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Date:         Sun, 6 Nov 2005 21:25:32 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Film of oil all over back hatch
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=response

If it's an automatic, check the torque converter seal.

Cya, Robert

----- Original Message ----- From: "Kim Brennan" <kimbrennan@MAC.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 9:08 PM Subject: Re: Film of oil all over back hatch

> Unlikely that it's a road thing. > > Oily substances are used in a variety of places. The aerodynamics of > your vehicle is such that anything spewing oil is likely to have it end > up on the back hatch. > > So. Your next set of choices are, what type of oil is it? Is it gummy? > Is it very thin? Is it dark? Is it clear? > > Do you have power steering? I leak on the high pressure side could come > out in a mist that could get sucked into the windstream. Same is true > of your AC system, if you have one. > > Is your engine oily? Yes? Then get some brake cleaner and spray it on > (when your engine cold) and get all that oily stuff off. That will make > diagnosis easier. I assume since you haven't found the oil source, that > your engine is not oily. The next easiest thing I'd check would be the > AC lines (if you have AC). These run up behind the cabinets. Since the > film is on the outside, I'd say, check the lines under the van towards > the receiver dryer (in the left rear wheel well). > > If the oil residue is heavier on one side than the other, that could > help, as the AC lines run on the LEFT side, but the Power Steering > lines run on the RIGHT side. > > With a 18 year old vehicle, it would be a good time to look at those > (metal) power steering lines that run up to the front. They can rust > through. > > > > > On Nov 6, 2005, at 11:56 PM, BA wrote: > >> Hi, all, >> >> This was discussed once (as far as I could find) in the archive, last >> August. The sole response to the described problem was "look under >> the engine ... if it's sufficient to put an oily film on your back >> hatch, the cause will be obvious". >> >> Except ... it's not obvious! Not to us, nor to the VW repair shop >> where we take our Vanagon. And the repair shop has so far not steered >> us wrong. (Our shop-supplied engine has not yet done 10,000 miles. And >> it isn't a re-conditioned engine ... it's a new VW engine.) >>


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