Date:         Fri, 17 Aug 2001 19:17:55 -0400
Reply-To:     sevenkevin@WEBTV.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kevin Hayden <sevenkevin@WEBTV.NET>
Subject:      SERIOUS rear main oil seal leak !
Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII

Hello Everyone!

My mechanic pulled my 1.9 engine again and replaced the rear main oil
seal for the second time. He started it up....no leaks. however, after
driving it for about 10 minutes, oil is pouring out of the rear of the
motor again !!
This motor that he put in had been rebuilt by a mechanic that works at a
vw dealership.Since it was setting for about 2 years, my mechanic
decided to put in a new seal. He said it might bee too much blowby
(since it smokes when you gun it) that is pushing the oil past the
seal.I only put 25 miles on van since this motor was installed.The guy
that did the rebuild told me run it for a while.He mentioned that the
shims behind the seal are critical. The flywheel  is off my old
engine.My mechanic said that he did not check for end play and installed
what shims that were on the motor.
Looking at the old seal, there is metal coming through the rubber(scrap
marks) in about 5 spots around the seal that range from about 1/4 " to
1" .They are spaced in the 12, 1, 5, 7,9, and 11 o'clock positions.They
are all on the outside of the inner groove of the seal.
After talking with my mechanic today, he said he checked end play by
removing the belts ane said it was a bit excessive. I think he said
.0004. Is that too much?
Please let me know what do .
Thanks for your time.
Kevin

1985 1.9 Vanagon (Roxanne)