[T3] Oil Pressure Issues - Update 4

[Jim Adney]

On 15 Apr 2026 at 21:07, EL PUERCO wrote:

> Jim, the Silverline are very common here (Mexico product); they come with
> a steel center main bearing.  Others I have bought (Kolbenschmidt, Mahle)
> are aluminum and feel too light to me. As far as the coating,  it seems to
> be just to protect them in the box. At least, that's what some have said
> to me.  I gently wipe it off with a clean micro cloth until they have a
> little shine. It comes off vary easily.  It's a dull gray color.

I read somewhere that VW introduced the steel-backed center #2s just for 
cold climates. Clearly, there's a LOT of differential thermal expansion going 
on there, but I don't know why adding a bit of steel in the middle of a bearing 
would help. I've also heard that the larger oversizes never came with a steel 
backed #2.  

This almost sounds like it could be MoS2 (molybdenum disulfide) an 
excellent boundary layer solid lubricant, like graphite, but better. I like to rub 
a bit of MoS2 into my bearings when installing them. It just takes a tiny touch 
and I can burnish it into the bearing surface. It washes away once oil starts 
to flow, but it protects during first startup.

> What brand(s) do you use?

I haven't rebuilt an engine in a few decades, but back in the day the brand 
that was available was Metal Leve, from Brazil. They were available in all the 
over and under sizes. I have a small supply here still, just in case.

I know that everyone liked to use Kolbenschmidt just because they were 
German and an OEM, but I've never seen anything that indicated that they 
were better than anyone else.

The only bearings I've ever seen that were clearly better than others were 
the US brand (was it Federal?) that supplied cam bearing sets with two 
flanged thrust bearing halves. It has always struck me as odd that VW would 
cheapen this part. Sure, they seem to last perfectly well, but how much do 
you save that way.

BTW, did you know that there are both narrow and wide cam bearings? 
Once again, it's very light duty, but it seems odd to not take advantage of the 
full case backing width. Maybe 40 HP cases were narrower there, or did 40 
HP cams run right in the cases, without separate bearings?

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Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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