Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (July 2006, week 2)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Mon, 10 Jul 2006 17:08:14 -0600
Reply-To:     David Johnson <davidj@ELPASOTEL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Johnson <davidj@ELPASOTEL.NET>
Subject:      Red goo on pushrod tube
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Greetings.

I have an '80 Westy that I purchased about 2 months ago. Right after I got it, it cracked a head, to the tune of $1200 or so. Got that repaired (since I was not, and honestly am still not in a position to do that big a job), and then had an oil leak on the head side of one of the push-rod tubes. The mechanic fixed that leak. Then last Thursday I went under the car to clean the engine (since it was somewhat gunked up, and I read that keeping the cooling fins clean helps extend engine life) and there was another oil leak, on a different pushrod tube.

All that serves as background to this point, though - on the same push rod tube as the new leak (passenger side, #2 in from the rear of the vehicle) on the crankcase side, there was a small blob of red goo of some sort. It was tacky and soft, had no discernible smell, and was about the color of clean automatic transmission fluid. It cleaned up fine, but now that Blue Midget is back in the shop getting that second oil leak repaired, I am wondering if that red stuff is a sign of something bad, or just something like a sealant that was overzealously applied. The engine (2.0L air-cooled, of course) was rebuilt in the relatively recent past (have the pics from the previous owner) and runs fine - no unusual noise, smooth idle, good power (for a Vanagon), no excess heat as far as I can tell, and other than the one little pushrod leak at the head, leaks no oil, and doesn't appear to burn any - no smoke.

Any thoughts here?

Thanks for all the good info on the list, and for those who manage it, too. David.


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.