Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2004 19:17:32 -0700
Reply-To: Jeff <ramjeff@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff <ramjeff@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: what causes low oil pressure
In-Reply-To: <000c01c3d6a5$0c7f8ee0$6400a8c0@masterpc>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Ben,
Sounds like you have a good idea what's going on here. My advice would
be to switch to synthetic, Mobil 1 15W50 is supposed to be "the best".
As far as I've been able to determine, low oil pressure is caused by a
low "resistance" to oil flow between the oil pump and the sensor or just
a bad oil pump. Probably your bearings have worn to the point that they
don't provide the expected resistance to oil flow that was planned
during the design phase of the motor. As others have noted, as the oil
heats up, the viscosity drops resulting in lower pressure, 1/2 "full" is
supposed to help reduce the oil temps vs "full".
You can probably run this engine for the few months until the snow melts
by just keeping the rpm's at a comfortable range (3-3.5K, maybe 4.0K for
a SHORT time) and taking it easy on the hills.
My advice would be to keep the oil level at 1/2 way between the marks
and just take it easy on those hills. You'll have to just peg it at
3500 rpm in 3rd (or 2nd) gear and hold it there even though it would go
faster with more throttle. Take your time - the alternative is a rod
through the case, BTDT and that's no fun....
-jeff
Dennis Haynes wrote:
> Is the light coming on or are you getting the light and buzzer? If only
> the light, than you may have a bad switch or a wire shorting to ground.
> 120K is not reason for a rebuild on its own. With care and luck, the
> lower end can double that. You need to do some troubleshooting. Both
> electrical and mechanical with oil pressure gauges. When replacing the
> switches, make sure to get the correct ones. The high pressure switch
> (rear) should be .9 bar, not the 1.8 many parts books indicate. Also,
> make sure the oil level is not too high. The top dipstick mark is "Max",
> not "Full" Oil level mid way works best.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Ben S
> Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 12:26 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: what causes low oil pressure
>
> well thanks for the advice everyone. i do indeed have a 2.1 wbx, and it
> rolled over 120k miles just before the oil light last came on. i know
> that it is about time to rebuild or replace this engine, but i'm hoping
> to wait until snowboarding season is over to do it since this is my only
> car and i can't very well ride my motorcycle to the mountain!
>
> the scenario posed in boston bob's article seems like a probable
> explanation: some bearing is wearing down, a clearance is increasing,
> and too much oil is escaping. the only thing i don't understand is why
> this would be exacerbated by heavy engine load or high engine speed. it
> seems to me that the oil pump is spinning faster at high engine speed
>and could more easily maintain output pressure at a high flow rate.
>
> i have heard people mention a high oil pressure sensor... does that also
> set off the light and buzzer? could i actually be having excessive
> pressure?
>
> i guess in the end i just need an oil pressure gauge. is it possible to
> install a sender for one in place of switch that drives the light? i
> have also been thinking of switching to a full synthetic oil, but i'm
> afraid that my oil leakage/consumption will worsen.
>
> Ben.
>
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