Date: Thu, 18 May 2006 18:37:24 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: 1.9 Vanagon oil lite shananagons (cont.)
In-Reply-To: <000e01c67ac3$2ec76a30$4001a8c0@Nancy>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
The 1.9L engines have the same basic bearing design as the type 1
engines and the center bearing in particular will pound out the case.
Overhauling the engine without at least measuring the clearances is
possibly a waste of time. It is possible that the oil light problem may
be something as simple as a wire with bad insulation or a bad switch,
but the engine should have the oil pressure tested. Straight 30 oil is
not satisfactory for extended highway traveling. 20w-50 will have a much
higher viscosity at 212f.
If there is a chance that the heads did not seal properly, then the
assembler did not do something right or properly inspect and prepare
parts before assembling. Yes, the design has some issues, them most
important being lack of tolerance for defective parts or assembly
methods.
It sounds to me that you need some good diagnoses and possibly look at
doing things again.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of David Gunning
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 5:37 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 1.9 vanagon oil lite shananagons (cont.)
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
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