At 11:12 11/10/99 , Connal Hughes wrote:
>In one final question, a recent tune-up turned up leaking push-rod tubes.  I
>didn't get them fixed at the time ($$) and I was unable to obtain the
>seriousness of this problem on vehicle operation.  Is this one of those
>"when it fails, it fails big" things, or will it wear down over time.

If it's just the seals, it just drips oil on the road.  No operational
effect at all except the loss of oil.  No catastrophic failure.

If there's an actual hole in a pushrod tube (very unlikely if you have the
sheet-metal covers underneath) you could potentially introduce road dirt
into the engine oil.

The tubes, in case it's not clear, are simply housings for the pushrods
which pass outside of the water jacket, between the case and the
head.  Their function is to keep out dirt and to return lube oil from the
head to the case.

david
David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"