Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 14:22:49 -0400
Reply-To: John Lauterbach <john@JHL.MGACOXMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Lauterbach <john@JHL.MGACOXMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Advice about black oil on back of diesel Vanagon
In-Reply-To: <BLU177-W259A0A98545F6A80E423EEE0D00@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Hello Ken,
I had this happen to me with an '82 diesel 5-seater Vanagon I had
purchased new in March 1982. Around 5 or 6 years later, oil started
appear as you described on your customers's van. Situation got
progressively worse and mechanic I was using at the time (I was living
in Louisville, KY) could not figure out the problem even though engine
had begun losing oil. It may have been a problem with the crankcase
ventilation. Problem solved itself one night on I-275 west of
Detroit, MI, when the engine seized up and a piston went through the
side of the engine. New engine did not have the problem.
I would take the situation with your client's van very seriously.
John
On Fri, 2014-08-22 at 12:10 -0400, James wrote:
> Ken,
>
> How big are the spots? Do they occur more in cold weather? Hot
> weather? Damp conditions? Short trips? Long trips?
>
> I had a '95 Golf turbo diesel for 8 years, and and tiny black spots
> on the rear hatch happened from time to time - usually from driving
> around town rather than the highway, and worse in cold and damp
> weather. That was my first experience with a diesel, and they
> worried me, but they were identified as soot trapped in moisture and
> deposited.
>
> One thing that helped was an exhaust extension that was turned down,
> so the exhaust was more likely to hit the ground or be carried away
> from the vehicle by the air stream under it. Another was a change
> in muffler. But the best cure was when lower-sulfur diesel fuel
> became available here - then the soot problem was really lessened.
>
> Does your customer buy low-sulfur or ultra-low sulphur diesel?
>
> James
> Ottawa, ON
>
> > Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 09:27:42 -0400
> > From: kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET
> > Subject: Advice about black oil on back of diesel Vanagon
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >
> > OK, here is the deal. A white 82 diesel Westy. It has a
> > relatively low
> > mileage 1.9l NA engine in it and a rebuilt fuel pump with all new
> > injectors. The customer is complaining about "black oil" spots
> > on his
> > back hatch. The engine isn't leaking or using oil. I am
> > thinking that
> > it is soot from the exhaust and that there is really no way to
> > make it
> > stop, but I thought I would ask the list if anyone has any advice
> > on
> > this one for me. I would appreciate it. The van runs and drives
> > fine
> > otherwise. If it wasn't white it would probably not be that much
> > of an
> > issue. Really pristine example of an 82 Westy though.
> >
> > --
> > Thanks,
> > Ken Wilford
> > John 3:16
> > www.vanagain.com
> > Phone: 856-327-4936
> > Fax: 856-327-2242>
>
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