Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001 08:41:42 -0500
Reply-To: Joe Romas <jromas@COLUMBUS.RR.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Joe Romas <jromas@COLUMBUS.RR.COM>
Subject: Re: Catastrophe!! The rest of the story.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Dave,
Being the "savior" of many older, read very tired, VW diesel golfs and
jetta's I see this almost everytime a I get a used one. The PO had put oil
that was too thin in it. Even when they were new 10-40 was not thick enough
for all year around driving. My son's 92 jetta has 20-50 blend in it now
even in winter to cure this. No other problems. Yes the engine is a little
loose but it's still very strong. Looking at the book the vanagon has the
same oil chart as the rest of the vw's.
Joe
90 jetta gas (15w-40)
84 vanagon ( " " )
99.5 jetta tdi (5w-40 Delvac-1)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Baker" <djbaker@SPRYNET.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2001 10:43 PM
Subject: Re: Catastrophe!! The rest of the story.
> Your post was inspirational. It's the one and only incidence I've come
> across of all the oil warning lights etc. not resulting in the need for an
> engine replacement!
>
> Dave in KC
> 85 Westy
>
> Now with a webcam at
> http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/fatima/1154/study.htm
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: John Rodgers <jhrodgers@CHARTER.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, January 26, 2001 9:18 PM
> Subject: Catastrophe!! The rest of the story.
>
>
> > I left off where the all the warning lights came on in the instrument
> > panel, and I left the highway and stopped. I got a tow truck and got the
> > Red Brick home. This was on Thursday night. That same night I went and
> > got a belt set from my flaps.
> >
> > This morning, Friday, I installed the new belts. Checked the oil....it
> > was midway between the marks, and checked the water level.....it was ok.
> >
> > Got in the van and started the engine. Started right up. Oil light went
> > off, no buzzer, engine idled nice. I let it warm up a bit. Then pulled
> > out of the drive to go around the block.
> >
> > Once in the street ...and going up hill.....suddenly the oil pressure
> > light comes on and the buzzer sounds. So switch off, swing around and
> > coast back into the driveway. Go read Bentley.
> >
> > HHMMM. In the Lubrication section, Bentley says there are two pressure
> > switches( I knew that) and the one on the side of the engine is set to
> > function between 2 and 6.5 lbs pressure, turning the oil light off. The
> > rear switch activates at 13.6 psi and turns the light on as well as
> > activates the buzzer.
> >
> > Back at the van, I started the engine. idled beautifully, lights and
> > busser off. I revved to 2000 rpm, light and buzzer still off. I revved
> > again!! The instant the rpm hit 3000 the oil pressure light came on, and
> > the buzzer sounded. I shut her down.
> >
> > Back by the engine, I turned my flashlight beam down in behind the belts
> > and sure enough, I could see the naked connector end of the high
> > pressure switch. So I went fishing to find the wire and connector that
> > hooks to it, found it and pressed it on. Started the engine, ran my
> > little test, and it ran perfect. No lights and horns.
> >
> > So that is the story.
> >
> > If you have never had this particular experience, I suggest you simulate
> > it so you get to actually hear the buzzer and see the light flash. All
> > you have to do to simulate this is to remove the connector on the
> > switch, start the engine, then gently rev to 3000 rpm. It will do fine
> > until you hit the 3000 mark. Try it, you really should hear that buzzer,
> > so you will know what it is when it happens.
> >
> > Don't forget to reconnect the pressure switch wire.
> >
> > John Rodgers
> > 88 GL Driver back on the road
>
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