Your probably in a lot of trouble.
I am only just now recovering from the same problem on my 81 camper.

I actually broke the bolt itself off, thats how far I went past the 9lbs
mark...

http://www.frontleftspeakerposse.com/oil/

I now have 140 miles on a fresh rebuild and plan to never ever touch
that thing again until I get a decent inch-pound torque wrench....

cr

David Johnson wrote:
> Ok.  I think I have messed up big time, but want feedback.  I was
> getting Blue Midget, my 1980 Vanagon Westy ready for a trip over the
> weekend.  As part of this, I went ahead and did an oil change (first
> time on this car).  But I didn't ready my John Muir completely before
> I did it, and so I screwed at least one thing up, but I am wondering
> about more.
>
> 1. When I drained the oil, I saw the big disc shaped thing with a
> bolt in it, and figured that was the drain plug.  So I undid the bolt
> (13mm), and it was a huge mess.  As I finished draining the oil from
> this, I saw the larger bolt that I then figured out was the drain
> plug.  So no problem, but a mess.
>
> 2.  Did the filter, but then realized I didn't have a new gasket for
> the disc cover thingy.  But I saw a gasket up in around it, so I
> thought I might be able to just tighten it a little more and make the
> seal work.  Engine started right up, no leak problem obvious, oil
> pressure light flickered for a minute, but then went off, and no
> other problem.  Also did the air filter at the same time, but that
> was easy.
>
> 3.  The following AM, got on the road, and about 5 miles along,
> started to get a hesitation while running.  It was almost like it was
> running out of gas, except the fuel tank was full (or like the clutch
> was slipping).  So, turned right around, limped it home, shut it
> off.  I did not get a chance to check if the engine was overly hot.
> Switched over to our Eurovan for the trip, and went camping anyway.
>
> 4.  Now, I have read the John Muir "compleat idiot" guide more
> thoroughly, and talked to my Dad who used to have a Bug.  He said
> overheating can cause a similar symptom, which if somehow I impeded
> the flow of oil, would lead to overheating, of course.  And then I
> read in the "compleat idiot" guide that if I torque the oil screen
> bolt down more than 9lb it will damage the cam shaft.  Problem is,
> the piece I was working on was not a bolt, it was a nut.  There is a
> little bolt coming down that this nut goes onto and holds the disc in
> place.
>
> So.  Did I completely f* up my car by ignorance?  What gasket am I
> actually asking for to seal this disc if I have to redo things?  I
> asked for an oil screen gasket at Autozone on the way home, but it
> seemed far too large and more complicated than what I pulled off.
>
> Any help would be really welcome here - I want to get this car fixed
> again if I can, but need to know what I am up against.  Until I get a
> solution, I am not driving it of course, as if I was running with too
> little oil, I already took 10,000 miles off the engine anyway.
> Thanks in advance.
>
> David.
>
>
>
>

--
Chris
'81 (AC) Vanagon Westfalia 'Rocky'
nor*cal

frontleftspeakerposse.com