Date: Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:48:16 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Read your manual: Oil pressure nonsense
In-Reply-To: <2008fb6d0609131139q5721295dh9aa09691ec5c9105@mail.gmail.com>
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Maybe you have a bad switch? You need to consider the following:
Since cruising speed affects the symptoms, you know oil temperature is an
issue. Oil temp does not directly follow coolant temp, especially since the
1.9 does not have an oil cooler or oil to water heat exchanger like the 2.1.
The low idle speed is not helping and can also be a problem for the cooling
system. Get that fixed, 850-950 rpm will help.
The engine is tired at 160K, but with a little help it may go another 50K or
more.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: David Bohannan [mailto:fjazzbass@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 2:40 PM
To: dhaynes@optonline.net
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: Read your manual: Oil pressure nonsense
I am running 15W50 Mobil 1...
The vehicle maybe idles too low...750 rpm. At 1k, the light isn't on...
Also, I can avoid the light coming on if I keep the crusing speed below 60
on the highway...
Dave
On 9/13/06, dhaynes@optonline.net <dhaynes@optonline.net> wrote:
I would put that oil light acceptance right up there with "it is normal for
the lifters to clatter". That oil light is basically telling you that the
oil pressure has dropped below 3 psi. While that is at lest supplying some
lubrication, it is a sign of trouble. A healty engine should be able to
maintain close to 10 psi/1,000 rpm.
What viscosity oil are you using and what is your fill level? 20w-50 or
synthetic 15w-50 is preferred. make sure the oil level is not too high.
Remember, the top line on the dip stick is not fill to line. The top line is
maximum do exceed not matter what line. For extended high speed travel, the
oil will stay coolest near the the lower mark to halfway. More is not
better.
Also, the 1.9 liter engines wear out the cases where the bearings sit. This
is a common cause of low oil pressure.
Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: David Bohannan
Date: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 1:13 pm
Subject: Read your manual: Oil pressure nonsense
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Ok,
>
> Here's another one of those instances where if I would have read
> my stinkin
> manual I wouldn't have been sweating for so long...
>
> I thought my 1.9 was wearing thin...my oil pressure light
> flickers after hot
> runs at idle...you know, when idling through toll plazas,
> etc...It never did
> it once I accelerated again, but, it did it...scared the
> poopsters out of me
> at times...hate warning lights! What's strange is that when I
> had the heads
> done the cylinder walls looked great...little or no wear...160K
> miles...gofigure...I was worrying about bad bearings or whatever....
>
> In any case, all this towing talk lately got me looking at my
> manual for my
> 85 to see if I could find anything on towing...I did not, but I
> DID find
> this sentence:
>
> "An occasional flickering of the oil pressure warning light when
> the engine
> is idling after a long high speed trip is no cause for concern
> if the light
> goes out upon acceleration."
>
> Note to self, read the stinkin manual...
>
> Dave
> 85 GL "Baby Bus"
> 85 "Goldy"
>
--
Dave - KC9FYM
http://fjazzbass.blogspot.com