Date:         Mon, 20 Aug 2001 19:18:33 -0400
Reply-To:     Dave & June Kinerson <kinerson@CAPITAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dave & June Kinerson <kinerson@CAPITAL.NET>
Subject:      Oil Filler Seal for a 81 Westy Wanted
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Volks,

To make a long story short (see long version below), I need the seal (or
gasket or whatever) that goes between the oil filler pipe (tube?) and
the engine tin of an 81 air cooled Westy.  I tried sending the Bus Depot
a query via e-mail from the link off their web site but got no
response.  Anybody know what the seal is officially called and/or know
where I can get one?

Dave Kinerson
Albany NY
kinerson@capital.net

PS  The engine over-heated big time about a month ago.  My mechanic, who
had recently rebuilt the engine, had left off the heater box bypass
tubes.  This dumps extremely hot air right where it can be sucked up
into the engine cooling fan.  Result?  The engine overheated so bad on a
93 degree day that the 20W-50 engine oil thinned out to the point of
leaking out through the front seal.  It lost power as well (40 mph
floored).  Smoke was pouring out from underneath the engine from both
the leaky oil seal spraying oil on the heater boxes and out the inside
of the exhaust pipe in a billowy cloud of blue smoke.  Alarming
situation I must say, being a 100 miles from home and all.  We did
manage to limp home at 45 mph on I-87 after things got cooled off, STP
added and oil topped off.  It was an adventure to say the least, what
with the five-finger salutes from passing trucks doing 90 etc.

I am now getting significant valve clatter and what sounds like rod or
main bearing pounding as well.  Unfortunately the thing is just out of
warranty, sooo...I shall have to rattle my mechanic's cage good.  To his
credit he did make good on the engine seal and bypass tubes.  We shall
see what happens.  I am on a quest to seal up that engine compartment
big time at the moment.  Will let you folks know how I make out.