Peter,

I have 140,000 miles on my 88'GL, with about 60,000 on a new engine. It
currently runs dry as a bone.

 I give it a good "pre-flight" inspection daily. Every morning, before
driving it the first time of the day, I give a cursory going over. I
check the oil, check the coolant, check the power steering fluid level.
I look underneath to see if there is any indication of leaking anywhere.
I note the tire inflation, check my lights, start her up and away I go.

Once a month it gets more than that I open the engine hatch and check
for chafing (twice I caught fuel leaks just beginning - deadly for
Vanagons and Westy's) Check belts, look for anything loose.

I change the oil and put on a new filter every 3000 miles. The vanagons
are prone to valve clatter, and the use fo the Mann or Mahle filter is
most highly recommended by many on this list, me included. I run 15W50WT
Mobil 1 Synthetic. It took me a long time to go that route, but I am
glad I did. Also, if you are running a manual transmission, you might
consider draining the tranny, then installing Redline MT 90. Your tranny
will love you for it. I change the tranny oil every two years. For
coolant I run Dexcool Orange Biodegradable Phosphate Free
antifreeze/coolant.  I also add a bottle of  Redline Water Wetter. I
drain the system flush, and ad new coolant every two years.  Make sure
your CV bearings are services and greased evry 50,000 miles.

Anything else I do to my van I do on an as needed basis.

It would help if you have the Bentley Service Book on the Vanagon, and
the Haynes Manual (available from Bus Depot)

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL driver

Peter wrote:

>Hello,
>
>My '89 Westy is almost at 100k and I've been told that my vanagon
>should be serviced every 3000 miles; this is far more frequent than my
>manual indicates. Is there such a thing as a list of items to be
>performed or checked for at these 3k intervals? How do you folk
>maintain your vanagons?
>
>Cheers.
>
>
>
>