Date: Fri, 20 May 2005 21:41:57 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Oil Pressure Light went On...Abort Trip?
In-Reply-To: <fa.13a0e4f9.2fbfede2@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
James,
The 10W30 is way to light an oil for the WBX engine in hot weather. Do
two things. drain your oil, change your oil filter to a Mann or Mahle
filter, and then re-fill with a good 20W50wt oil or Mobil One 15W50
Synthetic. I prefer the Mobil One myself. My oil consumption actually
dropped just a bit when I switched.
When you drain the oil, run it though a fine paint screen and check for
metal. Also, when you pull the filter, cut it open very carefully and
remove the contents. Then wash the filter material and all oil with
mineral spirits, then run the total contets through a paint screen. If
all is well there will be no metal or just a flake or two - normal wear
- or laots of metal, which would indicate something bad going on that
needs further checking. If the filter checks clean, then the NEW Mahle
filter and the new garde oil should take care of your problem.
Good luck,
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 Gl Driver
James Benthall wrote:
>Hello fellow Vanagonauts,
>Sorry to bother ya'll with another problem, but this one is serious. We
>were all packed and heading to
>Minnesota (moving my wife...long story) when we got 25 miles out of Houston
>and my freakin oil pressure
>light starts flashing! [This is very upsetting to me since I constantly
>have to listen to non-Vanagonauts
>question my sanity for putting so much money in "such an old car"]. Anyway,
>I pull over immediately
>to the side of highway and turn off engine..step out of van and go check the
>oil. Oil seems fine. Plenty
>of it. Ok, what to do? Since we were getting such a late start anyway, and
>it is already hot as a hades
>here in Texas, I decide to turn around and head back home. Made it all the
>25 miles back home without
>another incident. Checked oil upon my return. All is a-ok.
>Background:
>I had this VERY THING happen about 6 months ago. Oil light would flash and
>scare the bejabbers out
>of me. Pull over and check. All is a-ok. Took to my mechanic and he
>checked. All seems fine, so we
>put in new oil pressure switch to be safe. Been all this time and no
>problems.
>Questions:
>How do you check to see if oil pump is going out? Would the van had made it
>back the 25 miles if
>the oil pump was out or going out? I had the oil changed last week, and
>someone said on another
>thread that lightweight oil could be the problem, does this seem likely? We
>use 10w30 down here
>since it is so hot. If the oil or oil filter is the problem can I continue
>to drive it and ignore the warning?
>
>I appreciate anyones input on this problem. I really need to get on the
>road ASAP, and I REALLY hate
>the thought of having to rent a car. Thanks all.
>
>James in Houston
>87 Westy (The Phoenix)
>
>ps
>I almost forgot...I have a "hybrid" type van with the wiring harness of an
>84 (I know, terrible situation but
>it has been running fine for almost a year now). Do ya'll think it could be
>a wiring mix up or something?
>And if so, would it hurt it to go ahead and drive it?
>
>
>
>
| 
