I just assumed the rubber got hard and broke after 300,000 miles (on two
engines) and, since I have no idea what the thing actually does, guessed
that high miles and the poor seal of the rubber lead to build-up of carbon.
Ignorance is bliss, at least for a while.

<https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=icon>
Virus-free.
www.avast.com
<https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=link>
<#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

On Sun, Jan 20, 2019 at 11:11 AM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> What did you do to fix the carbon problem? That is not from a properly
> running healthy engine using good oil.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of
> Steven Shelton
> Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2019 8:04 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: breather tower
>
> In addition to the seal at the bottom, there is a rubber seal at the top,
> under the part that looks like a removable cap. Carbon can build up around
> this seal and/or it can split (I cut my old one open and posted a picture
> here: (
>
> https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesamba.com%2Fvw%2Fforum%2Fviewtopic.php%3Fp%3D8756021%26highlight%3D%238756021&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C711e5c2c746448a5b36b08d67ed7ea58%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636835863145738330&amp;sdata=4Hh8z1%2FuR4kL7fQKy0KTDsIqNPFlC54DKwFCKkfCFVQ%3D&amp;reserved=0
> ).
>
> <
> https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.avast.com%2Fsig-email%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dlink%26utm_campaign%3Dsig-email%26utm_content%3Dwebmail%26utm_term%3Dicon&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C711e5c2c746448a5b36b08d67ed7ea58%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636835863145738330&amp;sdata=Iy9KKDqrVmiK6B%2F5Tn%2FiZtn6B9tIZfBjF9jQN%2B8tKcA%3D&amp;reserved=0
> >
> Virus-free.
>
> https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.avast.com&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C711e5c2c746448a5b36b08d67ed7ea58%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636835863145738330&amp;sdata=3UOQIX1wC4d5Q%2FlPw0MDVZnySBeENNw%2F5XBIROd2aWI%3D&amp;reserved=0
> <
> https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.avast.com%2Fsig-email%3Futm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dlink%26utm_campaign%3Dsig-email%26utm_content%3Dwebmail%26utm_term%3Dlink&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C711e5c2c746448a5b36b08d67ed7ea58%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636835863145738330&amp;sdata=VqLDSTzhFnYAuOGG%2Bh50xPOj5GMLjFtUBx1mvDRap70%3D&amp;reserved=0
> >
> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
>
> On Sun, Jan 20, 2019 at 12:00 AM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > While the oil itself may be able to withstand temps that high there is
> > a difference from hitting the bottom of hot pistons or cooling
> > bearings and the "bulk" temperature of the oil in the sump getting
> > that hot. Just like the cooling system there are parts that are much
> > hotter than the temperature reading at the gauge. That is why it is so
> > important for the cooling system to maintain pressure to prevent
> > vaporization. Anyway, for the Waterboxer a lot of bad things happen
> > when the oil temp gets out of control. The first is the drop in oil
> > pressure. This is due to the oil viscosity dropping and over expansion
> > of parts of the engine causing clearances to increase.  VW added the
> > oil cooler on the 2.1L engines to keep the oil temp close to coolant
> temp. At times it just isn't enough.
> > Even with the oil cooler in Fun Bus oil testing has shown oxidation
> > and nitration is happening, most likely due to high ring temp temps.
> > Getting back to the oil tower question I have replaced many an o-ring
> > at the base and the towers themselves du to them getting distorted or
> > even melting where they sit on the crankcase.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: OlRivrRat [mailto:OlRivrRat@comcast.net]
> > Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2019 10:11 PM
> > To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
> > Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: breather tower
> >
> > On 19 Jan , 2019, at 2:23 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> >
> > > Again from overheating that seal can fail also. BTW the crankcase
> > > and
> > engine oil can over heat even with the coolant temperature indicating
> > all is normal. Enough speed and load or over filling can easily get
> > the oil to 270F or more.
> >
> >         While 270ºF is Pretty Darned Toasty it is not OverHeated,
> > Especially if using a High Quality Synthetic ~
> >
> > The Mob1 15w50 is Good to 500ºF According to the Mob'Guys ~
> >
> >
> > https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.
> > mobil1racingstore.com
> %2Fmobil-1-15w50-122377-oil&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C711e5c2c746448a5b36b08d67ed7ea58%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636835863145738330&amp;sdata=TXUUkQtfR1GJZ4w1Q0MFHTpyEGGzsmkqJigdLHczEI8%3D&amp;reserved=0
> >
>

<https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=icon>
Virus-free.
www.avast.com
<https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=link>
<#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>