Date:         Thu, 18 May 2006 22:50:31 -0400
Reply-To:     David Gunning <davidgunning@PIVOT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Gunning <davidgunning@PIVOT.NET>
Subject:      Re: 1.9 Vanagon oil lite shananagons (cont.)
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              reply-type=original

Dennis,

Thanks for the reply.  Wonder, however, if you would mind further explaining
a couple of your comments: 1) "Overhauling the engine without at least
measuring the clearances is possibly a waste of time."  and  2) ""need some
good diagnoses and possibly look at doing things again." ?

Concerning #1) what "clearances", specifically, are you referring to?  and
concerning #2) what, specifically, do I need a "good diagnoses" for and what
are these "things" that may need "doing.  .  .again"?

So far as I can tell, the engine rebuild was done as well as to be expected.
Are you second guessing otherwise?  The dumping of a cup of coolant that
happens when the vanagon is shut down while the fan is running, which has
happened two, no more than three times, seems more of a curiosity than
anything else.  I think I may have an extra blue or black coolant cap to
replace and try.  The engine runs well and overheating is NEVER a problem,
except for the above cited cup of coolant anomaly.  Maybe you can shut down
your 85 1.9L while the fan is running and report back to me if you get any
coolant backup?  That might be a worthy illustration.  Incidentally, I have
met one other person with a synchro who had the same anomaly with a small
spillage when shutting down while the fan was running.

From the gist of the range of comments from other list members, it seems
that installing a set of analogue gauges for oil temp, oil pressure, and a
redundant coolant temp gauge might be worthwhile doing.  Any suggestion on
best  available gauges?

The optimum correct oil weight issue is an issue that I'll be looking more
closely at.  Thanks for the tip.

Dave

davidgunning@pivot.net






----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis Haynes" <dhaynes@optonline.net>
To: "'David Gunning'" <davidgunning@PIVOT.NET>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 6:37 PM
Subject: RE: 1.9 Vanagon oil lite shananagons (cont.)


> 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
>
>
>