[Vwdiesel] '00 Golf IP pump seal problem

[Stephen Sherman]

My 2000 golf with ~258k miles on it has what I think is an IP seal 
problem.  It started having a mist of oil/diesel on it a few months ago. 
Then it started needing more cranking time as there were bubbles in the 
clear fuel line after sitting. Now the IP has lost prime and won't pull 
fuel (even with a mighty vac on the return line).

It seems to me that these symptoms point to the main oring between the 
aluminum IP body and the iron IP "distributor".  I am thinking this 
because of the increased air leaking into the fuel system and the lack 
of being able to prime the pump now even when pulling a vac on the 
return line. But it's just a guess on my part, based upon reading others 
descriptions.

Any thoughts on this?  Is it likely this seal gone bad, or is something 
else going on here?

TIA