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sun-bug74 Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2020 Posts: 254 Location: Gloucester, MA
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Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2024 6:34 pm Post subject: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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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.
_________________ 1978 Bay Window Bus, AC Vanagon Motor, Daily Driver |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50357
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Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2024 8:53 pm Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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The oil pressure switch it located above there and they are a known source of oil leakage. |
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6604 Location: Westfalia, Earth
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Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2024 9:04 pm Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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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. _________________ ‘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 |
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Xevin Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014 Posts: 7635
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Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2024 9:30 pm Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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I only hand tighten. Do what you are comfortable with. Here is a page from a 1982 and 1983 Vanagon owners manual.
_________________ Keep on Busin'
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
Clatter wrote: |
Damn that Xevin... |
skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
I respect Xevin and he's a turd |
SGKent wrote: |
My God! Xevin and I 100% agree |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32647 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6604 Location: Westfalia, Earth
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:50 am Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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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? _________________ ‘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 |
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steve244 Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2022 Posts: 1670 Location: GA
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Xevin Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014 Posts: 7635
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 6:57 am Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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steve244 wrote: |
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. |
And if you can’t find the “reinsil” mentioned above try REINZOSIL
https://www.victorreinz.com/functions/csdownload3....298322367d _________________ Keep on Busin'
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
Clatter wrote: |
Damn that Xevin... |
skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
I respect Xevin and he's a turd |
SGKent wrote: |
My God! Xevin and I 100% agree |
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6604 Location: Westfalia, Earth
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:24 am Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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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 |
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sun-bug74 Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2020 Posts: 254 Location: Gloucester, MA
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:25 am Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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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. _________________ 1978 Bay Window Bus, AC Vanagon Motor, Daily Driver |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7482 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:04 am Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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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. _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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steve244 Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2022 Posts: 1670 Location: GA
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ledogboy Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2005 Posts: 578 Location: Scappoose, OR / Oakland, CA
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:27 am Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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steve244 wrote: |
Yeah a little bit of casket sealant does the trick. |
You can’t trust six feet of earth, always use casket sealant while you are in there. _________________ 1986 Westy Weekender
Now a full camper
1.8t Syncro conversion
Some people call him Maurice... |
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Xevin Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014 Posts: 7635
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:32 am Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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steve244 wrote: |
Yeah a little bit of casket sealant does the trick. |
Casket sealant sounds like something used on abused dead engines. YMMV.
Also consider using an oil dye to follow a mysterious leak. Many techniques on YouTube and other internet automotive websites, including The Samba. _________________ Keep on Busin'
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
Clatter wrote: |
Damn that Xevin... |
skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
I respect Xevin and he's a turd |
SGKent wrote: |
My God! Xevin and I 100% agree |
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E1 Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013 Posts: 6604 Location: Westfalia, Earth
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:32 am Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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ledogboy wrote: |
You can’t trust six feet of earth, always use casket sealant while you are in there. |
“This sort of smart ass really chaps my hide,” he says to the mirror, half-expecting to hear a reply in a different voice.
No offense meant Steve, I dis’ myself in same cases. _________________ ‘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 |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50357
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:57 pm Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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sun-bug74 wrote: |
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. |
The oil pressure switch sits just forward of the distributor, down in a hole in the cooling tin. There should be a rubber boot that closes the hole off, so all you might be able to see initially is the wire running to it. They only leak while the engine is running and since the oil gets in the cooling air flow it tends to end up on the rear sheet metal and bumper. |
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sun-bug74 Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2020 Posts: 254 Location: Gloucester, MA
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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Thanks folks. Will be away for a bit but will report back when I find it. _________________ 1978 Bay Window Bus, AC Vanagon Motor, Daily Driver |
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jimf909 Samba Member
Joined: April 03, 2014 Posts: 7482 Location: WA/ID
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Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: Can You Tell Me What is Leaking Here? |
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Xevin wrote: |
Also consider using an oil dye to follow a mysterious leak. Many techniques on YouTube and other internet automotive websites, including The Samba. |
An oil dye that glows in the dark or with UV, etc. light sounds like a modern winner. Although it may be more fun to wait for a full moon and ask the crickets. _________________ - Jim
Abscate wrote: |
Do not get killed, do not kill others.
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Current: 1990 Westy Camper - Bostig RG4, 2wd, manual trans w/Peloquin, NAHT high-top, 280 ah LFP battery, 160 watts solar, Flash Silver, seam rust, bondo, etc., etc.
Past: 1985 Westy Camper - 1.9 wbx, 2wd, manual trans, Merian Brown, (sold after 17 years to Northwesty who converted it to a Syncro). |
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