Date:         Mon, 27 Dec 2004 21:18:52 +0000
Reply-To:     Chris DeLong <green536@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris DeLong <green536@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Help! Massive oil leak from behind cooler (2.1)
Comments: To: albeeee@MCHSI.COM
In-Reply-To:  <41D059DD.2050202@mchsi.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Well I havent seen this suggested yet. Go get an easy out that is just the
right size to fit into the oil filter mounting tube. Take the filter off,
then the 27mm nut, then put the easy out in the oil filter tube and remove
the tube. Slide old oring out and new one in. Installation is reverse of
removal.

No coolant mess ;)



Chris DeLong
Fine Tuning
206.522.5503
www.finetuningperformance.com
Seattle, WA USA




>From: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
>Reply-To: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Help! Massive oil leak from behind cooler (2.1)
>Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2004 12:52:13 -0600
>
>For some reason, I checked the oil cooler gasket a few weeks ago while
>changing to winter oil and doing other PM on my 87 GL. I can't remember
>what possessed me to take it off (Maybe the center stud came out
>accidentally?) The big o-ring was VERY hard and deterioriated. Upon
>squeezing the o-ring, it broke! It must have almost ready to fail.  I
>had no new ones on hand but robbed a good used one from a spare engine.
>I've never bought one of these that was not in a new German kit, but
>this bad one only lasted 5 years. I'd guess it was a bad mix of rubber.
>So, while the cold weather might just be the last straw,  the o-ring
>might have been near death anyway.
>BTW: In a pinch, you can just take out the oil filter stud (hollow
>threaded tube) and slip out the old o-ring and slip in the new. Not deal
>with the coolant hoses at this time. Sometimes ya just gotta get home!
>Al Brase
>
>David Devere wrote:
>
>>With out a doubt, you cracked the gasket for the oil cooler.  The gasket
>>is
>>a black round rubber seal and you'll never fix the leak by tightening the
>>nut.  You have to pull off the filter and cooler (one big nut, like 27mm
>>or
>>something check Bently) and the two coolant hoses and replace the gasket.
>>Then I'd suggest refilling with a lighter weight oil.  But to be honest on
>>the oil I really don't know as I garage my van for the winter.
>>
>>It's an easy repair once you get the new gasket.  Good luck .
>>
>>Dave -
>>Two Harbors MN
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "matt sutton" <msutts@EARTHLINK.NET>
>>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>Sent: Monday, December 27, 2004 11:10 AM
>>Subject: Help! Massive oil leak from behind cooler (2.1)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>Hi folks,
>>>developed a big oil leak thats comming from behind the Oil cooler on my
>>>88
>>>
>>>
>>GL.
>>
>>
>>>I tried retorquing the nut that holds the cooler on, may have even made
>>>it
>>>
>>>
>>worse.
>>
>>
>>>I'm in New Hope PA, and trying to get home to NYC. Any angles or
>>>
>>>
>>experience with this would be really really helpful. I'm guessing this is
>>connected to the cold, and I had been running 20w50 oil, but would love to
>>hear any ideas.
>>
>>
>>>-Matt Sutton
>>>88 GL
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>