Date: Sat, 8 Aug 1998 12:36:58 -0700
Reply-To: K W <kokopellis@ATT.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: K W <kokopellis@ATT.NET>
Subject: Tires chosen/oil leak question/synthetic to Dino/Several trips
logs
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Howdy all,
I have put all my posts in one now that I am digest moded.
TIRES
I recently put Michelin XC4S tires on my 82 westy. My neighbor found
them at Costco last year but they no longer had them this year nor were
they able to get more. I had a local tire store find 4 of them, 2 from
Reno, 2 from Missouri. They are great!
I don't think they make this one anymore. It has great thread, makes
minimal road noise, is reinforced, blah, bla.. bla. I wonder if they
are the same as Michelin XC LT4. Can't wait to off road em. My
previous tires were Michelin which came on the car with minimal thread.
They lasted 4 years.
I think the new tires have altered my speedo. A friend said I was doing
52 mph when I showed 65. humm, seems like a big difference.
OIL LEAK
I have developed an oil leak which is dripping down the rear of my
engine. Appears to be coming out near the Oil cooler or Pushrod tubes
or rear seal. Anyone have a good diagnostic on where the various leaks
sources would drip from underneath and a good way to find it. I got
under it while it was hot and running but could no t locate. It spills
a good 7 - 10 drops each time you park.
SYNTHETIC/DINO
My leak started immediately after I changed to Mobil-1 15W-50 synthetic
from castrol 20-50. I switched back quickly after that but the leak
continues. Prior to that it did not drip. I also added a temp
controlled oil cooler sandwich off of the oil filter. I removed that
and it did not change the leak.
TRIP LOGS
Here are my most recent trip logs in the westy
April 1998
Ruby/HorseThief Canyon, Colorado River. Drove >500 miles roundtrip(RT)
with canoe on top. Boated the Colorado River from Loma to the Westwater
put-in. Westy performed well. In excess of 22 MPG during one stretch
(Tail wind). That's good with a canoe on top.
May 1998
Muddy Creek Canoe trip
480 miles RT to the Muddy Creek, SanRafael Swell. 40 miles off road to
the put in and take out on the chutes of the Muddy Creek. For those who
have not been her e the take out is down a steep old Uranium mining road
in the San Rafael Swell. Almost $ wheel drive except the westy has good
clearance. I made the passengers walk out to reduce weight up hill.
Made it with no problem and no thread.
Jackson Wyoming, July 1998
730 miles RT to Jackson Wyoming. Boated the Snake River in Alpine
Canyon several days then moved to the Jenny Lake Campground. It fills
by 9 am every day., Tents only no campers. They said I could not pop
the top or I become an RV. Humm another westy had their top popped.
We did see a bear one morning.
All these trips the westy has gotten us there and back. Actually it's
was funny because in Jackson the Toyota Camry, (the other half of the
shuttle) had engine problems. I was laughing as I pulled out the tool
box from under the seat. Ended up being a plugged Fuel Filter which was
replaced in an hour in Jackson. THE TOYOTA BROKE DOWN NOT THE VW!
I kept saying how VWs are 5:1. You drive em 5 hours for every 1 hour
you work on em. Or perhaps it's the other way around?
Ken
82 westy
slc UT
