Date:         Tue, 12 Dec 2000 19:36:43 -0600
Reply-To:     Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joel Walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
Organization: not likely
Subject:      Re: Leaky Oil cooler 89 GL
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Dunn" <AndrewD158@AOL.COM>
Subject: Leaky Oil cooler 89 GL
> Hey there folks, I have a 89 GL 2.1, and I am suffering a steady
leak from
> under the oil cooler.  Its either the o ring seal or the seam on the
oil
> cooler itself. I just can't tell.  Has anyone had experience with
this? there
> is no oil contamination in the antifreeze, so I don't think is
faulty,  Sould
> I go ahead an replace the whole unit anyway, or is that just a waste
of bucks.

i'd suspect the seal ... here's a service bulletin on the thing:

=====================================================
from Service Bulletins, Model Year 1987
......................................................................
.
Technical Information
Group:    17
Number:   87-05
Date:     October 29, 1987
Subject:  Oil Cooler seal leaks in extreme cold
Model(s): Vanagon waterboxer, all Model Years

Extreme cold weather can harden and split the seal between the engine
block and the oil cooler thus creating an oil leak:
*  An improved cold-restistant seal was installed in production as of
   02/87.
*  The new seal can be identified by its silver-grey appearance and is
   available through your parts department, Part No. N 901 814.02.