My mechanic just called me. Turns out one of the automatic
transmission compartment (the one that isn't easily filled) is
leaking.

Any recommendation on a good place to repair automatic transmissions
in the San Francisco Bay Area?

Right now, looks like Karmakanix is my best bet.

Philippe

On Mon, May 3, 2010 at 9:59 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Is it engine oil or transmission oil? Engine oil getting into the clutch
> means a big leak or the flywheel is loose or the o-ring inside it is
> missing. Gear oil could be as simple as the transmission is overfilled or
> the pilot bearing, input shaft is shot, the engine to trans bolts are loose,
> or that seal is gone. Gear oil does an outstanding job of making the clutch
> slip.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Fuzzy :philippe
> Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 4:34 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Oil leak when engine has been warm for a couple of hours
>
> My '87 Van 2.1L Auto has been developing a new problem over the last
> few months. It seems that when I've been driving for a while (a couple
> of hours or more), oil starts to leak close to the clutch (and
> seemingly *on* the clutch), causing it to start slipping and burning
> the oil (causing lots of white smoke).
>
> When the van has a change to cool down (say overnight, or a few hours)
> the problem isn't there anymore (no oil leaking, no smoke, barely any
> clutch slipping), until the engine is again warm and the problem
> happens again.
>
> I'm wondering if the oil pressure doesn't go up when the engine is
> warm, causing it to leak where the main axle goes from clutch into the
> engine.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Philippe
>
>