I would highly suspect the oil cooler o-ring as George has already
said.  I had this fail on my 88 Wolfsburg the first time it got cold
this year.  It started small (just squirting on start up and then a
little drip afterwards) however it quickly accelerated into a massive
leak within a day or two.  You can replace the o-ring without too much
trouble.  You will need another large nut for the threaded tube where
the oil cooler lives.  Just double nut the tube to lock the nuts in
place and then remove the tube.  Then you can pull down the oil cooler
enough to change the o-ring without messing with any coolant hoses,
etc.  I have these o-rings in stock for $3 if you need one.

Hope this helps,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

Edward Maglott wrote:

> Check this out:
> http://snipurl.com/c9q8
>
> I started up the van the other day when it was about 15 degrees F
> out.  started up after a couple tries, and I had to modulate the gas
> pedal
> a little, which is unusual.  Everything seemed normal after that and I
> drove on a short trip.  I noticed the oil spot when I came home.  This
> happened once before in very cold weather.  I looked under the van for
> the
> source of a leak.  Nothing was leaking when I checked, but obviously a
> bunch of oil came out when I started it up.  I see no wet oil where
> the oil
> filter screws on.  There is a little drip on the oil cooler, but that is
> basically normal for this engine.  Also a little drip where the oil
> pressure relief valve is screwed in, but that is also pretty common on my
> engine.  The only unusual oily looking place was on the driver's side
> where
> the pushrod tubes meet the case.
>
> The spray pattern on the ground is so odd, I can't imagine how it
> happened.  The van is probably in about the position it was when it
> sprayed.  If anything, it was parked about 6-12" farther forward.  The
> fluid is definitely motor oil, and it feathers out toward the front of
> the
> van.  I remember on early golfs (rabbits) they would develop very high
> oil
> pressure when cold, and even could explode the oil filter.  Maybe that is
> what happened, and it found someplace to spray out?  Maybe the OP sensor
> between the pushrod tubes?  Any other ideas?
>
> Edward
>