Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:11:22 -0700
Reply-To: Zolly <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Zolly <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Subject: Re: '87 Vanagon GL: Oil leaks
In-Reply-To: <4d1b79350908181350w16363d92gbce25e0535975d4c@mail.gmail.com>
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I would add; sometimes the oil pressure switch is broken and leaks. And
there are two of them. And of course, there are 16 ends of those lifter
tubes too. May not be visible well from under the car when the plates are
covering them, but there can be sign of it leaking from there.
Z
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Felder" <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 1:50 PM
Subject: Re: '87 Vanagon GL: Oil leaks
I think the most telling thing on a vanagon is where it is dripping.
If it drips right on the centerline in the front, it will spread and
eventually flow to the back. If it leaks only at the back, I don't see
it going to the front unless there would be a lot of evidence (say the
tube to the oil tower up top was getting everything wet) of other
places being wet with oil.
If the rear seal is leaking, you'll probably see oil slung off the
pulley and onto the tin and the engine hatch cover.
If the leak is left of center, near the oil filter, when looking under
the car from the back, then the likely culprit is the O-ring on the
oil cooler. This is the one you want it to be if it isn't the
above-mentioned hose.
If someone did a recent rebuild job, I suspect they might have used
old seals or reinstalled them wrong, especially as tempting as it is
not to mess with the rods and crank on a vanagon.
I don't clearly remember, someone else will chime in I'm sure, but I
think you can replace the rear seal fairly easily, at least with the
engine out. Replacing the front is a very big deal.
Jim
On Tue, Aug 18, 2009 at 3:31 PM, Douglas and Annie
Dodson-Mäuck<primalflow@suddenlink.net> wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I have oil leaks that I need to address and was wondering where the most
> common suspected points of origin might be?
>
> The individual from whom I purchased it said that he thought one of the
> crankshaft seals could be the culprit. The leaks do appear to dripping
> from both ends of the engine though that could also be the result of one
> leak trailing to another location, pooling then dripping, right?
>
>
> I've always been fortunate with all of the vehicles in my possession and
> have been able to get by with only minor repairs, replacements, upgrades
> or maintenance, so please bear with my apparent lack of knowledge
> concerning what may possibly require a more involved wrenching experience.
>
>
>
> ~ Doug
>
> '87 VanaGL 2WD
>
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