Date:         Mon, 7 Mar 2005 09:26:15 -0600
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Weird oil leak
Comments: To: "Greenamyer, William L" <william.l.greenamyer@BOEING.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <829FE9F630965345A75B973E657C27F48CDA3E@XCH-SW-2V2.sw.nos.boeing.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

First you need to discern whether the fluid you're leaking is engine
oil or transmission oil. If it's the latter, you'd better replenish the
level while you're trying to figure out what to do.

If a seal is properly installed, and the tolerances on the engine are
OK, then there's something wrong with the condition of the crank end or
something like that.

Has it leaked since rebuild or did the leak start later after a "dry"
period? If it leaked since rebuild, the installer may have nicked the
seal or installed it improperly.

There's really no point in speculating--find out which type of oil it
is, and replace the seal if you don't want live with it.

One stopgap measure I tried with success on my wife's acura
transmission (but not with success on my diesel westy) was to add seal
softener to the oil. It softens hardened seals, needs to be done a
couple of times to have any effect, but it's cheap and easy.

Jim

On Mar 7, 2005, at 8:15 AM, Greenamyer, William L wrote:

> I have had an oil leak from the clutch housing for a long time now.  I
> have had the engine rebuilt and the trans rebuilt during my ownership
> and there is still a leak.  The seals have been replaced.  Leak points
> are the bolts that attach the trans to the clutch housing (manual
> trans) and from the housing itself.  Another leak point is from the
> bottom bolt that mounts the starter to the trans.  This is motor oil,
> not transmission fluid.  I am guessing that I have some kind of a
> microcrack in the engine case but really have not seen evidance of
> that.  Anyone got any ideas?
>
> William
>