Date: Sun, 13 Oct 2002 09:05:44 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Rislone Ring Seal and Other Oil Pressure Thoughts
In-Reply-To: <20021012164133.5549.qmail@web20707.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Two more things to check. Make sure the oil level is correct. Too high
is worse than too low. What is the idle speed? Low idle will also cause
the light to flicker. Should be around 900 rpm.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Craig Oda's Personal email
Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2002 12:42 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Rislone Ring Seal and Other Oil Pressure Thoughts
Well, I ordered a VDO oil pressure guage, dual sender and a few other
components from BusDepot. I also bought this type 4 extender from CIP1
http://store.cip1.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=cali&
Product_Code=VDO-150-752&Category_Code=20-05
It looks to be the same as for the vanagon engine because of the 10mm
description. Well, I guess I'll know if it fits when it arrives.
While I'm waiting for the parts to arrive, I went under the van and
tracked all my electrical wiring for the oil pressure switch. Looks
solid and tight. I then drive over to the local hardware store to test
the engine again. After 10 minutes, the oil pressure light starts
flickering. The coolant temp guage looks fine, slightly below the
center LED. I go into the hardware store and buy some Rislone's Ring
Seal, since I figure I haven't got too much to lose at this point, might
as well keep trying stuff. I put the Rislone Ring Seal into my Castrol
GTX 20w50 oil and the flickering oil pressure light comes back on again
after about 10 minutes.
But, I'm wodering if this Rislone stuff is compatible with the Castrol
20w50. I'm not too knowledgable about this type of thing.
http://www.rislone.com/ringseal.htm
The previous owner of the van had an engine rebuild done about 70K miles
ago. I'm thinking that I may have to change the bearings or something
in the engine. Note that I've never done something this big before, so
I am filled with worry and excitement. I did change the cylinder heads,
myself, which was quite a frustrating and fun adventure.
I'm going to drive the beater volvo 240 I have to the zoo, but I would
much rather be driving my Westy to the woods to kick back by a campfire.
I'm worried that I may actually have low oil pressure and may blow the
engine.
For those of you new to this odyssey, here is where I'm at:
- using Castrol GTX 20w50 with this Rislone Ring Seal viscosity
increaser
- changed oil pressure switch with a new one.
- changed wiring for oil pressure switch and traced insulation
- took out oil pressure relief valve and cleaned it
- engine is not consuming oil
- engine is not producing smoke
- engine is leaking small amounts of oil under the van
- oil pressure light comes on and flickers after 10 minutes of driving,
usually only comes on briefly when I accelerate or decelerate or engine
is under some type of load such as I'm going uphill
- don't have oil temp sensor, but the coolant temp sensor shows engine
temp to be within normal parameters
Well, off to the zoo.
thanks for the support as always. It makes me feel good to talk to
understanding people about my van.
=====