In a message dated 26/01/2007 5:54:25 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Today,  the temp here on the seacoast of SE Massachusetts has been in
the teens,  actually this am it was zero!

I went to take my 87 Westy out for a  little drive this afternoon, and
as I pulled out of the parking spot, I  noticed a large puddle of oil
where the van was parked. I crawled under the  engine and noticed that
the oil was coming out of from between the oil  cooler and the engine block.

Last night, when it was 25 degrees out, I  drove the van and it didn't
puke oil. I'm assuming its because of the  frigid temperatures.

I'm not sure what the exact problem is, but here's  a potential list:

1. Oil too thick - it currently has 10w-50 Castrol  synthetic in it

2. O ring between the block and the oil cooler has  become "stiff"
from the cold and not sealing properly

3. It has a  Fram filter...somewhere I recall a post a number of years
ago about VW and  Mann filters having a pressure release spring inside
to aid in cold  starting...

4. The problem is all of the above.

Does anyone  recall the discussion about non-VW filters and pressure
relief  springs??

I'm tossing the idea of dumping the 10-50 and putting in  10-30 for now....

Any suggestions, comments,  etc?

Comments ?  YES, check the archives.   This question has appeared here every
year when it gets cold that I've  been on the list, and I've been here since
the beginning !  It's the O-ring  between the oil cooler and block !  It gets
cold, the 0-ring shrinks, the  nut on the oil cooler has not been checked for
proper torque when changing your  oil filter, you start the engine and oil
spews out !  Sometimes it's not  noticed and the engine blows up !  Time for a new
0-ring and put memo  on your dash to check the nut when you change your oil
filter.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains (_Collection
for  sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon  Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007