My vans using/losing a bit too much. Last week, changed the oil, plugs , points, etc. Filled it exactly to the top mark on the dip stick. Driven about 40 or so miles, now it’s between the top and middle mark. Too much? (Seems to be dripping a bit out). Can’t really see where from, guessing inbetween engine and gearbox, but noticed a damp pushrod tube end. How much does yours lose, if any?
Negligible. Fill the oil again , take it for a run and recheck . If it's been stood for a while and you fill the oil it'll just sit there. Once you start the engine it fills the galleries and the level goes down , it doesn't all drain back into the sump so needs topping up. Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk
I was parked up reasonably flat the other day. Oil was below bottom mark. Moved to somewhere I know is level - oil on top mark. It doesn't take much to throw the dipstick reading out.
That’s a very good point. Did the same thing a couple of weeks back while camping, had it ‘leveled’ on wedges and thought I was low so stuck 2/3 of a litre in, then found I was slightly over when back home. Doesn’t help that with a new engine the oil is still very clear. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Don`t forget , a stock bus isn`t level as such , it sits slightly high at the front . Many busses have been fannied around to suit various criteria the owner needs to fill , better stance , get it in the garage etc etc ... Know your bus and how it sits on various undulations . As an amusing little game i park up , sort the van out for camping and try to predict where the oil will be on the dipstick - Steve is right when he says any slight rise or fall makes a difference , it`s knowing how that affects your reading
Had it 17 years and still fell for it! Mainly as I always measure on my drive. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
After 40 miles, thats excessive. But check simple things like pinching the rocker cover gaskets. Thats a good way to empty the sump in about 100 miles. Although I find my engine sits around the halfway mark on the dipstick for ages. If I top it up it goes down fairly fast to halfway. Sometimes it stays in the middle for so long I suspect it of filling up with fuel. Just to make you happy , my 17k mile from new JK Preservation Parts engine spends all its time with an oil drip just below the flywheel. Not enough to leave marks on the drive, but its there. It was like it when 'new' , the price of using a not absolutely perfect but OG flywheel as a part of the build I suppose.
If its coming around the pistons the spark plugs will tend to be oily. Most likely is the crankshaft oil seal. While the engine is out you can renew the seals on the pushrod tubes and stretch the old tubes back to length or replace them.
Yeah, think you hit the nail on the head, but it will have to stay in, for now. I’ll keep an eye on it. Thanks.
I used to find that an instant indication a bus was leaking oil was a fine mist splattered all over the back end, quite often right up as far as the rear window if it was a moderate to bad leak. Like most, I've had my share of crank seal issues but a genuine VW seal - from Volkswagen themselves cured my leaky rear end for good. Quite probably no longer available but worth a try?
