Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 06:40:03 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: oil leaks - was RE: Coolant leak in cold storage
In-Reply-To: <45d14aff.7157c15e.2b8d.ffff909c@mx.google.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Sounds like you have a leaking power steering line.
Check the PS fluid level and make sure you are not overfilling the engine.
Remember, between the marks. The top mark is not the full mark. It the
maximum do not ever exceed no matter what mark.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Joy Hecht
Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 12:22 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: oil leaks - was RE: Coolant leak in cold storage
Hi folks,
I've developed what looks like a major oil leak. It was dripping a bit in my
driveway, but I had to pick something up yesterday, so I made sure there was
plenty of oil and headed out. When I got to my destination - presumably
when all had warmed up? - the leak was much worse, a whole little puddle
dripped out in around 15 minutes.
I checked the oil again (it looked fine), and just to be sure I added a bit
more, and drove home. Which, aside from an unrelated coolant crisis that
was quickly resolved (thanks, Budd and Bob D. and Phil Z!), was fine.
But I don't know where the leaks are originating. The worse of them - the
puddle - is coming out of the edge of the van on the passenger side, around
16 inches back from the front edge of the slider. There was also a slight
drip at the same point on the driver's side of the van. But on the
passenger side I could see it gathering and dripping, right off the rim of
the body. There also appeared to be three dark oily spots on the bottom of
the van maybe an inch in from the edge - one at the same point (front to
back) as the big drip, the others a foot behind it and a foot in front of
it.
I thought the oil basically stayed within the engine. But I am notoriously
ignorant on all things mechanical, so what I thought may be highly
irrelevant! Does this sound like one seal that might have cracked in the
cold, and the oil is running somewhere else to seep and drip out in various
places? What would be leaking, that there would be enough oil a foot behind
the front of the slider to see it pooling and dripping off the rim?
And how come with all this dripping, my oil levels are still fine? Well, I
suppose that's because a puddle really doesn't have as much volume as it
looks like. But the bottom of the van around there is spattered with oil,
too, that sprayed around while I was driving.
All suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
(And any recommendations that I check the archives will not. I'm on
dial-up, it's too slow for the archives. That's my excuse, and I'm sticking
to it! :-)
Joy
:::-----Original Message-----
:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
:::Of Mark Tuovinen
:::Sent: Monday, February 12, 2007 8:58 PM
:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
:::Subject: Re: Coolant leak in cold storage
:::
:::Re:"Has anyone else experienced a temporary leak associated with cold
:::weatherstorage?"
:::
:::Yes, but not the head gaskets. It was my brake master cylinder, leaked
:::fluid at about -20F. Not exactly what you had in mind but does serve as
:::a reminder that things other than head gaskets can leak in cold weather.
:::
:::Mark in AK
:::>
:::
:::
:::----- Original Message -----
:::From: Tom Lambas <twlambas@GMAIL.COM>
:::Date: Monday, February 12, 2007 3:18 pm
:::Subject: Coolant leak in cold storage
:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
:::
:::> Yesterday I noticed a small amount of coolant has been leaking
:::> from my
:::> 1.9Lmotor.
:::> As I recall this happened over the winter last year too
:::> (Minnesota). When I
:::> saw this last year
:::> I thought maybe my head gaskets were shot, but I after the weather
:::> warmed up
:::> a bit I changed the oil
:::> right away, and things were fine the rest of the year. BTW, I'm
:::> using an
:::> orange Dexcool equivalent, and
:::> have been doing a partial replacement every year which seems to
:::> keep it
:::> looking pretty fresh.
:::> Last spring I replaced it all when I changed a couple of hoses.
:::>
:::> The Van is stored under a tarp all winter with a trickle charger
:::> going to
:::> keep the battery alive. I won't
:::> crank it again until spring, and once again will change the oil
:::> and filter
:::> right away.
:::>
:::> Has anyone else experienced a temporary leak associated with cold
:::> weatherstorage?
:::>
:::> Should I drain the coolant before putting it away for the winter?
:::>
:::> Thanks,
:::>
:::> Tom L
:::>
:::> '84 westy
:::>
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