Date:         Tue, 7 Mar 2000 10:29:33 -0800
Reply-To:     byard <bluedove@KFALLS.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         byard <bluedove@KFALLS.NET>
Subject:      Re: Black Gold Sucker?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I have a feeling many on the list don't have the manuals for their old
air-cooled Vans and Westys.

My manuals state, very plainly, that these engines use oil...that it's
normal for them to use oil.

Also to check the oil every time you fill up...so, every 300 miles or
so, right?

Unfortunately, the dipstick is so poorly designed that, unless you run
dirty oil, it's difficult to read and so easy to add oil when you don't
really need it.

I've found my oil consumption varies a lot. Uses the most at high load
and/or high revs, like when going through the mountains...but on the
flats, even at freeway speeds, uses very little.

VW thinks, at least in the original manuals, that a quart/1000 miles is
normal.


Stuart MacMillan wrote:
>
> All engines use some oil, even the Japanese!  Oil gets by the rings and
> valve guides in proportion to the amount of wear of each and is burned.
> I'd say you have a very successful rebuild, congratulations!
>
> Or possibly you have a coolant or gas leak that is topping up the used
> oil!  ;-)
> --
> Stuart MacMillan
> Manager, Case Program
> 800-909-8244 ext. 8208
>
> Getting your share of the Net yet?
> http://cobaltgroup.com
> http://UsedEquipNet.com