Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:19:24 -0800
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: Oil leak...
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I would immediately remove the oil filter and check the tightness of the nut
holding on the oil cooler.
those can get loose.
it can cause a leak that can even lead to total engine failure ..
there is an o-ring on top of the oil cooler , between oil cooler and engine
block.
a little tricky to replace.
I have not seen them 'fail' really ....used ones usually work ok.
and it's important to check the tightness of that nut. !
and yes....there's the high rpm oil pressure sender next to the crank
pulley.
should be easy to see if that's leaking ...watch it while it runs at
elevated rpm just be careful in there.
the seal on the crank pulley ...I've never had a problem with one of those
..but consider that for sure.
also crankcase breathing ..
not usually a problem but all oil leaks, especially on seals where the
inside of the engine is on the other side....oil level, oil type, and
crankcase breathing should all be considered.
there are also push rod seals up under the tin covers on each side..
some chance of that.
and the low rpm oil sender is under the left tin ...
those can be tricky to get off too if exhaust nuts or bolts at the top of
them are rusty.
btw..
some people think all the oil in the engine will drain out when you remove
the oil filter.
it won't, only a little will spill.
you could even just have a loose oil filter. But check that nut !
also check for this..
this has blown up engines !
make sure there is only one oil filter gasket/seal on the oil filter.
once in a while the old one sticks to the engine ..the low paid tech at
jiffy lube doesn't notice, slaps on a new oil filter .there are two seals
there ..
it can seal just well enough to allow the car to go 20 miles then pump out
all it's oil and run the engine.
It has happened.
such a large leak like you are having should be fairly easy to find.
I don't think you'll need this but a low tech oil leak finder is white baby
powder sprayed on the engine.
Just one of my many many useful tricks on cars and vanagons.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Aaron" <a.robinson.lists@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 11:19 AM
Subject: Oil leak...
I'm trying to ID and oil leak and figure out how hard it would be to fix.
This type of thing is something I haven't done much of..Please feel free to
refer me to the bentley. I haven't looked yet, but will be tonight and
figuring if I want to take this to a pro or if it's something I can tackle
in an evening or two.
On my '87 2.1L van, I've been getting a nice 6" round oil spot under the van
every time I stop and spots on the back hatch. Last night I pressure washed
the oil-caked area on the front/bottom of the engine (back side of the van)
and it appears that the leak is coming from an area above the oil filter
housing. I can't see where as it's too tight to see around the heat shield.
I also looked around the main pulley seal, and I don't see any oil that's
apparent there. I do see a ground wire running to the back area there and it
appears that there may be some sensor there. As I said, I haven't looked at
the bentley yet and will be when I get home, but I wanted to get a good
start.
Thanks!
Aaron