Date:         Tue, 13 Oct 1998 10:10:39 -0700
Reply-To:     Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Subject:      Re: Big oil leak was: stop leak=stop gap? or how to find an oil
              leak
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Volks,
Any VW-nut knows that a VW does not leak oil, it just marks it territory.
Beetle-juice??

PerL


Bulley-Hewlett & Associates wrote:

> On Columbus Day, Mr. Mac Sticklen wrote:
> My '80 vanagon (sic) is leaking oil.  <<SNIP>> I drove around 500 miles,
> <<SNIP>> I used 1.5 quarts of oil. <<SNIP>>So is this normal?  Do I have a
> full fledged oil leak?  If so, what do I do about it?
> My non-volkswagen (sic) specific friend and potential brother in law John
> says "put stop leak in it?"  Is this a good idea?  Will it harm anything?
> <<SNIP>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> That same evening, after eating dinner, gmbulley@bulley-hewlett.com
> replied:
>
> Mac-
>
> Yes, VW horizontally-opposed motors DO tend to leak a little oil. A little.
> Not 1.5 quarts in 500 miles. Keep this up and they'll call your van "The
> Valdez", and call you "Capt. Hazelwood". :) You hav a full fledged (major)
> oil leak.
>
> Now you could approach this situation three ways.
>
> First, you could pay someone to trace the fault, fix it, and be on your
> merry way. Having worked on these things long enough to grow sick of doing
> so, this is my favored path. Why get greasy when you can have someone else
> do so? Spend the time working at what you love, and pay a certified
> mechanic to fix your drip. Happy day.
>
> Second, you could try your hand at it. Buy a manual, a jack, some jack
> stands, some tools, some parts, and spend what some might call "quality
> time" with your van. You may screw something up, but you will learn a lot
> about your vehicle, if that is your fancy. Some folks are sure this is a
> way to save money; if you do, let me know.
>
> Thirdly, you can ignore the problem. You can buy case after case of oil and
> pour it into your motor, keeping the oil filled to the proper level. Your
> leaky motor will efficiently spread that oil across the landscape wherever
> you travel, leaving oil splatters that will make beautiful floating
> rainbows when it rains. Unfortunately, oil is not quick to disappear; it
> washes into streams and rivers where it lubricates fish and plants, which
> do not require or appreciate lubrication. Worse, it can make its way into
> wells, and lubricate me and you. :(
>
> So have it fixed pronto. Stop leak may buy you a little time; it simply
> makes the rubber seals swell up a little. Stops some leaks, but it sound
> like you may have a problem that is beyond stop leak. Opinions will vary as
> far as if this stuff is bad. I recall trying it on a 914, and it worked
> (rear main seal). Lasted another 30k or so.
>
> Good luck,
>
> G. Matthew Bulley
> Principal
> Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
> Communications for Organizational Development
> www.bulley-hewlett.com
> (888) 468-4880 toll free