You really answered your own question. The cylinder with the bad head
gasket is not burning the fuel, so it is washing past the rings. Now for
why it blew, the case where the cylinders sit is not straight. It is
basically junk. To fix correctly, the following must be done:
Complete disassembly and removal of center studs. Both case halves have
to be machined including the center webs. The cylinder bosses need to be
machined true. Of course both crank and cam tunnels will need to be
align bored. Spacers will be needed at the cylinder basses to compensate
for the machine work.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Jake Beaulieu
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 12:53 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: low oil pressure/gas in oil

A couple weeks ago I asked for help figuring out why I had low oil
pressure at warm idle in my 82 air cooled westy.  I am running 20W50 oil
(i had mistakenly stated 10W50) with a Mahle oil filter.  The thermostat
is bad, so I am running it with the cooling flaps at the default
position.

At the advice of Boston Bob I checked for gas in the oil.  Sure enough,
oil smelled like gas.  I changed the oil and filter and took it for a
ride.  The oil light still flickered at warm idle, but it was a LOT
better.  Things remained pretty much that way for about three weeks,
then the light started coming on even after short drives.  I checked the
oil and sure enough it smells like gas.  So why am I getting gas in my
oil?  I let it warm up for at least five minutes before I drive, and it
has been warm out (over 50F).

Two more clues.  Last winter I replaced a blown head gasket.  After
putting about 300 miles on the reassembled engine the head gasket blew
again.  It still has the bad head gasket 1000 miles later.  Don't know
why it would blow like this, stud pulling out of block?  Secondly, when
it is warm out it starts easily, but quickly dies.  It will do this once
or twice and then it will run fine.  Not sure if any of this is related.
I have thoroughly diagnosed the FI system per the Bentley.  Everything
checks out.

Thanks,

Jake

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