They would have needed one full day for the cam seals and CCA alone, but my dealership had to wait two days for a timing belt and tensioner, because I decided to have them changed at the same time.

I think you can safely pass on the fuel injector service, at least for now, particularly if you use Shell or Chevron or periodically add Techron or BG-44K to your fuel.

I feel a poll coming on -- how many 1.8T owners and how many V-6 owners have had the cam seals replaced, and at what age and odometer reading? This is evidently a VERY common problem!

 

My cam seals and valve cover gasket are going to be replaced later on this week.

'99 1.8T with just shy of 55K miles on the clock.

Dealer blames bad PCV valves for the problem.

 

My dealer replaced my engine's cam seal and my wife's car's cam seal in less than 4 hours each.

Both V6.

 

You will have to leave it all day with them. I just had mine done 200 miles ago

 

Just had my timing belt, water pump, and cam seals replaced in less than one day. Dropped it off before close and was ready by 4:00 the next day. I wish I could work from 8am - 4pm and get paid $1k!!!!!

 

I dropped the car off last night (after the service dept had closed) and I got the call at 2:00 PM to tell me that it was ready. Not knowing how much teardown is involved in replacing the cam seals, I thought that it would have taken them longer.

 

I dropped the car off last night (after the service dept had closed) and I got the call at 2:00 PM to tell me that it was ready. Not knowing how much teardown is involved in replacing the cam seals, I thought that it would have taken them longer.

That's about right.

 

What is your experience with VW cam seals, Sharky? Are you seeing alot of failures? Do you have any suggestions for problem prevention? My problem got much worse soon after I switched to synthetic oil. However, since I was getting some CCA clatter on cold starts while still on dino, I think my problem actually started around 14K miles.

 

What is your experience with VW cam seals, Sharky? Are you seeing alot of failures? Do you have any suggestions for problem prevention? My problem got much worse soon after I switched to synthetic oil. However, since I was getting some CCA clatter on cold starts while still on dino, I think my problem actually started around 14K miles.

I'd be interested to know that as well. I was also wondering if I should make the switch to synthetic now since I have fresh seals.

 

You will have to leave it all day with them. I just had mine done 200 miles ago

Of course this all depends on the dealer that you deal with. My dealer can do a complete cam seal, valve gasket change in less than 4 hours. Dropped it off in the morning, pick it up right after lunch.

Both of these changes are covered under the 100K mile warranty, if you are the 1st owner.

My wife's car has more problem with the leakage, and her car has been using regular oil. It was the second time being changed on her car.

I have been using synthetic after 30K miles. No problem so far. Mine was changed during the regular oil usage period.

 

What is your experience with VW cam seals, Sharky? Are you seeing alot of failures? Do you have any suggestions for problem prevention? My problem got much worse soon after I switched to synthetic oil. However, since I was getting some CCA clatter on cold starts while still on dino, I think my problem actually started around 14K miles.

More leak than don't.

Done correctly, they won't leak again after they've been replaced by someone who knows what they're doing.

An example would be that guy that said he did his without pulling the cams.

Sure, you can do it that way, but its going to leak later on.

Mine will not.

 

More leak than don't.

Done correctly, they won't leak again after they've been replaced by someone who knows what they're doing.

An example would be that guy that said he did his without pulling the cams.

Sure, you can do it that way, but its going to leak later on.

Mine will not.

That's like trying to balance a tire w/o taking it off the car. If you're already in there - why half-ass it?

 

I had my waterpump, cam seals, and valve cover gasket replaced in a day at my dealer.

 

I dropped mine off this morning to fix the cam seal at 9 and it was washed and ready for me at 4

 

At a car dealership they always book many service jobs at one time and don't always take your car in right away even when u have an appointment. The cam seals can't take much longer than a few hours because my VW dealer quoted me $250 for the job.

 

More leak than don't.

Done correctly, they won't leak again after they've been replaced by someone who knows what they're doing.

I am just curious, Sharky, are the replacement seals superior to the originals, or will the new ones "not leak again" because they receive synthetic oil from Day 1?

 

I am just curious, Sharky, are the replacement seals superior to the originals, or will the new ones "not leak again" because they receive synthetic oil from Day 1?

The care and installation of the seals is what makes them not leak, and nothing else.

Knowing where and with how much to hit them with sealer is also helpful.

 

The care and installation of the seals is what makes them not leak, and nothing else.

Knowing where and with how much to hit them with sealer is also helpful.

Are you suggesting that we have a pandemic factory assembly defect here? Is there any pattern by model year or engine code? Has VW issued any TSBs on cam seals?

 

The care and installation of the seals is what makes them not leak, and nothing else.

Knowing where and with how much to hit them with sealer is also helpful.

Could you help a brother out and be more specific? Is it be possible for a lowly DIYer to do this job correctly given expert advice?

 

Are you suggesting that we have a pandemic factory assembly defect here? Is there any pattern by model year or engine code? Has VW issued any TSBs on cam seals?

I don't know but that's intersintg and maybe we should look into it somehow. A couple of years back, everyone's coil packs were going bad, people were posting their gripes here, and all of a sudden VW issued a recall and was replacing them free (if I remember correctly). could the same thing happen with the cam seals?:hmmm:

 

perhaps but VW isn't usually eager to throw a recall out.

 

More leak than don't.

Done correctly, they won't leak again after they've been replaced by someone who knows what they're doing.

An example would be that guy that said he did his without pulling the cams.

Sure, you can do it that way, but its going to leak later on.

Mine will not.

Are you saying that the guys at the factory don't know what they are doing. Because it seems that a lot of our v6 engines are having this problem. This is my second V6 and leak problems at about the same mileage, both in winter...
Which makes me wonder if the strain on the engine in winter makes the problem worst.

 

my 2001.5 1.8t had leaking cam seals and valve cover gasket seals. My friends v6 b5.5 2001.5 had the leaky cam seals too.... Seems like sharky needs to give them a lesson in putting those seals in over in Germany.

 

Are you saying that the guys at the factory don't know what they are doing. Because it seems that a lot of our v6 engines are having this problem. This is my second V6 and leak problems at about the same mileage, both in winter...
Which makes me wonder if the strain on the engine in winter makes the problem worst.

Its not that they don't know what they're doing, its just that they use no sealer at all.

Also, I think VW spec for the torques on the valve cover are way light.

 

my 2001.5 1.8t had leaking cam seals and valve cover gasket seals. My friends v6 b5.5 2001.5 had the leaky cam seals too.... Seems like sharky needs to give them a lesson in putting those seals in over in Germany.

Since the problem occurs in both the German-made V6 and the Hungarian-built 1.8T, I suppose we can rule out craftsmanship. I can only hope my new cam seals hold up better than the originals did.