With out a doubt, you cracked the gasket for the oil cooler.  The gasket is
a black round rubber seal and you'll never fix the leak by tightening the
nut.  You have to pull off the filter and cooler (one big nut, like 27mm or
something check Bently) and the two coolant hoses and replace the gasket.
Then I'd suggest refilling with a lighter weight oil.  But to be honest on
the oil I really don't know as I garage my van for the winter.

It's an easy repair once you get the new gasket.  Good luck .

Dave -
Two Harbors MN

----- Original Message -----
From: "matt sutton" <msutts@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, December 27, 2004 11:10 AM
Subject: Help! Massive oil leak from behind cooler (2.1)

> Hi folks,
> developed a big oil leak thats comming from behind the Oil cooler on my 88
GL.
> I tried retorquing the nut that holds the cooler on, may have even made it
worse.
>
> I'm in New Hope PA, and trying to get home to NYC. Any angles or
experience with this would be really really helpful. I'm guessing this is
connected to the cold, and I had been running 20w50 oil, but would love to
hear any ideas.
>
> -Matt Sutton
> 88 GL