>
> Some people have been suggesting pouring some oil down into the pump
> from the top, via the oil filter housing.  I don't think the oil
> filter housing access will let me get oil down into the pump

Why not?  How else would the oil get from the pan to the filter?

--perhaps
> folks are thinking of a different engine, maybe the gas-powered 1.9
> or 2.1?

No, definitely 1.6D in Vanagon.  Sadly, I have had to do this to mine.  Even
filling the pump from the top, it would only hold pressure for about 10
seconds.  That's how we discovered the dime-sized hole in my pickup tube.

  I rather like the idea of  pouring some oil into the top of
> the pump; I think the way to do that on my engine is via the vacuum
> pump hole.

Only if you want to fill the oil pan.  The oil pump shaft runs through the
block before it gets to the vacuum pump.  You cannot access the inside of
the oil pump from the vacuum pump hole.

  I'm ready to be corrected on this, but it seems correct
> to me.
>
> T.
>

There are only 3 bolts holding the oil filter housing to the block.  Bite
the bullet and pull them out.  I just did one today and was able to re-use
the gasket.  It takes no more than 15 minutes to do this.

Mike Snow