Frank,

How did you know I carry a memo book with a "van-to-do-list" on the
dash (actually in a visor pocket) in my Vanagon?  ;-)

Ric

At 07:22 AM 1/27/2007, Frank Condelli wrote:
>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