Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2001 15:46:03 -0800
Reply-To: Brian Cochran <rangerbrian@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Brian Cochran <rangerbrian@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: home engine repair ongoings: more engine break-in comments
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Just to keep you well-informed,
I replaced the coolant sensor and rolled the van out. She started right up,
as usual, with more gusto, having turn in the idle screw all the way for a
super fast idle. I opened the radiator screw to a loose degree beforehand.
I immediately revved the engine to ???? > 2000 ??? --not too much, and
poured away with the coolant. It hit a point where it was full, but
draining by the out-flow at the radiator, so I capped the tank, released the
throttle, and ran up to the radiator and screwed that shut. It was still
bleeding consistantly upon closing. So how's that for the one-man bleed??
I kept the engine going at assorted degrees of 1500-2500 rpm. I
occasionally brought it momentarily down to idle. I did this for about 15
minutes, the pressure would idle at 12-15 psi. I turned it off for a spell.
I think better with it off at this point. Then, after a thought or two, I
started the engine again, since I wanted it good and hot to see what the
pressure would do... I ran it from the front seat to better watch the
gauge. I will say hear that the engine DOES NOT like to run at 1200-1800-ish
(all guessing here) It shakes rythmically: with three beats per measure I
say two of vroom and one of shudder for the rhythme. THis is
injection/computer issues which I'm not touching right now--plus it might
not do this under a load(?) I think it has always been this way.
Anyway, the oil pressure, at idle, dropped to 5-6, ??-No warning light! I
let the water temp run until the fan kicked on. I guess this was an
additional run time of 10 or so minutes. I turned it off and drained the
oil. It poured out clean, but hopefully carrying all the bad bits of metal
et al.
I poured the new oil in and let it cool for 40 minutes or so. When I
started it again, to back it in to the garage, the oil gauge didn't go
immediately up to the 60/70 range, but rather in the 40's . Even though I
changed the oil and the coolant pressure had slacked off, I guess the engine
was still hot enough to keep the oil thin. I am still thinking the oil
press sender could be affected by the proximity to the exhaust pipes, and
the engine is surely still running hot!
That the story thus far! gotta run
Brian Cochran
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