Following helpful suggestions from the Vanagon community I took my leaky
aircooled Westy for a leak-down test.  The reported test values are as
follows:
Cyl 1   100/30 psi
Cyl 2 100/62 psi
Cyl 3 100/44 psi
Cyl 4 100/50 psi

The garage says that the air could clearly be heard coming from the
crankcase breather. These strike me as very poor results indicating the
engine is in a very poor state and requires a full rebuild (as recommended
by this garage - new pistons, rings and barrels as a minimum). Before buying
the vehicle, I took it to a reputable VW specialist who said the engine was
good.   I have spoken with them regarding these new results and they cannot
believe it and want to carry out their own leak-down test.

Now what I don't understand is the following:
1       The engine starts and runs well and has never failed me in 5 weeks
use (and that includes -15 degrees in Calgary).
2       The engine burns some oil but nothing exceptional for a 100,000 mile
engine.  Slight blue smoke on acceleration.
3       I have monitored the air coming from the breather at idle and higher
revs and it is not particularly blue or smokey.
4       I have oil leaking from the 2 main crank seals, oil cooler, possibly
cylinder heads, and pretty much anywhere else it can find its way out of.
5       If all this leakage was from blow-by, surely it would burn a lot of
oil.  Does a leak-down test positively identify the source of the leak?  If
the valves were not holding, could the air flow into the head and down the
pushrod tubes into the case?  Something does not add up here.  I am going to
carry out a normal compression test this evening and see if I can increase
the results by putting engine oil in the spark plug holes.

I do not have a particular problem with power or the running, but the oil
leak is too excessive on long or uphill/headwind journeys.  Does anyone have
any advice on my next move as at the moment it looks like an engine strip
and rebuild!

As always, any help is much appreciated!
Regards
Michael
81 Westy 'Daisy'