Date:         Sun, 24 Sep 2006 20:30:07 -0400
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Oil Pressure Light/Buzzer on '87 Westy
Comments: To: Michael Hart <mjhart853@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <20060925000540.66935.qmail@web54307.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Most quick change oil places will have put in 10w30 oil....which is
the wrong oil for the Vanagon engine. The vanagon should use 20w50 or
straight 30 weight (for most climates).

The buzzer is an indicator of too low oil pressure.

On Sep 24, 2006, at 8:05 PM, Michael Hart wrote:

> After driving an '85 Westy trouble free for the past
> 2 years/20k miles, I recently purchased an '87
> (with lower miles, much better exterior condition
> etc.)
> Unfortunately the oil pressure light/buzzer on my
> (new) '87 Westy went off 4 times today, as I was
> climbing a hill (highway 17 to Santa Cruz, not that
> steep, but a pretty hot day out here), with low rpm
> (~2100-2300 in 3rd or 4th).
> They (i.e. the light & buzzer) went away when I
> changed down a gear each time.
> Is this
> a). a clever device from VW to tell me to change down?
>     (although I've driven my '85 under similar and
>     much tougher conditions without ever seeing the
>     light)
> b). using the wrong oil? (not sure what's in the van
>     as it was just changed before I bought it).
>     Should I be using 10/30, 20/50, Syntec???
> c). a faulty sensor?
> d). an ominous sign that I should just keep my
>     '85 van and let someone else deal with the '87?
> Your opinions will be gratefully considered.
> The '87 has factory 2.1 engine with 110kmiles
> (The '85 has factory 1.9 with 160kmiles).
> My first post, so hopefully I'm following the
> correct etiquette?
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
> '87 Westy
> '85 Westy
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com