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Date:         Tue, 6 Feb 2007 13:53:49 -0600
Reply-To:     Tom Lambas <twlambas@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Lambas <twlambas@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Oil Pressure Light and Alarm after oil change
In-Reply-To:  <c6977ef00702061140y32e42c4j5cde690c5056458b@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Hi Dennis,

What I remember was the oil light on - bright at first, then getting dimmer and valvetrain noise. Your right, I don't recall an audible alarm.

I try not to go much above 3500 RPM while cruising (Wish I had that Euro 5th gear). I think 50 weight might be a bit too viscous even at higher RPM with no cooling issues; it might reduce mileage too. The previous owner (an uncle) ran the original engine to 130k (before a rebuild) using 10-40 with a lot of travel through the Sierras. The thing that concerns me about non-synthetic wide range oil is that more added polymers translates to added valve deposits. As I understand it the "30" in 10-30 means that the oil won't thin out any more than a standard 30 weight oil would when hot. Seems to me that if my cooling system works fine then you'd want to keep the 30 flow rate, and adding more valve deposits. There seems to be more top end issues with these engines than bottom end anyway.

With seasonal use I hate to spend $$ on synthetic since I put so few miles on between oil changes.

Anyway, that's my opinion explained.

Tom in Minneapolis

'84 Westy

On 2/5/07, Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@optonline.net > wrote: > > An '84 does not have an oil pressure alarm. 10w-30 can be hazardous to > your > bearings health at extended high speed warm weather operation. > > Dennis > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf > Of > Tom Lambas > Sent: Monday, February 05, 2007 4:15 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: Oil Pressure Light and Alarm after oil change > > Is it cold where you are? > > Some may disagree, but I would only use 20-50 if I were in a very warm > climate year-round. The one time I used 20-50 here in Minnesota (in the > spring - cool temps), I got the oil pressure alarm too, along with valve > noise. After warming up, things settled down. Out came the 20-50 ; ):: > 10-30 seems to be the happy stuff for me. I store the van in the winter. > > Tom L - Minneapolis > '84 westy > > On 2/5/07, Louize Christensen <louizec@mycingular.blackberry.net > wrote: > > > > > > Question! > > Just had an oil change (at a VW shop). I asked to make sure to use 20w50 > > oil. The tech said. YEP. > > Later, I heard him ask another tech if they had any. After oil change, I > > asked again and was assured that 20 50oil was used. > > > > Fast forward: > > > > After driving a couple of days around town-- say under 2000rpm, no high > > speed highway, all was fine. The first time I got on the highway and > drove > > about 40minutes at then got off exit ramp, oil pressure light and alarm > went > > off. I stepped on accelerator and both went off. As soon as I let off > > acc.the same happened about 4 times. > > (I read the great info on the archives ) > > > > My prev. exper. Is that if the wrong oil is used or wrong filter this > will > > happen as the oil is resrtricted in flow, or not viscous enough. > > > > The van drives fine othErwise with no leaks or alarms in city driving. > > > > The oil filter used is a BOSCH. No 0 451 103 033; the recommended > filter > > for my 91. Is:; 070115561 > > > > The bus seems to be running slightly hotter, even tho it is cooler > > outside. With fan coming on after being in traffic for 30 min or so and > it > > is not hot outside. > > > > ?: Is this filter ok? > > ? If no, is it or will it damage engine? > > > > Oil on dipstick does not feel as thick as the spare 20 50 I have here > > > > -?: Is it the oil... > > Or > > ? Is it btoth... Or sometHing else? > > > > Thanks in ADvance! > > > > Louize > > Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless > >


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