hi, yup.....27mm size sounds right ..
but not 18 ft lb.  Spark plugs are that tight...
I don't use a torque wrench , but I make 'em good and tight ..
37 ft lbs is in the back of my mind.  Not hard to see in Bentley I don't
think.

the oil cooler is deceptively easy looking to work on ..
and if you can get those hoses off and out of the way , the oil cooler may
slide off so you can replace the o-ring.

if I do double nut the pipe there ...I have lots of these engines so I
always have an extra nut around.  If I needed  another nut I would expect to
be able to get one in a few days inexpensively from my VW dealer.
you would also need a very thin wrench in that size, or skinny pliers.

Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Aaron" <a.robinson.lists@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Cc: "Scott Daniel - Turbovans" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 3:44 PM
Subject: Re: Oil leak...

I'll check the nut tightness. I think I read 27mm somewhere and 18 ft/lb.
The local dealer has a gasket in-stock so I'll pick one up and give it a
shot tonight. It sounds like it should be fairly straightforward.

Drain oil (it's due for a change)
Remove 2 hoses going to cooler (They should come off as I just did the WP a
while ago) and drain coolant
Remove oil filter
Remove (or loosen) large nut and loosen housing
Replace gasket
Reassemble

Anyone know what size/thread pitch the large nut is? I think I read
double-nutting it would save removing the coolant hoses...

On Jan 25, 2011, at 2:19 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:

> I would immediately remove the oil filter and check the tightness of the
> nut holding on the oil cooler.
> those can get loose.
> it can cause a leak that can even lead to total engine failure ..
> there is an o-ring on top of the oil cooler , between oil cooler and
> engine block.
> a little tricky to replace.
> I have not seen them 'fail' really ....used ones usually work ok.
> and it's important to check the tightness of that nut. !
>
> and yes....there's the high rpm oil pressure sender next to the crank
> pulley.
> should be easy to see if that's leaking ...watch it while it runs at
> elevated rpm just be careful in there.
>
> the seal on the crank pulley ...I've never had a problem with one of those
> ..but consider that  for sure.
>
> also crankcase breathing ..
> not usually a problem but all oil leaks, especially on seals where the
> inside of the engine is on the other side....oil level, oil type, and
> crankcase breathing should all be considered.
>
> there are also push rod seals up under the tin covers on each side..
> some chance of that.
> and the low rpm oil sender is under the left tin ...
> those can be tricky to get off too if exhaust nuts or bolts at the top of
> them are rusty.
>
> btw..
> some people think all the oil in the engine will drain out when you remove
> the oil filter.
> it won't, only a little will spill.
> you could even just have a loose oil filter.  But check that nut !
>
> also check for this..
> this has blown up engines  !
> make sure there is only one oil filter gasket/seal on the oil filter.
>
> once in a while the old one sticks to the engine ..the low paid tech at
> jiffy lube doesn't notice, slaps on a new oil filter .there are two seals
> there ..
> it can seal just well enough to allow the car to go 20 miles then pump out
> all it's oil and run the engine.
> It has happened.
> such a large leak like you are having should be fairly easy to find.
> I don't think you'll need this but a low tech oil leak finder is white
> baby powder sprayed on the engine.
> Just one of my many many useful tricks on cars and vanagons.
>
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Aaron" <a.robinson.lists@GMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 11:19 AM
> Subject: Oil leak...
>
>
> I'm trying to ID and oil leak and figure out how hard it would be to fix.
> This type of thing is something I haven't done much of..Please feel free
> to refer me to the bentley. I haven't looked yet, but will be tonight and
> figuring if I want to take this to a pro or if it's something I can tackle
> in an evening or two.
>
> On my '87 2.1L van, I've been getting a nice 6" round oil spot under the
> van every time I stop and spots on the back hatch. Last night I pressure
> washed the oil-caked area on the front/bottom of the engine (back side of
> the van) and it appears that the leak is coming from an area above the oil
> filter housing. I can't see where as it's too tight to see around the heat
> shield. I also looked around the main pulley seal, and I don't see any oil
> that's apparent there. I do see a ground wire running to the back area
> there and it appears that there may be some sensor there.  As I said, I
> haven't looked at the bentley yet and will be when I get home, but I
> wanted to get a good start.
>
> Thanks!
> Aaron