Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 14:26:38 -0400
Reply-To: tabe johnson <xtabe@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: tabe johnson <xtabe@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Oil Buzzer
In-Reply-To: <20051021181036.61038.qmail@web30708.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Mark,
You'll find lots in the archives, but here's what to do, in shorthand:
1) Check the oil pressure circuit. My gut feel is it's in good shape though.
2) Put in heavy oil. People like Mobil 1 15W50. You could use non-synthetic
20W50 as well. Thick is good.
4) Do NOT fill to the upper line on the dipstick. On _level_ ground, fill to
halfway between the upper line and the lower line. THIS REALLY WORKS! I
see a measurable (~5psi) increase in hot oil pressure when the sump
is not filled to the upper line.
5) Install an oil pressure gauge to see what is actually happening in your
engine. (Thread on the block is M10 X 1, which I would stick with, but people
have stuffed 1/8 NPT in the hole too)
I have an engine with unknown history (mileage) in my van and the buzzer went
off after I installed it. I installed a gauge and disconnected the buzzer and
have been driving happily, but with great paranoia, for many miles since.
Why low oil pressure? See
http://www.bostonengine.com/articles/low-oil-pressure.htm
but you're not going to like it!
There is more info here:
http://www.vanagon.com/info/articles/oil-pressure-probs/index.html
Good luck, and write back with questions,
--tabe johnson/87 westy
--- Mark Baker <mr_dogpants@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Went off the first time when I test drove it. Phoned the guy I was buying it from, he said it
> was probably a bad sensor, but if I heard knocking it was actually a problem with the oil.
> Heard no knocking, continued test drive. Light/buzzer subsided moments afterward.
>
> Drove van 750+ miles home without incident.
>
> Now, buzzer goes off seemingly randomly when van is fully warmed up, buzzes for 10-20 seconds,
> stops. No knocking or anything that would indicate an actual oil circulation problem.
>
> Short in the sensor? I'm baffled.
>
> tabe johnson <xtabe@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Uh, Mark,
>
> I can't help you with your horn (just gotta follow the wires) but if
> that oil buzzer is going you gotta figure out why! It shouldn't be
> going off. The light goes on before you start the car, then you should
> see/hear nothing unless there's a problem.
>
> I never heard my buzzer until I disconnected the wire to test it.
>
>
> tabe johnson/87 westy
>
>
> ---------------------------------
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