Date:         Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:59:56 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: The '85 needs a diaper
Comments: To: ckelmo1@COMCAST.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="Windows-1252";
              reply-type=original

those auto trans pans - it can be tricky to get the rubber gasket seated
fully in the groove in the transmission body.
Those gaskets aren't weak at all, but getting them seated properly is tricky
sometimes.

on any pan that is sheet metal........where the screws go, check that the
pan is not warped there........sometimes you have to flatten those spots out
with a hammer on a flat surface.......the trans pan is pretty hefty though,
so not likely.
Governor cover leaks easily too. - easy fix.
Royal Purple ATF - spendy but makes the van go 15 % better at least compared
to regular ATF.

if you're talking about valve cover gasket- they're cork.  they get hard.
Very normal to need to do those once in a while.
for a valve cover that you just can not get to not leak, consider that the
valve cover could be warped or out of plane.......but that's rare.

PS......the hoses arn't the weak spot.  I've never seen a high pressure hose
leak - at the rear  of the van anyway.
the other hose is a low pressure one ..........you can just buy generic high
temp oil hose for that - like you'd use for transmission oil cooler lines.
I do hear of the pipes rusting and leaking though.
there's filter screen in the bottom of the PS resevoir.......everybody knows
that !
and ......Vanagon PS doesn't last 'just indefenitely'..........say like it
does on an 88 Honda Accord............
Vanagon PS blows out eventually - the PS rack.
Best you can do for maintaence is change the fluid out, check for metal
particles in that screen in the res, add a PS fluid treatment and stop leak,
and drive 'er nice.
scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cecil Eastman" <ckelmo1@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, July 25, 2008 8:52 AM
Subject: The '85 needs a diaper


> I've got so many leaks, my leaks have leaks.
>
> 1.  Tranny fluid:  I recently changed the filter, the seal around the
> tranny pan, and the o-ring around the filler, hoping that some or all of
> these fixes would prevent more red puddles.  No Dice.
> 2.  Motor Oil:  I have motor oil seeping from seemingly everywhere, most
> notably at the valve head cover, driver's side, after I opened it once.  I
> was surprised to see any oil from there when I opened it.  Is that normal?
> As for the leak, I'd expect that if I re-seat the head cover it should go
> away, yes?
> 3.  More tranny fluid:  I've got a leak in the power steering system and
> I'm thinking various hoses have given up.
>
> Advice on any of these issues is most appreciated.
>
> Cecil
> '85 Westy Weekender Wolfsburg
> "Der BrotKasten"