I don't know what a "venturi effect" is, but yes, and yes.  You're dripping
a bit of oil out of somewhere very near the rear of the van - it's flying
out and spraying onto the rear of the van as you drive.  Happened to me
once.  Unfortunately I had a bike on the rear, it got so gunked up with oil,
and then dust (I was in desert at the time), that I had a major job getting
it operational again!

Look for oil leaks under the van when you're parked.

Joy

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Joy Hecht
and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon

For musings about life and the vanadventures:
http://www.joyhecht.net

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:::-----Original Message-----
:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
:::Of Paul Guzyk
:::Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 1:36 PM
:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
:::Subject: oil all over rear hatch?
:::
:::I recently purchased an 84 Vanagon with a 93 Subie 2.2 that a PO
:::installed.
:::
:::The engine has good compression (180-185 all around) runs well,
:::sounds nice, lots of power etc.  The top of the engine is clean and
:::dry, the bottom of the timing belt covers are a little oily.
:::
:::I just went on an 800 mile drive.  At the end of the drive, the rear
:::hatch was covered in a thin film of what appears to be motor oil.
:::Even the license plate and rear window were covered in this oil.
:::
:::Has anyone seen this?
:::
:::Could the engine be leaking oil and by some sort of 'Venturi effect'
:::it is getting sucked onto the rear hatch of the van?  Or is the oil
:::coming from somewhere else?