Date:         Sat, 2 Feb 2008 13:35:06 -0500
Reply-To:     Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard Golen <rgolen@UMASSD.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Major Oil Leak!
Comments: To: Eric Unrau <eunrau@YAHOO.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <407743.38655.qm@web30502.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

Eric,

Here's a quick, temporary fix. Remove the oil filter. You will notice
on the oil cooler unit a large, thin nut that holds the oil cooler
into place. Tighten that nut a bit, that should snug up the oil
cooler to the block so that you are able to drive for a while without
dropping oil. VW's service procedures for the Vanagon recommend that
their service techs tighten up this nut at every oil filter replacement.

Ric


At 01:09 PM 2/2/2008, Eric Unrau wrote:
>Hi everyone.
>
>I had to add about 1 cup of coolant in the morning yesterday before
>heading to work, so I went outside this morning to deal with
>(hopefully) a minor coolant leak.  Looked around the engine
>compartment - nothing obvious - decided to have a look on the ground
>to see if there were any drips and found something unexpected.  A
>puddle of oil.   Probably  a whole quart of oil.
>
>I added a quart of oil to the engine, started it up, ran to the back
>and saw stream of oil coming from somewhere above the oil
>filter.  It looked like it might be coming from behind the oil
>cooler.  After consulting the manual, I am hoping that it is just a
>blown oil ring.  From what you guys have seen, is this likely?
>
>Can't drive the van to my mechanic, so i'm wondering if it an
>easy/quick job to pull the oil cooler off and inspect/replace the oil ring?
>
>Thanks,
>Eric
>
>1989 Westfalia
>
>
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