Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 10:42:29 -0400
Reply-To: dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Oil Light
In-Reply-To: <c803c1a70608080713u2a38cf96i66fab089301cd207@mail.gmail.com>
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86 and later has what is known as the "Dynamic" oil pressure warning system.
The dynamic is that it has two sensors, with each being checked depending on engine RPM.
The low pressure, (.3 bar) sensor is located between the push rod tubes on the drivers side of the engine. It is normally closed, completing the circuit to ground until sufficient oil pressure causes it to open. When it is closed, the oil pressure warning light will flash.
The higher pressure switch, (.9 bar), is located directly off the oil pump, found under the water pump. It is reverse acting, that is it is normally open, closing or completing the circuit when the oil pressure satisfies it. This is sort of a fail safe since a broken wire or bad connection will keep the circuit in warning. This switch is monitored when the engine RPM is above 2,500. In warning, you will get both the blinking light and a buzzer. Once the buzzer sounds, it will continue until the circuit is closed, (satisfied) or the ignition is turned off.
You don't say what the conditions are with your blinking light. An occasional blink at idle after a hard run indicates a bad switch or low oil pressure issue. Intermittent while running could be a bad switch or shorted wire. If you have low oil pressure, I would suspect the high pressure warning will also sound unless someone attached the sensor wire to ground. Seen that many a time. I've even seen the oil pressure warning board removed to silence things.
What viscosity oil are you using? 20w-50 or something close to it is needed. This will have an effect on oil pressure. Also, the oil level is extremely important. You want the level between the marks. The upper mark is not the full mark. It is the maximum do not ever exceed no matter what mark. This is extremely critical during high speed, high load operation.
Hope this helps.
Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff Lincoln <magikvw@GMAIL.COM>
Date: Tuesday, August 8, 2006 10:13 am
Subject: Oil Light
> Just a quick question. I've got the 86' running (and stopping) and
> have put
> about 200 miles on it locally. Anyhow, today the oil light started
> blinkingfor about 2 minutes and then stopped. It did this a few
> times. My previous
> bus was an 85' and that oil light never blinked it would just come
> on steady
> when there was an issue. So what does the blinking mean exactly?
> Thank you
> for any replies and sorry for the elementary question.
>
> --
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
>
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