When I started my vanagon tonight it was running unusually rough and I
smelled burning oil. It seemed to smoothen out as I drove away then
performance got worse as though running on only two cylinders, almost quit
about 50 feet from the driveway when I made a u-turn to drive back home
where it quit and would not start again. The last time I used the van
earlier in the day it drove perfectly.

Any advice before I take it to my local VW dealer for diagnosis and repair?
I hope this is something simple that I can repair myself.

Awaiting the wisdom of the group.

William