Date: Wed, 26 Nov 1997 18:01:13 -0500
Reply-To: David Katsuki <katsuki@BBN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon mailing list <Vanagon@Gerry.SDSC.EDU>
From: David Katsuki <katsuki@BBN.COM>
Subject: Re: '87 Syncro GL Oil Purge
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Chris,
If the leawk was from the oil filter area, I think there are two
possibilities. One is that the filter gasket leaked . The other is that
the gasket behind the oil cooler leaked while it was cold. I had this
gasket blow out after a start at -25 in Maine one winter, but I can imagine
that it might just leak some too if it was loose. Replacing it is a real
pain, but you can check very easily to see if the cooler fastening bolt is
loose. Take the oil filter canister off and you will see a nut at the
bottom of the threaded pipe that the filter screws on to. Check to see
that it is tight. Mine was loose, and I think that caused the gasket to
be unsupported enough to let the cold (and v i s c o u s!) oil blow the
rubber out. Incidently, we replaced it with a gasket from an oil filter
(one for another vehicle, but I don't know what kind) to get out of Maine
(no VW dealers around there). That one has lasted 5 years so far. I
believe there was a design change to the OEM gasket at some point, so the
new one from VW might be better.
Dave
At 09:35 AM 11/25/97 -0900, Chris Wyatt2 wrote:
>Hi everybody,
>
>I had a rather disconcerting experience with my van a couple of weeks ago.
>
>We were at Arctic Circle Hot Springs, about 130 miles from Faribanks, and
>it got down to -15 degrees F at night. I managed to plug in the
>engine pre-heaters for about 45 minutes before starting it the next
>morning, but I don't think the lodge's generator was putting out 110
>volts. So it was essentially started cold at -15 F.
>
>It started as well as it ever does at that temperature, with few groans
>and whines, and I let it run for about 20 minutes. Then my friend burst
>into the cabin and said, "Chris, you'd better come have a look at this".
>
>There was a large puddle of motor oil on the snow beneath the oil
>filter. There was no dripping observed, as I kicked some fresh snow onto
>the stain to reveal any drips. The oil warning light was not on, and I shut
>down the motor. I checked the oil after a few minutes, and it was
>perhaps 1/8" below the LOW mark on the dip stick. I added about 3/4
>quart, and restarted it. It ran fine, and no new drips were observed.
>
>The leak originated in the vicinity of the oil filter. I could not tell
>if it came from the filter connection, or from the box on which it mounts
>(is that on oil cooler?).
>
>We loaded up and drove 8 miles to Central, the last gas between there and
>town, and the oil level was fine there, still no dripping. Had a
>pleasant drive home on the Steese Highway, and it has not leaked since.
>
>Can you suggest what might have happened to cause a temporary, severe oil
>leak, that healed itself?
>
>Perhaps a seal had contracted in the cold, allowed the leak upon
>starting, then refilled the void after it warmed up. It has 10w30 Mobil1
>synthetic in the crankcase. But which one?
>
>Thanks for any suggestions,
>
>Chris Wyatt
>'87 Syncro GL
>Fairbanks, Alaska
>
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