Thanks for the ideas, gentlemen.  Sounds like a veritable rear seal
minefield out there. Why does it always seem like there is only one way to
get it right, but a hundred ways to get it wrong.  Doesn't seem fair.
Doug E.
'84  Van-Go
'67 vw convertible  Vert-i-go

----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Daniel - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@turbovans.com>
To: "Doug" <shirewood@WILDBLUE.NET>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 5:37 PM
Subject: Re: oil leak on 1984 1.9

> my thoughts ..
> for one use a red german rear main seal. ( or red lipped )
> the black ones get hard and brittle after a while.
>
> I would be suspicious it's 'more' than just the rear main seal or how it
> was installed.
>
> things that come to my mind ...high crankcase pressure from being a
> well-worn engine.
> As a test, try running it with the dipstick pulled up an inch ..
> if relieving the crankcase pressure like that makes the RMS stop leaking
> ..
> you've found 'why.'
>
> Too large main bearing oil clearance comes to mind.
> Besides checking end play ..
> a very crude test is to see how far left-right you can move the flywheel
> ( engine and trans have to be separated of course ) .
> It shouldn't move at all.
> Being an opposed four the forces are left-right there ..
> it was an air-cooled, but I have seen a flywheel move sideways nearly an
> eight inch ( ok, maybe a fat 1/16th ) ..either from large oil clearance or
> bearing loose in the case ..
> just something to check is all...that may or may not reveal something.
> I'm not sure I'd pull the engine just to wiggle on the flywheel since it's
> unlikely to be bad there ..but do think about oil clearance on the main
> bearing next to the flywheel.
>
> and you're sure it's engine oil and not gear oil ?
>
> did you ask him what he saw when he replaced the first 'bad' one ?
> Like .............what would be good is he saw where he made a mistake or
> something ..
> or it was a cheap or faulty seal, or got damaged on installation ( sealing
> surface on the crank still nice and smooth ? )  ...
> like if he saw 'no reason' for the first one to leak,
> and it was 'well, let's try another new one' ....
> might not have been really getting to the 'real' problem, obviously.
>
> I've not heard of any oil gallery plugs leaking on the flywheel end of the
> engine, or cracked case..
> but it is a vw ..anything is possible !  lol.
>
> for the moment..I'm leaning toward too high crankcase pressure or too
> large oil clearance at the main bearing there ...but I hope it's neither
> of those.
>
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Doug" <shirewood@WILDBLUE.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 5:04 PM
> Subject: oil leak on 1984 1.9
>
>
> Seeking help figuring out an oil leak.
> History:  Had my local mechanic [competent and ethical]  pull the
> transmission last year so Daryl could install a LSD for improved traction.
> My mechanic replaced the rear seals at that time and put everything back
> together.  Six months later I notice a significant oil leak which drips
> down where the engine and transmission join.  I tell him about it and he
> says bring it in.  He drops the trany and replaces the seal.
> When I pick it up he says no charge.  "I was the last one in there."
> Today, one month later I had to go back to the shop and tell him it has
> been leaking since I got it.  I asked him if he wanted me to take it to a
> Vanagon mechanic.  He still feels responsible but ask me to post the
> question to you all if there are any suggestions as to what is going on
> here.  I mentioned I thought I had read on here something about high case
> pressure.   What is the test for that?  Compression?  This is a high
> mileage engine, but it's a strong runner and normally doesn't use much
> oil. He checked the end play and said it was ok.
> Thanks
> Doug E.
> '84  Van-Go
> '67 vw convertible  Vert-i-go