Date:         Thu, 18 May 2006 17:36:54 -0400
Reply-To:     David Gunning <davidgunning@PIVOT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Gunning <davidgunning@PIVOT.NET>
Subject:      1.9 vanagon oil lite shananagons (cont.)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

 
Hi All,

Thanks to Sam, Robert, Ken Lewis, Jeff Hogue, Andrew and Dave for all the good, thought provoking info.

My vanagon engine was rebuilt about 12,000 miles ago.  Nothing fancy, no new crankshaft, no align bores, resurfacing heads, etc., just your basic rebuild; new heads, pistons and rings, connecting rods,  crank bearings and such.  The mechanic who suggested that the oil lite problem was likely a non-issue was the mechanic who rebuilt the engine,  Reggie, himself, of "Reggie's VW Repair & Salvage", just down the road in  Waterford, Maine.  He specializes in air cooled VWs (many years) and now works on the WBXs, as well.  He has a huge ole chicken barn filled with older air cooled VWs, type ones, bugs and such,  which he stores and works on for their owners.  He is a top notch VW mechanic, so far as I am aware.

Every couple thousand miles, or so, I have Reggie change the oil and filter.  Castrol SAE 30 oil, I believe, and one of those filters from the Bus Depot.

As I indicated to Sam in a private e-mail, the oil lite came on and went off, sporatically until about 500 to 1,000 miles, or so, ago, when it, apparently, finally decided to stop it's electronic silliness, if that's what the problem was.  For that I mumble a quiet but heartfelt thanks to the Vanagon deity, if there is such a God.

The coolant issue may be more complex, as I have been told by Reggie that the head gaskets are questionably designed in so much as there is some sort of lip (I hope I am getting this right) on the head gasket which sometimes has interesting interactions with the coolant chamber.   Not sure that I exactly comprehend what this "gasket lip" esoterica is all about and I would welcome further clarification by other list members who may be "in the know" on this subject.  The simplier the explanation the better.

Cheers, etc.,

Dave

davidgunning@pivot.net