> rather blasphemous to mention ......and Not a substitue for real repairs ..
> there is a Lucas oil product that is 'engine oil stop leak'.   Lucas is a
> very good brand as near as I can tell . No product of theirs has ever done
> me wrong.

Ha.  Yes, it crossed my mind.  But lo, one does not simply pour
something in to fix a vanagon!  The gods would not allow it.

> You can do local camping in your westy perhaps. Doesn't have to be a trip of
> hundreds of miles.

This is Canada.  hundreds of miles is local.... however I may hold off
on that trip to the Yukon for a while...

> I am a very, very big believer in ..
> drive it quite frequently ...make notes of things to fine tune and check ...
> be it tightening loose screws, or lubing mechanism or whatever..
> just the attention and 'psychic healing factor'   makes your van and your
> relationship with it much better.

I knew I was broken in driving back from Regina to Vancouver when I
did not 'drive home' but rather 'hoped to get home'.  Seeing it had me
in the 'saddle', the van behaved.

> They are much better and happier vans with proactive care.
> when I get a 'new to me van' ..there are about 50 things on it that need
> inspecting or servicing right away usually, even more, ..and sooner or later
> I get to them all.

Yeah, the biggest issue I have at the moment is trying to determine
the order.  Window rubber or oil leaks.  Fuel lines or checking
grounds.  So much to do!

Tom