hi,
it was clear you were talking about the engine-transmission junction area.

yeah, there shouldn't be a drop there with a fresh engine.
and if you're sure it's engine oil.. ..  Just because trans is rebuilt that
doesn't mean 'for sure' it can't leak some there .
  In my brain I never think 'oh that's new, can't be that' ..
I think the opposite ...that was just worked on ....the problem could be
there .
I always go for the most recent work when there's an issue ...I often find
'the issue' there.

things that come to mind if it's engine oil -
rear main oil seal of course.
anything to do with end play of the crankshaft and that whole end-play
shim/rear main seal area.

oh ...here's one..........I've seen this one ...no lock-tite on the flywheel
bolts ....oil will gradually migrate up the threads of the flywheel bolts if
there is not a sealant or lock-tite on the bolt threads.  They should always
bet lock-tited in of course.
there's an o-ring on the crankshaft side of the flywheel...that's gotta be
there.

anything to do with crankcase pressure and not venting/relieving pressure
properly.
Waterboxers seldom have that problem ...but the oil tower ...there are
moving parts in there...
spring and some other part ...if that was all clogged up , could be a
factor.

doubt it's the oil itself, but consider that....brand, grade, and viscosity.

but if the engine is new ...
it sure shouldn't do that.  If it did that in a year say ...mabye ok,
but new.....shouldn't be an oil drop there.
it should be either ... a seal issue, or what the seal seals against .....or
breather/crankcase pressure issue. ...somewhere in there.  Even excessive
main bearing oil clearnce could cause it.  Or cheap rear main seal. The good
ones are all red, or have a red lip where they actually do the sealing
...the all black ones are not so hot, but they should work find for a while
.
  If it was mine, I'd be taking the trans or engine out to look at things
very carefully, much as one hates to do that over one small drop.

Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ry" <rylincoln@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 11:59 AM
Subject: Re: Oil leak since rebuilt 2.1l installed

> when i say rear of engine i mean where it mates up with the transmission,
> oil pump is on the "front" of the engine. sorry for the confusion, I still
> think of the engine seperate from the van so i don't get confused on front
> and rear designation.
>
> Definitely not transmission oil, i have a rebuilt trans too, replaced at
> same time as engine.
>
> No oil on the engine lid, only on the bottom of the engine where
> transmission and engine meet at the center of the case.
>
> I'm not calling out the rebuilder on the list, that would be poor form,
> but
> I didn't rebuild it, was professional rebuild.
>
> this is the area where it drips once or twice when stopped.
> http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3L4SAvf39FK2iLzL_frNBw?feat=directlink
>
> -Ry
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 1:27 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>
>> 'carry on' ...lol.
>>
>> make sure it's not transmission oil ...could be.
>>
>> if it is engine oil...
>> no, should not have a slow leak or any drips there.
>> I'd say the only acceptable level of leak there would be one drop of oil
>> sitting on the engine ..at the most ...and no drops on the ground ...
>> shouldn't have that with a new engine.
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ry" <rylincoln@GMAIL.COM>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 9:59 AM
>> Subject: Oil leak since rebuilt 2.1l installed
>>
>>
>>
>>  So, I'm not terribly worried about this but am interested in the
>> opinions
>>> of
>>> the hive mind here.   I installed a rebuilt 2.1l engine ~3,500 miles
>>> ago.
>>> Pretty much since the beginning there has been a slow oil leak from the
>>> rear
>>> of the engine.  I assume it's the rear main seal(what else is back
>>> there?
>>> It's not enough to warrant needing to add oil between oil change
>>> intervals,
>>> there are maybe 1 or 2 drops of oil on the ground when parked for
>>> several
>>> hours.
>>>
>>> Oh no woah as me, I know.... this is NOT a major problem, but I sure
>>> would
>>> like to have NO oil leaks, is this unreasonable?  Do many people have
>>> little
>>> leaks they just ignore?
>>>
>>> I reckon I'll just live with it for now.  I have an oil pressure gauge
>>> and
>>> oil temp gauge along with an external oil cooler so I should get warned
>>> quickly of any lubrication troubles.
>>>
>>> carry on,
>>> -Ry
>>>
>>
>>