If your only using the van on very short runs i.e. a couple of miles then
it's possible that it's simply condensation emulsifying with oil. In this
situation, the foam would only be around the filler cap & maybe dip stick.
If you're only doing short runs then I'd suggest either an oil change or
take the thing for a longer run.
Steve

----- Original Message -----
From: Jason Willenbrock <pooncerelli@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2000 4:58 PM
Subject: gas consumption and guiness in the oil

> hey all!
> hope all is well.  now that spring is here in the east it is time to get
> westy back on the roads. anywho, i notice that i am getting about 190-200
> miles (13 mpg) on a tank of gas.  now, i have only owned her since feb.
and
> not sure if this was normal or not. well, i did some digging and found
that
> she should be getting roughly 18-20 mpg's.  this is an 82 aircooled with a
> rebuild of about 40k on her. also to note, the oxs light does not come on
in
> the test mode or at all. i figured maybe a wiring glitch.  is it possible
> that the o2 sensor is bad and that is to blame for the poor mileage as
well
> as the light not coming on?  if so how do i check the sensor or is it
cheap
> enough that i should just replace it?  what else could be to blame for the
> poor mileage?  she seems to run great.
>
> secondly, yesterday i went to top off the oil b/c after about 2000 miles
she
> burns close to a quart.  when i took off the filler cap it was gooed up
and
> down with what appeared to be the foam of the great guiness.  it was thick
> and viscous and smelled like a weird oil.  after suddenly getting real
> thirsty and scratching my head i wiped it off the inside of the cap and
took
> out the fill tube and cleaned it up. what is it?  burned oil? but why
would
> it collect at the top of the fill tube? from engine pressure? i have never
> seen anything like it. is this common with the aircools?
> thanks for any inputs
> sorry if i made anyone thirst for a malted beverage
> jason
> 82 westy
> 90 gl
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