Hi guys,

Well, I am leaving for my very well needed / awaited summer vacation in 5
days!!!
So I was double checking everything on the van this morning (after last
weekend long trip = 600miles) and I found out that I have a slow, very slow
leak / humidity (not really a leak, no oil puddle, maybe one small drip
hanging over there) under the back of the engine that seam to come from the
oil pump gasket, I am sure of that! (not from the rear seal crankshaft for
sure). As my engine is always dry!! (All gasket and O-ring have been change
on this engine last winter except the oil pump gasket) I was surprise of
seeing that small leak. But I have to say that it always been oily/humid
around the pump. Maybe I am being just paranoid.

2 Questions:

1)-What are your thoughts about that gasket failing fast? (I personally
think that it cannot really fail faster or leak more than it is now) Still
there is a lot of pressure there!

2)- I don't see any easy way of tightening the oil pump cover 4-screws or
changing the gasket without removing the rear engine mounts and rear
protective muffler plate or maybe more. There is also no possibility for me
to do the job by myself on the road as all my engine mounts screws are
stuck there in rust.

If you have a faster way of changing the gasket/ tightening the 4-screw
without removing all the rear engine mounts assembly I would like to
know!!!! I don't see any easy way out. I can see that if I remove the
muffler protective plate I maybe will have access to the pump cover/gasket.
Do you think so?

I would like to know if anyone had and oily oil pump gasket for some time
so I can be more secure about leaving that small leak for my upcoming trip.

Any advise guys?

Regards, Ben
http://www.vwvans.com/
http://www3.sympatico.ca/huotx/engine1.htm

ps.: Good Canada day or good fourth of july!!!!!