Date: Thu, 26 May 2011 12:25:47 -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: Overfilling the oil issues
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hi,
I'm wondering if there is just a simple issue with the rear main oil seal.
I have seen a new rear main oil seal job not 'stick' ...should have been
fine, but for some reason was not.
if it's a fine new rebuilt engine ...........
it's not that big of a thing to deal with for a good shop.
If it was an engine I had installed or rebuilt, I would just say ...
bring me the van and I'll check it out.
Crankcase breathing is usually not an issue on waterboxer engines.
I only mention it as something that should always be considered when there
are oil leaks.
That black 'oil tower' next to the distributor ..
I've rarely had to think about or mess with those ..
there's a spring and valve or something in there. You can read about that
online if you search.
At least check the hose that goes from the top of it to the main air intake
boot..
that it's not collapsed or something.
That hose tends to get funky with age . Sometimes they're replaced with
coolant hose ..
which deteriorates with oil fumes.
Mainly saying....take a larger view of what might be going on ..
Is it a simple oil leak,
or an engine oil control issue or what .
I can't remember right at the moment what an auto trans has for a breather
hole.
there are two sections of course ..the ATF 'auto trans' part of the whole
unit..
and I don't think there is a breather port on that part.
And there is the differential section , with gear oil in it, and I would
think that would have some breather port on it, but not like a hole with a
bolt missing.
what does the shop who installed or rebuilt the engine say ?
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Stewart" <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 8:17 PM
Subject: Re: Overfilling the oil issues
> So Scott,
>
> My engine is a year old and has 5,000 miles on it. I changed the oil at
> 500, 3000, mile increments then switched from Dino to Mobil 1 15/50. It
> was clean each time. Since the rebuild it has had an oil leak since day 1.
> Very minor though. Maybe I had to add a quart every 4-6 months. Prior to
> the rebuild never it never had one oil leak.
>
> 90% of the driving is on local back country hilly roads with some minor 15
> minute highway drives. I just did my first long drive with the fan which
> was 3 hours. The temp gauge never went higher than halfway. I have
> external bus boys oil cooler on it as well as an external Smallcar tranny
> cooler on it. I looked and did not see any leaks coming from the hoses.
>
> Where should I be looking for leaks? I just checked the engine casing
> tonight and I could not see anything leaking. I do clearly see that some
> oil has been coming from the what seems to be the fly wheel because I can
> see some oil spattered on the edge where it mates to the automatic
> transmission.
>
> Where should I be looking on the breathing system for clogs?
>
> I did see this small hole on auto tranny that if you were facing the rear
> of the vehicle it was on the passenger side. It looked like a screw was
> suppose to go in there but it was just a small hole that was exposed. I
> assume this is breathing vent for the tranny?
>
> Rob
>
> On May 25, 2011, at 7:38 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>
>> any time you are thinking about oil leaks and oil seals,
>> also consider crankcase blow by ..
>> if it is excessive, as in worn/tired engine.........or if the breathing
>> system is clogged or restricted..
>> that can cause leaks right past oil seals.
>>
>> most oil seals do not leak just sitting ..
>> engine needs to run a while.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Robert Stewart" <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 4:07 PM
>> Subject: Re: Overfilling the oil issues
>>
>>
>>> Yeah I am seeing oil coming from between the flywheel on the engine and
>>> automatic tranny connection.
>>>
>>> The just washed the vans engine off with water tomorrow in the morning I
>>> am going to put it on a my ramps and crawl under to see if it leaks over
>>> night. I will take some photos of it and then drive it and retake photos
>>> and get under it again.
>>>
>>> Fluid is suppose to be checked on level ground with the engine warm
>>> correct?
>>>
>>> Robert
>>>
>>> On May 24, 2011, at 9:50 PM, Edward Maglott wrote:
>>>
>>>> You don't even need to drain it to replace that O-ring for the governor
>>>> cover. It seems odd that it is leaking there. I'm not sure but I
>>>> think
>>>> that is uncommon.
>>>>
>>>> If the engine oil is coming out of the openings between the engine and
>>>> transmission, where the torque converter spins, I think the rear main
>>>> seal is about the only thing in there that could be leaking. you could
>>>> try cleaning that area so that you can see better where the leak is
>>>> coming from. The seal on the torque converter can leak, but that would
>>>> be ATF not engine oil.
>>>>
>>>> Good luck! Edward
>>>>
>>>> At 07:13 PM 5/24/2011, Robert Stewart wrote:
>>>>> Thanks Ed the thoughts.
>>>>>
>>>>> Yes what you are explaining the Governor Cover is where I see a lot of
>>>>> tranny fluid and it's slowly leaking downward. I assume to repair this
>>>>> I
>>>>> need to drain all the fluid out and then pop that off to add a new O
>>>>> Ring seal?
>>>>>
>>>>> I have been looking at the samba for over an hour, seems like a lot
>>>>> people have this rear main seal issue. I am not even sure that is
>>>>> where
>>>>> the oil is coming from but it's clearly leaking from above the engine
>>>>> and flowing down the backside of the engine casing. Could it be a oil
>>>>> sensor that has gone bad and is now leaking?
>>>>>
>>>>> Rob
>>>>>
>>>>> On May 24, 2011, at 2:37 PM, Edward Maglott wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> That place on the tranny is the governor cover. Round cap with metal
>>>>>> band
>>>>>> holding it. I believe there is also a vent directly above that on
>>>>>> top
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> the transmission. It is a nubbin with a loose fitting but attached
>>>>>> cap
>>>>>> on
>>>>>> it. Sometimes that will get clogged and not properly vent air out of
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> tranny and cause fluid to be forced our elsewhere. I wouldn't worry
>>>>>> about a
>>>>>> little leaking at the governor cover, unless it is a symptom of
>>>>>> larger
>>>>>> issue. Also that O-ring is pretty easy to replace with the tranny in
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> van.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Assuming it is definitely engine oil coming from the area of joining
>>>>>> with
>>>>>> the transmission, the rear main seal is the only thing I can think
>>>>>> of.
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> suppose with the overfilled situation, pressure might have damaged
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> but
>>>>>> it seems odd that that would be the weakest point, as others more
>>>>>> knowledgeable than I have pointed out.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Yes mine has made me want to pull my hair too.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Edward
>>>>
>>>>
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