

| Subject: | Leakin' oil |
| Date: | Mon, 18 Dec 1995 16:51:55 -0700 |
>A bigger worry is the amount of oil leaking I'm getting. After parking at >home, I noticed a trail of dime-sized oil spots behind the Bus showing where >I had driven it, still wet. Underneath, a spot of leakage (from last night >and today) more than a foot square. Is this even too much leakage for a >Bus? (I checked the level and it doesn't seem unusually low, but you can be >sure I'll be keeping a close eye on it for a while.) Steve Maher smaher@gi.com writes: >I had EXACTLY this happen to my '69 bus in Colorado, especially when >coming to a stop at a stop sign. Turned out to be a mostly-shredded main >oil seal (yup-- the one around the crankshaft just inside the flywheel, >that you have to take the engine out to get to). >On many engines, you need only replace this seal and go merrily on your >way. But occasionally (and in my case) it's caused by the crankshaft >moving forward and back as you press the clutch. And THAT is caused >by thecrank's thrust bearing seat being badly worn-- usually so much so >that youcan no longer adjust it out by shimming the flywheel as per the >normal procedure. And THAT means that not only do you have to rebuild >the entire engine, but you also have to shell out extra for a new crankcase, >since the one you have is shot and can't be salvaged. Well I certainly hope this isn't the problem w/mine (it's a '79.) We'll wait and see. It's still dribbling oil like a seive though. . .I poured a 1/2 quart in while it was running and it seemed to mostly come right out again. Looks like the La Brea Tar Pits underneath the engine now. . . pjl
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