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Date:         Thu, 8 Feb 2001 17:00:32 -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: EXPERTISE NEEDED!  oil pressure woes con't. part 4
Comments: To: Brian Cochran <rangerbrian@HOTMAIL.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Get better oil, yours is breaking down. Try a full synthetic.

Joe ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Cochran" <rangerbrian@HOTMAIL.COM> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 10:42 AM Subject: EXPERTISE NEEDED! oil pressure woes con't. part 4

To refresh the minds of those who read all these threads, briefly, I was having oil light probs, I put a gauge in (dual sender), during which I discovered a wire shorting out on the engine tin, and for the last couple weeks I've enjoyed restored faith in the oil pressure shown on the gauge. [ I have been spending my time worrying about how to keep the oil gauge window from fogging up.....but that's for a more sunny day] YESTERDAY.... I went skiing to Summit at Snoqualmie Pass. I've never taken the van up this pass before. Before this I would just drive to work with it (about 30 miles rt) and the engine would warm up nicely, the oil pressure gauge starts cold at 65-70, as the engine warms after a mile or three, it drops to the 50-60 psi range. When I get to stop lights about 10-12 miles later it will idle in the 7-8-9 sometimes 10-11 zone of the gauge (no light) and when I hit the gas it's back to the 25-35psi zone. That's been the typical scene.

Yesterday on the pass,I'm cruising along at about 70 mph or so. Once I get up to about 5-7 miles (40 miles into the trip) short of the pass, I notice the gauge is at 19-20psi. I kinda didn't like this, since I was going 70. (just to give all info, when I slowed, due to grade) to 50-55 I would pop the AT down to 2nd to build speed. I'm sure i'll hear about it if that's asking too much from the 2.1l)

When I arrived to the exit and slowed down, the gauge was bottoming out. At a corner the RED LIGHT came on with a solid beam giving me that sickly feeling. I wasn't stopped, but the engine was below 2000rpm easily. I parked as soon as I could. Before I turned off the engine, I hit the gas and the light did go out, the gauge rose to 9-10psi. Despite the good weather and ok skiing, I spent most of the afternoon worrying about this new problem. I came to three conclusions: 1. The bearings/ crank are in need of replacement

2. The heat finally heated up the sender hose enough and a leak of significance has sprung, lowering the pressure readout. (the sender IS leaking, but it seems slow, and not related)

3. I need to work on perfecting my telemark-turn on the icy parts

NOW.... I would write all this down if there wasn't a weird part to this. After skiing, with a cold engine, I pointed the white beast downhill and glided her home. The gauge started at 65 psi and drove most of the I-90 portion at 70mph (with car still whizzing by me) with the gauge at 50psi. After 15 miles if fell to 40psi and shortly before the exit (approx 22 miles) it was to that barely 20 state. At the exit turn (no stop) the red light came on briefly (4-5 mph, <2000rpm). I was stressed. *** the next three miles or so was a flat 35 mph zone. I was going, honestly, about 40mph. At the end of the stretch (maybe it was four miles) the OIL PRESSURE was BACK TO NORMAL!!! idling at 10psi, driving at 30 psi (35mph too)!!

What's going on?? Is 70 Mph too much for the engine? WHy? It's an 84/2.1 = no oil cooler (which I still do not understand why it won't fit) is that related? Maybe it's prolonged periods of driving on a slope, but my drive to work involves going over hill and dale to the ugliness of the sammamish plateau. Any insights to this are greatly appreciated. I am trying to gather parts for a head gasket job, and there's no point in that if I need a new crank. (of course, I guess I could make it a week-long job). Thanks (oh BTW, I use mann filters and 20w-50) Brian Cochran 84 westy _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com


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