The problem:
There are two rubber elbows leading in and out of the oil cooler (located
right behind the oil filter). They are very close to the exhaust and the V
belt of the water pump. One of the elbows had developed a leak (oh sweet
smell of coolant steam, how I know thee well). VW wants about can$43 for
each one of those elbows which change diameter from 5/8" to 3/8".

Solution:
A great help is the posting:
http://taos.midwest.net/vw
which list all sorts of replacement options for coolant hoses. I found that
a brass elbow (hose barb to male thread [GLS G21B90-038-063 can$3.70]
connected with a brass female thread to push on 3/8 fitting [GLS G2006-06-06
can$7.54] plus a couple of pieces of 5/8 and 3/8 hose and stainless hose
clamps do the trick to replace those elbows. 
The mounting is a bit tricky due to the location. Remove main coolant pipe
and possibly also the pulley from the water pump (keep a bucket ready for
about 5L of coolant). Take out old piping, replace the rubber parts,
assemble and make sure that the hose clamps are in an accessable position,
install, tighten clamps, connect pipes and reattach V-belt and pulley,
refill screened (lady's nylon) coolant. Voila.

Thanks to all of you who emailed me upon my initial request.

Bj�rn Ratjen

Mill Bay, B.C. 

1987 Syncro Est Alia (self camperized)
1995 Passat TD
(1982 Vanagon Diesel)
1979 VW Bus (self- camperized)