I wouldn't write the engine off yet. Since you got it started, nothing
major was bent or broken. Change the oil and filter one more time as there
was probably still some fuel in there to dilute it. The oil gas mix is
probably throughout the exhaust and the oil you added to the cylinders
made things worse. It will need to run for a good long time to clear
things out. After that, compression, leak down, and oil pressure tests
will tell you whether or not the engine is still good.

Failures of this type are common on many vehicles. It is not just a VW
thing. Low batteries in winter alone cause engines to fill as drivers just
keep turning that key hoping something will suddenly make it go. Same for
extremely cold weather or any other cause of a no start.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
dylan friedman
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 11:15 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 396,000 miles!!?? can anybody beat that?

my daily driver 86 GL has 368k, close but not higher.
third wbx engine, original 4spd. trans.

dylan

----- Original Message ----
From: joel walker <jwalker17@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2007 10:09:26 PM
Subject: 396,000 miles!!?? can anybody beat that?

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=514406

sez it has 396,245 miles on the odometer.
anybody got a higher mileage bus??
:)

unca joel