> Subject: need info on plastic oil filler on diesel
>
> Hi
>
> I recently purchased a diesel '82 Vanagon with a slight oil leak. The
> previous owner said that the plastic oil filler tube had a crack in it. Oil
> drips on the muffler when I drive on the freeway for a length of time.
>
> I also noticed that oil blows out the top of the dipstick and cap and gets
> over some of the back of my van in small droplets.

Jim,

Sounds like you may have excessive blowby, ie too much combustion
gasses are pressed by the rings and then vent through the dipstick
tube. Uncap the oil filler, rev the engine and feel the outlet.
A small pulsating "breath" is normal, but if it is approaching
hairdryer velocity you may be in trouble.

Check the venting lines to the air cleaner for clogging and consider
at least adding an oil baffle over the head to prevent runaway.
The oil baffle lets oil drip back down into the block instead of
being blown out the vent on the head.

The real long term fix may be a re-ring or overhaul.

An archive and WWW search will add more info to this.

/Martin
--
Westy 1.9l Turbo Diesel
Quantum 1.6l Turbo Diesel

Martin Jagersand                 email: jag@cs.yale.edu
Computer Science Department             jag@cs.rochester.edu
Yale University

        Slow down and visit the VW diesel Westy page:
          WWW: http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/jag/vw
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