Date:         Wed, 19 Jun 2002 14:03:01 -0700
Reply-To:     Rob Scott <rob@UNIXGUY.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rob Scott <rob@UNIXGUY.COM>
Subject:      Re: update head repair 84 wasserboxer
Comments: cc: Tim Spotted Wolf <spottedwolf@CYBERTOURS.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <000f01c217c8$745dd640$87ceedd1@whisperer>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 12:35 PM 06/19/2002, Tim Spotted Wolf wrote:

>It never rose above 190 F !! I got it home and opened up the engine cover
>only to find oil dripping down from my air cleaner... what a mess.. as I
>removed my custom air cleaner (non oil bath type) I found it full of oil
>in it's lower basin. What is causing this I wondered?? The filter was
>soaked also.. I cleaned it up and looked over everything.. then started it
>up an looked again.. hmm, no oil in the air filter now... what the ????
>
>Ok here is a thought. The darn oil dip stick it difficult to read but I
>think it is showing I have to much oil in the crankcase.. This oil in the
>carb happened on a steep uphill grade.. could the excess oil have been
>routed into the oil breather pipe and exhausted up into the carb air
>cleaner??  Any idea's? could it be a broken oil ring?? Please.. I will
>hear any an all idea's.. Now that I got her to cool down I feel close to
>enjoying her..

Oil in the air cleaner usually does indicate too high an oil level.
Eventually the excess oil gets churned up by the crank and other moving
parts, and starts to blow out the crankcase vent.

I have no experience working on Wasserboxers (I will soon, since I'm
about to put money down on a 1990 Westy within a few days) but a fair
amount of experience working on a variety of other engines.  Since you
just did head work you may have an improperly sealed head gasket and
the rising oil level is caused by coolant leaking into the oil.  Check
the quality of the oil on the dipstick carefully, and look for milky or
foamy coloring. If you're showing too much on the dipstick you'll have
to drain the extra oil anyway, so look for evidence of water in the
drain pan.

Or, it's possible that you simply overfilled the oil after doing the
work.  Been there a bunch of times.  "Now did I put in three quarts or
four?"


Cheers.
Rob

              It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
                    -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
                     Rob Scott, mailto:rob@unixguy.com
        Langley, Washington on Whidbey Island (a suburb with a moat)