Date:         Tue, 1 Oct 2002 17:51:00 -0700
Reply-To:     Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@ATTBI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Stuart MacMillan <macmillan@ATTBI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Still doesn't add up,
              was:  Re: [Syncro] Oil pressure mystery--Now: you're normal!
Comments: To: ben@KBMC.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Ben McCafferty wrote:

>OK, I normally have 45-50psi at speed, i.e. the engine is pretty tight.
But
>when loaded up, i.e. pulling a long hill and rpms dropping, pressure drops
>pretty linearly and the buzzer sometimes goes off, not every time.

Yes, this is what the WBX does, but your oil pressure sender near the oil
pump is bad.  This is why you have a gauge.  Believe what it tells you!
Your engine is in good condition, but I would switch to mineral based 20w 50
oil, it is physically thicker than the 15w 50 synthetic and should give you
higher pressure.  Try it next time and let us know what you find.

Note: The WBX is basically the old 2.0 air cooled engine case with water
jackets and water cooled heads, and as it heats up from the work it does
climbing a hill the main bearing journals (i.e., the case itself) expand,
and oil pressure drops.  Downshift to get the revs up along with the oil
pressure.  The Vanagon will run up to 65 mph in third, and downshifting when
you drop to 55 mph uphill is much better than lugging the engine in fourth.

Change the sender and enjoy the ride in peace!

Stuart MacMillan
'84 Westy w/2.1 (and oil pressure gauge)