Here's a strange update.

The next day I checked the van, no oil leak. I runs fine. I get a small dollar coin size drip after a 30 minute drive sometimes but not all the time.  The oil level is now staying level at the halfway point on the dipstick. The oil that I sprayed of the engine ad auto transmission has stayed gone since I washed it so I assume whatever happened has stopped and its back to it old self.

I did stop by a place called ECS Auto a high performance shop with crazy custom racing stuff and told them what was going and they recommended to try a GUNK product
Gunk M1616 Bearin' Seal Engine Sealer - 12 fl. oz (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ABCHKU?tag=at56m-20) with a fresh oil change and to follow the instructions.

Of course they also said if it's serious its no substitute for fixing the seal and they also said if it's just a drop why bother?

Robert
NY

On May 26, 2011, at 3:25 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:

> hi,
> I'm wondering if there is just a simple issue with the rear main oil seal.
> I have seen a new rear main oil seal job not 'stick' ...should have been
> fine, but for some reason was not.
>
> if it's a fine new rebuilt engine ...........
> it's not that big of a thing to deal with for a good shop.
> If it was an engine I had installed or rebuilt, I would just say ...
> bring me the van and I'll check it out.
>
> Crankcase breathing is usually not an issue on waterboxer engines.
> I only mention it as something that should always be considered when there
> are oil leaks.
> That black 'oil tower' next to the distributor ..
> I've rarely had to think about or mess with those ..
> there's a spring and valve or something in there. You can read about that
> online if you search.
> At least check the hose that goes from the top of it to the main air intake
> boot..
> that it's not collapsed or something.
> That hose tends to get funky with age . Sometimes they're replaced with
> coolant hose ..
> which deteriorates with oil fumes.
>
> Mainly saying....take a larger view of what might be going on ..
> Is it a simple oil leak,
> or an engine oil control issue or what .
>
> I can't remember right at the moment what an auto trans has for a breather
> hole.
> there are two sections of course ..the ATF 'auto trans' part of the whole
> unit..
> and I don't think there is a breather port on that part.
> And there is the differential section , with gear oil in it, and I would
> think that would have some breather port on it, but not like a hole with a
> bolt missing.
>
> what does the shop who installed or rebuilt the engine say ?
>
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Robert Stewart" <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 8:17 PM
> Subject: Re: Overfilling the oil issues
>
>
>> So Scott,
>>
>> My engine is a year old and has 5,000 miles on it. I changed the oil at
>> 500, 3000, mile increments then switched from Dino to Mobil 1 15/50. It
>> was clean each time. Since the rebuild it has had an oil leak since day 1.
>> Very minor though. Maybe I had to add a quart every 4-6 months. Prior to
>> the rebuild never it never had one oil leak.
>>
>> 90% of the driving is on local back country hilly roads with some minor 15
>> minute highway drives. I just did my first long drive with the fan which
>> was 3 hours. The temp gauge never went higher than halfway. I have
>> external bus boys oil cooler on it as well as an external Smallcar tranny
>> cooler on it. I looked and did not see any leaks coming from the hoses.
>>
>> Where should I be looking for leaks? I just checked the engine casing
>> tonight and I could not see anything leaking. I do clearly see that some
>> oil has been coming from the what seems to be the fly wheel because I can
>> see some oil spattered on the edge where it mates to the automatic
>> transmission.
>>
>> Where should I be looking on the breathing system for clogs?
>>
>> I did see this small hole on auto tranny that if you were facing the rear
>> of the vehicle it was on the passenger side. It looked like a screw was
>> suppose to go in there but it was just a small hole that was exposed. I
>> assume this is breathing vent for the tranny?
>>
>> Rob
>>
>> On May 25, 2011, at 7:38 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>>
>>> any time you are thinking about oil leaks and oil seals,
>>> also consider crankcase blow by ..
>>> if it is excessive, as in worn/tired engine.........or if the breathing
>>> system is clogged or restricted..
>>> that can cause leaks right past oil seals.
>>>
>>> most oil seals do not leak just sitting ..
>>> engine needs to run a while.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Robert Stewart" <robertmstewart@MAC.COM>
>>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 4:07 PM
>>> Subject: Re: Overfilling the oil issues
>>>
>>>
>>>> Yeah I am seeing oil coming from between the flywheel on the engine and
>>>> automatic tranny connection.
>>>>
>>>> The just washed the vans engine off with water tomorrow in the morning I
>>>> am going to put it on a my ramps and crawl under to see if it leaks over
>>>> night. I will take some photos of it and then drive it and retake photos
>>>> and get under it again.
>>>>
>>>> Fluid is suppose to be checked on level ground with the engine warm
>>>> correct?
>>>>
>>>> Robert
>>>>
>>>> On May 24, 2011, at 9:50 PM, Edward Maglott wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> You don't even need to drain it to replace that O-ring for the governor
>>>>> cover.  It seems odd that it is leaking there.  I'm not sure but I
>>>>> think
>>>>> that is uncommon.
>>>>>
>>>>> If the engine oil is coming out of the openings between the engine and
>>>>> transmission, where the torque converter spins, I think the rear main
>>>>> seal is about the only thing in there that could be leaking.  you could
>>>>> try cleaning that area so that you can see better where the leak is
>>>>> coming from.  The seal on the torque converter can leak, but that would
>>>>> be ATF not engine oil.
>>>>>
>>>>> Good luck!  Edward
>>>>>
>>>>> At 07:13 PM 5/24/2011, Robert Stewart wrote:
>>>>>> Thanks Ed the thoughts.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Yes what you are explaining the Governor Cover is where I see a lot of
>>>>>> tranny fluid and it's slowly leaking downward. I assume to repair this
>>>>>> I
>>>>>> need to drain all the fluid out and then pop that off to add a new O
>>>>>> Ring seal?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have been looking at the samba for over an hour, seems like a lot
>>>>>> people have this rear main seal issue. I am not even sure that is
>>>>>> where
>>>>>> the oil is coming from but it's clearly leaking from above the engine
>>>>>> and flowing down the backside of the engine casing. Could it be a oil
>>>>>> sensor that has gone bad and is now leaking?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Rob
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On May 24, 2011, at 2:37 PM, Edward Maglott wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> That place on the tranny is the governor cover.  Round cap with metal
>>>>>>> band
>>>>>>> holding it.  I believe there is also a vent directly above that on
>>>>>>> top
>>>>>>> of
>>>>>>> the transmission.  It is a nubbin with a loose fitting but attached
>>>>>>> cap
>>>>>>> on
>>>>>>> it.  Sometimes that will get clogged and not properly vent air out of
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> tranny and cause fluid to be forced our elsewhere.  I wouldn't worry
>>>>>>> about a
>>>>>>> little leaking at the governor cover, unless it is a symptom of
>>>>>>> larger
>>>>>>> issue.  Also that O-ring is pretty easy to replace with the tranny in
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> van.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Assuming it is definitely engine oil coming from the area of joining
>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>> the transmission, the rear main seal is the only thing I can think
>>>>>>> of.
>>>>>>> I
>>>>>>> suppose with the overfilled situation, pressure might have damaged
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>> but
>>>>>>> it seems odd that that would be the weakest point, as others more
>>>>>>> knowledgeable than I have pointed out.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Yes mine has made me want to pull my hair too.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Edward
>>>>>
>>>>>