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Date:         Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:31:56 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <garciasghostvw@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: In Missoula, overfilled oil
In-Reply-To:  <AANLkTi=rJNe_3CR4O=njr52u1aanYrzrvsvG6VvSh+JC@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

As Stephen said, the gear oil has a strong and distinctive stench. The other fluids don't so much. Maybe you could get somebody at a FLAPS to give you a whiff for comparison's sake. I would expect a diff that hadn't been serviced in 80k miles to seem "a little dry" (one would hope that he would've done something about it). However if you read your oil level accurately before and again this time I'd say the evidence points to a leak, with the caveat that oil will ride up the dipstick when the engine is on, so if it's been running you should let it drain a bit after shutting it off, pull the stick and wipe it and then get your reading.

Cya Robert

On Jul 31, 2010 10:10 AM, "Mike "Rocket J Squirrel < camping.elliott@gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks, David (and all who have responded) -- I just called Steve and left a message. I'm briefly in town where I have Internet and cell service, the cabin is too remote for that fancy stuff.

200 miles ago, with a pretty darn cool engine -- it was 95 (F) so cool is relative -- the dipstick showed oil too high. This morning the level is good, below the upper notch. Operator error? I don't think so, but I'm not as smart as I wish I was so I might have screwed up, Steve might not have screwed up. That's a public record apology.

The transmission fluid reads good, too -- right below the upper embossed dot on the dipstick.

Which leads to a puzzle. The safety chain is wet with oil. It looks like and feels like engine oil. I did not smell it, the trailer is at the cabin.

Steve has noted previously that the differential (these things have differentials, yes?) has come up pretty dry. There is a leak someplace. The engine underside is goopy.

So - I have a mystery here. Is there some way an average squirrel can i.d. the fluid type by examination?

Will check back later for any followup suggestions, and again, thanks, all!

-- Rocky J Squirrel 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") 74 Westrailia: (Ladybug ...

David Beierl wrote: > > At 01:47 PM 7/30/2010 Friday, Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\" wrote: >> >> My tru...


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