For some reason, I checked the oil cooler gasket a few weeks ago while
changing to winter oil and doing other PM on my 87 GL. I can't remember
what possessed me to take it off (Maybe the center stud came out
accidentally?) The big o-ring was VERY hard and deterioriated. Upon
squeezing the o-ring, it broke! It must have almost ready to fail.  I
had no new ones on hand but robbed a good used one from a spare engine.
I've never bought one of these that was not in a new German kit, but
this bad one only lasted 5 years. I'd guess it was a bad mix of rubber.
So, while the cold weather might just be the last straw,  the o-ring
might have been near death anyway.
BTW: In a pinch, you can just take out the oil filter stud (hollow
threaded tube) and slip out the old o-ring and slip in the new. Not deal
with the coolant hoses at this time. Sometimes ya just gotta get home!
Al Brase

David Devere wrote:

>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
>>
>>
>
>
>