What a great question! I have this same problem, and I alternate it sometimes. My old 77 Westy always smokes for a bit if I park it with the rear end lower in my driveway and don't drive it for 4-5 days. After about 30 seconds the blue disappears. If I park it nose down it doesn't seem to. I'm thinking the rings are getting tired on one of the back cylinders so oil leaks past??? So that's my experience with that question. :-)
Courtney

----- Original Message -----
From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thursday, May 5, 2011 9:12 am
Subject: Long-term parking: nose up or nose down?
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

> Got a fairly steep driveway alongside the house here. I plan to start
> parking my 1984 there on occasion. It might stay there for a
> week or
> more sometimes -- it's not really my daily driver.
>
> In terms of the fluids, is there a preferred orientation? I'd
> say the
> downhill end of the van would be a foot lower than the uphill side.
>
> --
> Rocky J Squirrel
> '84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> '74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)
> Bend, OR
> KG6RCR
>