I think the sitting unused for longer periods over this long cold
winter definitely had something to do with this.  But it didn't
really get to big time leaking until I subjected it to the mtn
climbing.  I thought about making a sort of shield around those TC
openings, and also like Scott's idea of protecting that one hose with
a covering.  I'll be off on a 1200 mile trip in  a couple weeks so
we'll find out if it's really "fixed for now."
Edward

At 12:22 PM 3/26/2010, Gerald Masar wrote:
>Edward,
>I found your posts interesting, because I have the same problem on my
>'88 Westy with AT, although maybe it is not as bad as yours. I put
>in some Prestone
>brand leak sealer, I think from Walmart, and it seems to have helped.
>The problem is that it doesn't get driven that much, which I guess you have to
>do, in order for the seals to swell up and seal better.
>Anyway, in addition to the leak sealer, I also made a curved shield
>that fits over the
>top of the TC, above where the openings are. It at least reduces, greatly, the
>amount of oil slung upward into the wiring and firewall area.
>As far as cleaning up the mess, I used rags for the worst and then
>sprayed the area
>with Simple Green and hosed it down with hot water, being careful, of course,
>to keep the water out of sensitive areas. Then I use the air side of
>a shop vac
>to blow as much as possible of the water away, then put the lid on the engine
>compartment as soon as possible and start it up.
>Jerry
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward Maglott" <emaglott3@GMAIL.COM>
>To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Sent: Thursday, March 25, 2010 7:13 PM
>Subject: Leaking Torque Converter Seal- Fixed
>
>
>>Well, this no leak product worked again.  When I put it in there was
>>enough oil slinging out of the bellhousing to make a pretty good mess
>>of everything in that area.  Same as last time, it took 100 miles for
>>the leak to stop and it really does seem to be completely
>>stopped.  All the oily areas in the "sling zone" are now pretty much
>>dry.  There is residue of course, but it is not wet.  As mentioned in
>>my original email, the product is called "No Leak" from Gold Eagle
>>Co.  It comes in a bottle that has a tube about 6" long that pulls
>>out of the cap which makes it very easy to  put in the dipstick tube
>>with no funnel.  This is probably why I bought it the first
>>time.  Your mileage may vary.  Maybe my particular tranny problem is
>>suited for this product to repair it?  Maybe it is pure coincidence
>>that it has stopped leaking twice after I used it?  I did find record
>>that the time I had the big leak was in June 2007, probably only 10k
>>miles ago.
>>
>>I seek list wisdom on cleaning the oily residue off of the items that
>>have been sprayed  with hot ATF.  I especially would like to prevent
>>damage to the hoses, thermostat housing, wiring harnesses in that
>>area.  Should I even clean it?  If so with what?  I was thinking
>>maybe some purple degreaser cleaner in some dilution, mop it around
>>with a brush and rinse with hot water?
>>
>>Edward
>>
>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>>>Edward Maglott
>>>Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 9:48 PM
>>>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>Subject: Leaking Torque Converter Seal
>>>
>>>It's leaking again.  A few years ago it started leaking when I tried
>>>to climb an extended grade in D rather than 2 after a day of hot
>>>driving.  Full throttle, ~3200rpms.  I don't do that
>>>anymore.  Anyway, I bought a "snake oil" product called "no leak"
>>>from the Gold Eagle Co. and dang if it didn't work!  So this has been
>>>a cold winter and I haven't driven the van much until a nice little
>>>trip this weekend, maybe 150 miles with some mtn climbing on the way
>>>home.  The leak is not as bad as the time several years ago, but it
>>>is dripping too much to stand.  I'm going to first try this miracle
>>>product on it again.  If that doesn't work, the next step is to
>>>replace that Torque Converter seal.  I've pulled the trans out
>>>before, but what would I need to do to replace that seal, other than
>>>actually replacing it?  Do I need to do anything to the TC mating surface?
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>Edward