Date:         Mon, 30 Sep 2002 22:01:21 -0600
Reply-To:     Ben McCafferty <ben@KBMC.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ben McCafferty <ben@KBMC.NET>
Subject:      Oil pressure mystery, resolved???
Comments: To: syncro <syncro@yahoogroups.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Well, as you know I've been trying to chase down the oil light/buzzer issue
for a while.  Mine occurs when exiting the highway, coasting in gear down to
lower rpms; or when climbing hills at low rpms (i.e. approaching 2000 from
above).

I installed the VDO 80psi gauge from egauges.com, and got the dual terminal
sending unit.  I used Bill Davidson's great article from vanagon.com, with a
couple of minor modifications--wanted to be able to remove the engine tin
without removing the sender, so I notched the tin instead of just making a
hole, and used a 5" hose instead of 3.5".  It works great, and no leaks.

Now then, just took a trip through western CO, and had lots of opportunities
to pull mountain passes and load up the engine.  I am running Mobil 1 15W50
synthetic (2.1L WBX).  I did get the light/buzzer to come on several times
while climbing passes.  Every time it happened, the gauge read 20 PSI on the
nose.  No fluctuation.  So I'm confused.  If there was a sudden drop in
pressure (to activate the idiot light), wouldn't there be a corresponding
drop in pressure on the gauge???  Is 20 PSI a threshold for the idiot light,
i.e. the engine should never drop below that?  If that's the case, why can I
idle at 8PSI with no idiot light?

Anyway, I was glad to see that I did in fact have pressure, but I would be
glad to hear theories about what's really going on.

tx,
bmc  :)
"Faith will move mountains, but you'd better bring a shovel...."