Yikes!
Maybe the result of vibration? I can imagine two causes?:

1. Maybe a diesel leak from up high on the engine could get down and weaken
the gasket. This might explain why this particular engine east the gaskets.

1. Could a bad crank vibrate this plate enough to do this? Sounds
interesting but unlikely. Hmmm

>From: Gnarlodious <Gnarlodious@cybermesa.com>
>To: Dan Snow <dieselvanagon@hotmail.com>, Scott Sullivan
><gersil0@lycos.com>,   "Vanagon (Gnarlodious)" <Vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
>Subject: Re:-Diesel- Oil leak-Fixed! (comments please)
>Date: Sat, 08 Jun 2002 18:40:51 -0600
>
>OK guys, I fixed the leak.
>Here is a photo of the broken gasket:
>http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bludevil/BrokenGasket.jpg
>It literally was pushed out of its two surfaces!
>
>Here is a close up:
>http://internet.cybermesa.com/~bludevil/GasketDetail.jpg
>
>What could cause this? Now the gasket I replaced it with was an original
>thick gasket but notice the broken one was paper thin! Maybe it wasn't
>squeezed enough?
>Also I replaced a head gasket a few months ago when in San Francisco it
>blew
>out. Maybe compression leakage pushed the gasket out?
>
>In any case, this is the 4th gasket I have replaced since the rebuild!
>Obviously the gasket set included with the engine was deficient.
>
>Comments?
>
>http://www.Gnarlodious.com/Vanagon/Vanagon.html
>Rachel's Vanagon Page
>

Daniel Snow

'82 Vanagon Diesel
'78 Puch Maxi Luxe Moped
'01 Xootr Scooter
http://faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/snow/vanagon/vanagon.html

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