Date:         Sun, 3 Mar 1996 14:27:13 -0800
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         mbates@s3.sonnet.com (Marlin Bates, IV)
Subject:      Re: ooooooooohhhhhhhhkay.........

Well, that's actually cool 'cause I am taking it out of there and putting
it in Lazarus ('69 Westy) which is why I bought Mary Margaret so since i
have to take it out ANYWAY that is no biggee.

I am, however, concerned about the compression readings.  I did it again
today.  After being warmed up I pulled the plugs and got:
90
120
100
100

After I squirted oil in all four I tested it:

90
120
100
100

Please help me to understand these readings.

Thanks!

-Marlin
'69 Westy (Lazarus; in progress)
'68 Bus (Mary Margaret being discussed above)



At 20:47 3/3/96 +0000, Andy Gray wrote:
>On Sat, 2 Mar 1996 19:53:55 -0600,  mbates@s3.sonnet.com (Marlin
>Bates, IV) wrote:
>
>
>>I got it home and parked it and it proceeded to dump about a 1/2 pint of
>>oil in a pool on the ground.  It then slowed to just a drip and then pretty
>>much stopped.
>>
>>Any suggestions?  Please tell me it is not engine killing as that was the
>>main reason for getting this.
>>
>
>It sounds like your flywheel end crank seal is going / gone. This
>slowly leaks oil while the engine is running, which gets flailed
>around inside the bell-housing. Then, when you stop, it all runs down,
>& out of the hole in the bottom ! (My '71 did the same).
>
>Unfortunately, it's an engine-out job to fix it. It will only get
>worse, and will eventually saturate your clutch with oil. The seal is
>cheap. No doubt someone will recommend the best type to get......
>
>Causes ? :
>
>Bad luck - a seal may just decide to give up, especially if the engine
>has been standing;
>
>Crank end-float - excessive end-float in the crank makes these seals
>wear quickly. It can be assessed (with the engine in the van) by
>grabbing the crank pulley (engine stopped !!!) and alternately trying
>to pull it bodily out of the back of the van, and push it through the
>engine. If it moves (backwards & forwards, not round & round) enough
>for you to *see* it (rather than just feel/hear a clunk, then there
>may be excessive end-float.
>
>Either way, you'll have to replace the seal. FWIW, as long as there's
>no sign of a huge amount of play in the crank, I'd replace it with the
>best you can get, and see how long it lasts. Others will^H^H^H^H may
>dissagree.... ;->
>
>
>Andy  (andy@misterg.demon.co.uk)            '71 Camper.