in regards to the leak I have. Some answers
about the sealing on this engine would be nice before I tear it down. I
usually do my own work since I am a retired dealer mechanic and have lots of
experience with engines. Thanks for your input. Let me know what you find in
your books. Thanks Walt.
 
May 9, 2011
1,000
Hi Doug, Thanks for directing me to the manufacture of these engines. I have
made in inquiry about the oil leak in question and the possible remedies
available. Now awaiting a reply from them. I thank you for you help in this
matter. Walt Vega 161
 
May 9, 2011
1,000
Dear Walt,

Tomorrow I will go to our Vega by.... bicycle.

Tomorrow Sunday we are having a careless day in Holland. I donot expect
everybody will obey, since its not obligatary.
I am sorry about the slight delay.

Regards,
Henk Jansen
 
May 9, 2011
1,000
Dear Walt,

First of all I wish to correct a silly mistake I made. I wrote about a
careless days but I meant to write carless day. Anyway , it was not a succes
at all, lets wait until we have depleted our oil reserves. (which may take
some time).

In the meantime I fished the Vega Owner repair and Maintenance Manual out
of my yacht. I will briefly retype what is of interest to you, but I
would recommend sending me your address so that I can photocopy the manual
partly.(there is a too which I cannot reproduce.)

Dough Smith writes:
When I took the head off my engine I first saw the colling system. The water
curves. The holes are about the size of a lead pencil The was mud in them
whicjI dug out as well as I could.

My engine has been running hot since I owned the boat, but the water coming
out of the exhaust is not that hot. I have changed the valves. I was losing
compression in one cylinederI also had to change the manifold coming off
the side of the engine, that goed out the back. It wore thru and strung a
leak.
I tought I'd share the lastest in my battle with the Albi Combi gas engine
with you. After struggling with this engine for two years., I have found
the basic problem.

I was getting a lot of oil into the #2 (forward) cylinder. Some of the oild
was being burned, but after running the engine for 30 min of so, the plug
would be heavily fouled and the engine would start bugging down and stop.
The sequence of events would be accompanied by an oily , smoky exhaust which
gradually became darker until the engine quit.
After the plug was changed and cleaned the same trouble would start
again.

The first clue to the real cause of the problem came when the oil pressure
light started staying on when I started the engine. When I put an oild
pressure on the engine, I found that I had very little oild pressure
(3-4PSI). I then dismantled the oil pump and associated pipes. There is a
small piston in the oil pump that is spring loaded, so that all the oil does
not drain back into the sump when the engine stops.This piston was frozen so
that oil from the sump was not getting to the engine. With the pump
impellors running oil was aparantly being forced at fairly high pressure
back thru the #2 cilinder I freed the oil pump piston and reassembled the
pump. The engine started right up and the oil pressure went up to 25/30
psi. I ran the engine for an hour. I pulled the plugs.The #2 plug was only
slightly fouled (possibly due the residual oil in the cyliner) and could
tell from the exhaust that I was burning very little oil.
There is a lot of other useful stories, so I need your address.

Kind regards,
Henk Jansen
Kolfbaan 18
1412 ES Naarden The Netherlands
 
May 9, 2011
1,000
Hi Henk, I have a engine manuel for the 021 and it show's an exploded view of
the engine. However it doesn't show any type seal for the front of the
crankshaft where it exits the engine block. I have contacted AME in Florida
USA and they are a Albin motor representive here in the USA. They told me
there is no oil seal for the front of the 021 engine, the oil is controlled
by the front bearing. The price of the front bearing alone is $323.00 USA
dollars without shipping. Since I don't hear any bearing knock in the engine
it might be that the end play on the crankshaft is not being controlled. I
will have to tear the motor down this winter and see where the problem lies.
I understood about the carless days, which might be a good thing here in the
USA as the price of oil is outrageous, or just that I am used to cheap
energy. The oil companys are making big bucks right now. All of our Alaska
oil is being shipped to Japan. We don't see any of that in the USA. which
would help the present oil situation. Glad I own a sailboat and not a big
powerboat. Ha ha. Anyway, I appreciate all the help you have given and the
concern you have shown in resolving my oil problem. I will let you know what
I have found when I do the engine tear down, and the related fix that is
needed. Thanks Walt "Remedy" Vega 161