I had an 80 rabbit that did the same thing.  There is a hose that you can get from
the  dealer that routes the oil back to the pump.  A simple "Y" type hose.  Sorry
I cant give you anymore information that that.  My brother-in-law burned the poor
thing up by running it approximately 20 miles with insufficient fluid in the
radiator.
Good Luck.
Chaz
82 Westy "Peewee"
Brownfield, Tx

Dennis Haynes wrote:

> I would check the crankcase ventilation system.  The steady stream of smoke
> indicates this. This was a common problem with diesel rabbits.  The oil would
> flow up the vent and fill the intake manifold.  Sometimes to the point that
> the could would not slow down when closing the throttle.  As you fitted a non
> Vanagon engine in there, you may have a baffle problem or need to rig some
> type of oil separator/return to get the liquid back to the crankcase.  Also,
> make sure you are not over filling the engine.  Try running it a quart low and
> see if the situation improves.  As far as I'm concerned, a VW engine should
> never be filled to the top mark anyway.  Hope this helps,
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:   Vanagon mailing list  On Behalf Of Gary A Meek
> Sent:   Wednesday, August 27, 1997 2:23 AM
> To:     Vanagon@GERRY.SDSC.EDU
> Subject:        Unreal oil consumption on diesel Vanagon
>
>         Several years ago, I rebuilt my 1.6 litre TD motor, putting
> in 20 thou oversize pistons, and fitting them with Hastings oil
> and compression rings - all chromium.
>
>         I ran conventional oil for several thousand miles, then
> switched to Delvac 1, the Mobil synthetic designed for diesels.
> I slowly began using oil, at first a litre every thousand miles.
> Then  several months ago, down to two hundred miles to the
> litre.  At that point, I went back to Delvac conventional oil, as I
> could not afford the $ to keep feeding the motor, synthetic oil.
>
>         On my holidays just completed, the consumption increased
> to about 50 miles to the litre. Needless to say,  when checking
> the oil, it has the cleanest oil for a diesel!  The exhaust is sky
> blue and never black.
>
>         Back home, I just completed a compression test, thinking
> the rings must be worn or broken for some reason. The
> compression values average 480 psi throughout, which is
> what they were three years ago.
>
>         My question is then, can the compression rings be good,
> but the oil scraper ring fouled or broken?  Alternatively, can
> the valve stem seals be so leaky as to allow oil to leak into the
> combusion chamber?
>
>         The motor has never ran low on coolant, or over heated. I
> changed the turbocharger, thinking the impeller was drawing
> oil from the oil lubricated bearings and driving it into the motor.
> Oil consumption was unchanged.
>
>         I'm baffled, annoyed and disgusted.  What is the percentage
> likelihood of leaky valve stem seals versus  defective oil scraper
> rings? ? ?  Any other possibilities not heretofore considered? ?
>
>         E-mail me directly if you have a clue, as the head is coming
> off today at 1100 hours.
>
>   Gary A Meek
>   Sherwood Park, Alberta
>   Canada
>
>   82 Vanagon,  turbo-diesel
>   83 Quantum,  turbo-diesel
>   83 Audi,  turbo-diesel