Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2001 20:11:34 -0800
Reply-To: Brian Cochran <rangerbrian@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Brian Cochran <rangerbrian@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: G-R-I-P-E-S part 5 oil pres woes and more woes and ....
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vanagon addicts and notajeep:
THanks for the info......and no I'm not checking the oil while it's running.
I was pointing out the breathing/idle situation that happens when I pull
the dipstick or unscrew the oil cap while it's running. I've done that
plenty on many other run-of-mill vehicles without issue. You know, I'm
pretty sick of all these weird issues without cut-and-dry answers. I own
this vehicle only for the live-out of it comfort/camping factor. Why anyone
would want to drive a passenger vanagon is beyond me, since it's not a
reliable transporter and......AND 17 mpg!!!!! That's horrible. I owned a
Ford Ranger for 150,000miles, lots of power, better gas mileage, one set of
brakes (at 90k), one water pump (at 137k), regular maintenance as needed
such as hoses (once) and belts (x2) that's it. No rebuilds, no head
gaskets, none of this daily dose of a web site to keep it alive-
DEPENDABLE!!!!!. This friggin' van came with three pages of parts and work
performed from the last two owners, and in the course of a year I've added
three more, found that I'm the seventh owner, in the fourth state, and you
name, it NEEDS it: windshield, speedo (damn noisy thing), better-safe
lights, as I'm hearing- engine(!!!!), still needs tranny work--there's a
grand or more, my steering boot is torn on one side of the arms and that
isn't even close to a priorty, rear hatch struts, brake drums and rotors(and
depot's havin' a sale --whooptie I get sacked for another $80 bucks), of
course even after that there still is something wrong with the brake system,
probably the servo, but either way$$$, moving on- body damage the the thing
was purchased with, seam rust(??I dunno and I'm not going to ask), wiper
motor is weak, seat hole needs repaired, exhaust has a crack somewhere, and
if I don't get a new engine, well, I don't think my hotmail account will
allow that big of a list.......
My point is these are okay, even fun repairs if they are a few at a time,
but they are ongoing and ever-appearing. Here I am looking at this stupid
(but needed) list of info that appears in my inbox at least twice a day in
digest form. I have to sort through all the stupid bullcr*p of lawyers
sueing their moms and jesus rugs and other folks who spend more time in
front of there computers than in their own vanagons (I actually hope that's
not true) in order to find a inexpensive way of making my vanagon that is
not reliable in to a vanagon that IS reliable. I want to be out camping and
hiking and seeing this INCREDIBLE world that do live in before we destroy it
and I'm too old. I don't want to sit and shuffle through all the different
responses to find a suitable guess as to what to do. I should just slap new
heads on it and sell it. I'll buy a pickup and an old campertop. It will
get better mileage and go forever. I'll burn my computer and tie myself in
a towel.......okay I'm getting out of control here.
THis is what I got: I have an oil pressure prob.
Responses:
The synthetic oil response isn't what i'm going with. I don't remember who
told me that, but I'm guessing they own stocks in something related to it)
The oil pressure relief valve isn't what I'm going with (it's newer
anyway---newer than a 70,000 mile engine which I have. Jeez 70,000 is still
new in today's world.( Do you know what folks want for a vehicle with 70k
on it!!!! )
Dennis says oil cooler, which is probably greatly related and I'll consider
the Tiico with that vote, since the controversy isn't worth it, and I don't
think the wasserboozer will go much farther with one anyway
Most everyone (2-3 folks) says bearings.... bearings are not too spendy,
although rods probably are.. I'll think about the parts, info, etc. I'm
living in disease-covered puget sound land. Too many folks with SUV"s and
cell phones going to and from starbucks clogging bridges and building more
ugly house developments. It is waaaaay too spendy here. Obviously, I'm not
from here, and as soon as I can escape I will. What I'm getting at is I
have to do the work myself, since I can't afford the yuppie mark-up cost of
a VW place. (yes the vanagon is a SUV, i know)
You, notajeep, tell me the blow-by info related to my problem. That
actually makes sense and I think I will just consider the rebuilt engine
with that. STill I want to check it out. I have a compression tester kit
(new, I thought if I was to go buy another car, I should get one to test
before I buy). That will answer this theory? Yes?
I'm sorry for the rants, but these mail lists are ridicuous at times. They
are a nightmare for trying to go back and search through with all the
repeats and jokes and continuing threads. I wish the website would expand
the Info section with cold hard facts. I do, myself, spend too much time
with vanagon.com. I need to spend more time elsewhere. I do love the vanagon
when it's sitting. I find it very comfortable. I would love to invest in
lots of interior perks but I keep spending the money on the motion part of
the beast. It is, after all, just an automobile. If you don't feel like
answering after all this, I don't blame you.
Thanks, I'll quit talking now.
Brian Cochran
on a 2.1 step program to recovery (anyone want to buy a westy?)
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