Date:         Mon, 10 May 2004 19:55:39 +0200
Reply-To:     Calle Fallberg <calle.fallberg@TELIA.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Calle Fallberg <calle.fallberg@TELIA.COM>
Subject:      Re: low oil pressure/gas in oil
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi Jake !

In Sweden where we have pretty much the same weather as in MI ( just for
comparison, havenīt got a clue where you live:) this was a common problem
with the aircoolers, specially the doublecarb with automatic choke and early
fi ones. The weather seems to be just a little too cool which makes the
choke ( or cold start pumps/valves ) to be in use every time you start the
engine, flooding them slightly with the gas going down in the oil.
For people living in the cities this lead to poorly lubricated engines that
in many cases broke down . For long trip travellers it was no problem since
the gas evaporized as soon as the engine had heated up for a while .
Why this story ?
Since you stated that you have warm start problems too, it sounds like it
could be some cold-start device malfunctioning .

Calle
-88 Volgon
Mullhyttan, Sweden



----- Original Message -----
From: "Jake Beaulieu" <jake_beaulieu@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 6:53 PM
Subject: low oil pressure/gas in oil


> A couple weeks ago I asked for help figuring out why I had low oil
pressure at warm idle in my 82 air cooled westy.  I am running 20W50 oil (i
had mistakenly stated 10W50) with a Mahle oil filter.  The thermostat is
bad, so I am running it with the cooling flaps at the default position.
>
> At the advice of Boston Bob I checked for gas in the oil.  Sure enough,
oil smelled like gas.  I changed the oil and filter and took it for a ride.
The oil light still flickered at warm idle, but it was a LOT better.  Things
remained pretty much that way for about three weeks, then the light started
coming on even after short drives.  I checked the oil and sure enough it
smells like gas.  So why am I getting gas in my oil?  I let it warm up for
at least five minutes before I drive, and it has been warm out (over 50F).
>
> Two more clues.  Last winter I replaced a blown head gasket.  After
putting about 300 miles on the reassembled engine the head gasket blew
again.  It still has the bad head gasket 1000 miles later.  Don't know why
it would blow like this, stud pulling out of block?  Secondly, when it is
warm out it starts easily, but quickly dies.  It will do this once or twice
and then it will run fine.  Not sure if any of this is related.  I have
thoroughly diagnosed the FI system per the Bentley.  Everything checks out.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jake
>
>
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