John.

I have just gone down this path myself check my previous email around
mid June.  Same symptoms after highway run spotting of oil on the rear
tailgate.  My case there was compression in the crankcase.  Caused by
gasses being  blown by the rings.  When checking the engine I noticed
the rubber hose running from the breather tower to the air inlet elbow,
(thats the S shapped rubber hose between the air flow meter and the
plenium on the inlet maniflods some may call it by a different name )
had collapsed thereby not allowing the gases to recirculate in the air
system.  This hose is a tricky little devil and looked ok at first look
BUT on closer inspection it proved to be kaput which when rubber and oil
mix regularly happens often.  There has been some posts recently on this
same issue.  Tip go and take out a bank loan for the cost of the pipe.
I paid $25.00Aust. for 7inches.  No funny wise cracks.

In your particular case I note that you are thinking of seals and I hope
that this is the case.  Unfortunately my engine has a blown No 3
piston.  Just to be on the safe side I would suggest having a
compression test done to check the state of your rings.  My remedy I am
waiting to transplant a 2.7 Subar flat 6 into my van.

PS.  I have been off line for some time due to system failure.  I have
lost my address book entries.  Some of you are shouting for joy I know.
Mark if you read this email me with your arrival dates again  I also
lost all your previous mails.

Ray Hunnam
Penrith Australia.

John-Reed Maffeo wrote:

> A while back I posted a question to the list about what could
> have caused the hatch mess. I was losing between 1/2 and 1 quart
> of oil in a 200+ mile freeway run at 65mph+ (at lower speeds it
> did not seem to happen anywhere near as much)
>
> I replaced several seals, but the one that I now believe to be
> most leaky was the distributor drive seal. It was really hard
> compared to the new one.
>
> Can someone tell me if there is a pressurized oil feed to
> the distributor shaft?
>
> I replaced:
>
> 1. Oil breather tower seal.
> 2. Rear oil pressure sensor.
> 3. Distributor shaft seal.
>
> I sealed: (with black silicone gasket maker)
> 1. The bolt that holds the A/C compressor to the block.
>
> I have not(yet) replaced the oil cooler seal.
>
> My engine oil leak problem is under control, however I
> an now noticing that my transmission has a slow, steady
> drip that seems to originate between the engine and
> transmission:(
>
> John-Reed Maffeo '86 Syncro - Glacee