On 1/4/05 4:44 PM, "Michael Knight" <vwdormer@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

>> From: jimt Check you oil!  does it have coolant in it???  If not look
>> elsewhere for
>> your leak.
> 
> 
> How can you check your oil to see if it has coolant in it? This may be a
> dumb question, but I am a newbie to the watercooled era of VW's. Can you
> check with the dipstick or are we talking drain and replace?
> 
> 
> 
> Michael Knight
> '77 Westy Deluxe, "el Verde"
> '85 Vanagon GL, nameless
> 
> 
Generally water in oil can be found in a couple locations.
The quickest check is the dip stick.  It is generally revealed by the oil
actually looking milky.  Larger leaks into the oil will even have a sweet
coolant smell rather than an oil smell.  Really bad leak and you will read a
quart high and be extremely runny and milky.

Note...residue on the dip stick but the oil looking fine normally is a sign
of an engine not reaching correct operating temperature to vaporize water
from normal condensation out of it.  This ring on the stick can actually
look deeper and stiffer. Pulling the filler cap and finding the same residue
can also show water in system.  These small areas should not be used to
determine a water leak into the oil but as something to check out.

����������������������������������������
jimt
Planned insanity is best.
Remember that sanity is optional.
http://www.tactical-bus.info (tech info)
http://www.westydriver.com