Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here?

[sun-bug74]

Hello:

I have a 1978 bay window bus with an air cooled 80's Vanagon engine. Out of the blue, I started to get a moderate oil leak. I drained the case and pulled the filter since I thought maybe the filter seal became misaligned or something (oil was running down the filter). In the picture below, the arrow points to a bolt where oil appears to be coming out around. Can you tell me what this is, whether I should just tighten it or replace its seal and then tighten it and whether it is a common issue? The bus is new to me (second season) and I have not fooled with that bolt. I can tell you that this is not a static leak and there is not a single drop when parked and not running. The leak occurs only under operating pressure. Also, when I do install a new filter, do you recommend just hand-tight? Thanks.

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1978 Bay Window Bus, AC Vanagon Motor, Daily Driver

[Wildthings]

The oil pressure switch it located above there and they are a known source of oil leakage.

[E1]

I can’t comment on the leak itself but suspect a new washer might solve it.

But, await more specific advice from those who know. (Edit: like him ^^^)

Mostly wanted to relay a tale about your other question. The first car I bought was a 1976 Fiat 131, in late 1979. I bought it with about 39,000 miles, loved it to death, and within days of buying loaded up my then-recent girlfriend (wife now) and a cousin, and properly debuted it by driving to a wonderful, Autumn sports car race in Georgia.

One of our own here — Mark Ward — has raced at this event many times, and certainly at that track, and is sure to smile with the reference should he see this.

Four months later, my girl and I packed up all our backpacking stuff, our 350 LPs and our stereo, and moved 1,050 miles west to Colorado. Our priorities were, Ahem, sound, and the rest was trucked out six weeks later. Forty-some days sleeping on the floor of our first place felt like utter royalty.

About five months on, it was time for its first oil change. I had no tools yet, and took it to a Firestone store. A month later, I properly drifted the Italian through a right-hander, the oil light came on, and the engine sounded like a concrete grinder.

I shut it off, oil was pouring out, and I realized the oil filter had loosened enough to finally shed its last right out with the g-forces of the turn. The oil changer hadn’t tightened the filter, apparently. It took over ten weeks to have the engine rebuilt, during which I serviced my many, new racecar shop and car dealer sign and pinstriping clients out of city buses.

Finally we left the shop with a fresh engine, Firestone had screwed us blind and covered less than half the tab (I’ve known better since), and we drove straight back to the 1980 version of that same race in Georgia.

So No, hand tight is not tight enough. I use a filter wrench, and while you don’t want to crank so tight as to unnecessarily strain or damage threads nor filter, good and snug is the least it gets. I also clean and oil both contacting surfaces whether it needs that or not.

Don’t be Me — nor that oil change expert I could have knocked right on his ass, almost did, and have since wished I had.
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[Xevin]

I only hand tighten. Do what you are comfortable with. Here is a page from a 1982 and 1983 Vanagon owners manual.

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Keep on Busin'

[djkeev]

Oil filters tighten with time and heat cycles.
Never tighten with a wrench, I have encountered oil filters on so tight that it was a major messy project to get them off!

Hand tight. Screw it on until the oil filter touches the seating surface and then 1/4 turn more...... maybe 1/2 if you are a worry wart.

Tighten with a wrench? No no no NO! ..... unless you hate yourself and want to punish yourself.

It isn't a bad idea to check the filter and drain plug after running a few miles. Not unlike checking the CV Bolts after a hundred or two miles.

Some oil filter wrenches are DESIGNED to only function counter clockwise.
It is impossible to use them to tighten a filter.
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Stop Dead Photo Links how to post photos

Ghia
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=392473

Vanagon
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6315537#6315537

Beetle
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482968&highlight=74+super+vert

[E1]

I don’t hate myself or have a thingie for self-masochism, nor torque it like an idiot, but I do tighten enough that it neither comes off nor destroys anything.

The book agrees with you guys, and I can handle being corrected even if grossly misinterpreted.

Anyone know how to stop his leak?
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‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[steve244]

Take the bolt out. Coat it in sealant. My new favorite is reinsil. Put it back.

Or just ignore it. I leak more than that.
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way...

[Xevin]

[E1]

Thanks for that, the other spelling brought up a funeral home.

Considering the topic, that scared me even more than loose oil filters.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[sun-bug74]

Thanks for all of the info on filter tightening.

Wildthings, or anyone, do we actually know what that bolt that appears to have leakage around it is called?

Wildthings, you commented that the oil pressure switch is located near there. I take it that bolt is some other part. Can you help me find the oil pressure switch on an air-cooled vanagon engine? Maybe someone has a pic? I would like to check that while I am working in this area with the crankcase already drained.
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1978 Bay Window Bus, AC Vanagon Motor, Daily Driver

[jimf909]

The good news is the area looks pretty clean. A challenge with leaks is finding where it actually starts. It could be that bolt or, as mentioned, it could be higher up.

I give this recommendation a 60% chance of helping. Clean all the oil from the area including above it, dust it with flour, run the motor and see where the seep begins. The flour will be obviously wet at the leak. This may be tough given how crowded the area is.
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- Jim

[steve244]

Yeah a little bit of casket sealant does the trick.
_________________
82 AC vanagon approx 200K miles (3K are mine).
DD is a 2015 Leaf
Road Trip to Hell (FL 2023)
The Vanagon's drivetrain and chassis restomod thread. Best sung to the tune of I Did It My Way...

[ledogboy]

[Xevin]

[E1]

[Wildthings]

[sun-bug74]

Thanks folks. Will be away for a bit but will report back when I find it.
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1978 Bay Window Bus, AC Vanagon Motor, Daily Driver

[jimf909]