My '88 didn't leak oil till I changed the seal.  Now I've found out that the
seal which is packaged in the gasket kits are nearly worthless and I should
have gone to a dealer for the part.

Smell the stuff that's dripped.  Gear oil has a distinctive smell (nasty and
sulfurous) unless you're using redline, in which case it has a distinctive
color (red).

Karl Wolz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greenamyer, William L" <William.Greenamyer@WEST.BOEING.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2001 7:55 AM
Subject: Oil leak?????

> I have had a persistant leak of some type.  Appeared to be gear oil coming
> from between the clutch housing and the engine.  When I had some work
done,
> both the main seal and trans seal were replaced.  I am still getting the
oil
> (appears to be gear oil since I am not using any engine oil over 3500
> miles).  I had the trans fluid a little full (to the bottom of the fill
> hole).  Don't know how that happened because I measured it when I changed
> the fluid over a month ago.  Drained some more off down to about 1/4 inch
> below the bottom of the fill hole.  I am still getting the leaking.  Not a
> lot but every time I stop I get oil.  Could this be caused by a plugged
vent
> (which was supposed to be cleared by the mechanic when the clutch was
done)
> or is there something else that I am overlooking?
>
> William
>