This is a common, classic and scary problem:
http://www.benplace.com/oil_pressure_sender.htm
(bottom of page)

Remove sender and replace, pretty easy. 24mm socket. Oil won't drip when
sender is out. The engine can empty itself and you will never know before
it's almost empty and to late, even if leaking, the sender will still work.

Ben
http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm

On Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:13:28 -0800, Jeff Hartman
<jeffreyleehartman@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>First, Thanks to the list for pointing me to the possible source of an oil
>leak.  Secondly, I just removed the heat shield over the driver side push
>rods.  Between the two center push rods is what I assume is some type of oil
>sensor.  It is clearly leaking oil oil in a steady drip. Any suggestions as
>to what I do next?
>1986 2.1 L vanagon 2wd
>Jeff Hartman
>Juneau, Alaska