Date: Sat, 29 Sep 2001 08:06:21 -0400
Reply-To: Kenneth D Lewis <kdlewis@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kenneth D Lewis <kdlewis@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Low Oil Pressure vs. Cooling System Efficiency (Long)
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
Mark;
Good job! Glad to hear it. If only you also had a VDO oil
temperature gauge so you could have shared some before and after data
there. Was the radiator clogged? If so you might consider the
oil-to-water heat exchanger might also have a poor heat exchange
efficiency also.
Good Luck and Drive Safely
Ken Lewis
86 Crewcab,60 356
http://Neksiwel.20m.com/
On Fri, 28 Sep 2001 15:18:16 EDT Mark Smith <CyrusWV@AOL.COM> writes:
Having just replaced the original radiator on my 87GL with one of Bus
Depot's South African models, I thought those listees with marginal or
low oil pressure might be interested in the results. The conventional
wisdom of this list seems to suggest worn bearings as the usual cause of
low oil pressure on our aging 2.1 engines. While this may be true in
many if not most cases, I am delighted to report this was not the case
with my 87, now sporting 165,000 miles on its original engine and heads.
I previously attempted to increase my oil pressure by rebuilding the oil
pump and did achieve some improvement from this painful procedure.
However, my oil light continued to come on after extended highway or
mountain driving and especially after prolonged idling in city traffic.
My VDO oil pressure gauge often indicated as low as 3 to 5 psi at 1000
RPM making me fear it was past time to give Boston Bob a call.
My factory temperature gauge was always above the center range LED light
after warm up, often around 3/4 of the way to the top, and even higher in
stopped city traffic. I had previously replaced the thermostat and
radiator fan switch with lower temperature models with no improvement.
After replacing the radiator I was simply amazed with the increase in oil
pressure.
Thus far I have not seen it below 10 to 12 psi at 1000 RPM after an
extended mix of interstate and city driving. I now have 35 to 40 psi at
3000 RPM after warm up and my temperature gauge stays just to the low
side of the light, even after allowing the engine to idle for extended
periods.
I now feel like "Jimmy Joe" has a new lease on life and would highly
recommend this procedure to anyone doubting the cause of their marginal
or low oil pressure.
Mark Smith
West Virginia
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