Hello Ken,

I had this happen to me with an '82 diesel 5-seater Vanagon I had
purchased new in March 1982.  Around 5 or 6 years later, oil started
appear as you described on your customers's van.  Situation got
progressively worse and mechanic I was using at the time (I was living
in Louisville, KY) could not figure out the problem even though engine
had begun losing oil.  It may have been a problem with the crankcase
ventilation.  Problem solved itself one night on I-275 west of
Detroit, MI, when the engine seized up and a piston went through the
side of the engine.  New engine did not have the problem.

I would take the situation with your client's van very seriously.

John

On Fri, 2014-08-22 at 12:10 -0400, James wrote:
> Ken,
>
> How big are the spots?  Do they occur more in cold weather?  Hot
> weather?  Damp conditions?  Short trips?  Long trips?
>
> I had a '95 Golf turbo diesel for 8 years, and and tiny black spots
> on the rear hatch happened from time to time - usually from driving
> around town rather than the highway, and worse in cold and damp
> weather.  That was my first experience with a diesel, and they
> worried me, but they were identified as soot trapped in moisture and
> deposited.
>
> One thing that helped was an exhaust extension that was turned down,
> so the exhaust was more likely to hit the ground or be carried away
> from the vehicle by the air stream under it.  Another was a change
> in muffler.  But the best cure was when lower-sulfur diesel fuel
> became available here - then the soot problem was really lessened.
>
> Does your customer buy low-sulfur or ultra-low sulphur diesel?
>
> James
> Ottawa, ON
>
> >  Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 09:27:42 -0400
> >  From: kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET
> >  Subject: Advice about black oil on back of diesel Vanagon
> >  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >
> >  OK, here is the deal.  A white 82 diesel Westy.  It has a
> > relatively low
> >  mileage 1.9l NA engine in it and a rebuilt fuel pump with all new
> >  injectors.  The customer is complaining about "black oil" spots
> > on his
> >  back hatch.  The engine isn't leaking or using oil.  I am
> > thinking that
> >  it is soot from the exhaust and that there is really no way to
> > make it
> >  stop, but I thought I would ask the list if anyone has any advice
> > on
> >  this one for me.  I would appreciate it.  The van runs and drives
> > fine
> >  otherwise.  If it wasn't white it would probably not be that much
> > of an
> >  issue.  Really pristine example of an 82 Westy though.
> >
> >  --
> >  Thanks,
> >  Ken Wilford
> >  John 3:16
> >  www.vanagain.com
> >  Phone: 856-327-4936
> >  Fax: 856-327-2242>
>