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Date:         Sat, 12 May 2007 13:55:27 -0700
Reply-To:     Thomas Pfrommer <pfrommer@PHAS.UBC.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Thomas Pfrommer <pfrommer@PHAS.UBC.CA>
Organization: University of British Columbia
Subject:      Re: oil pressure
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY125-F1855406C8D33B6FD267641A0440@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

Hi everybody, I do have a low oil pressure problem. Luckily, Tabe send me an email so I could borrow his pressure gauge and IR thermometer. here is the reading (use timed new roman for proper display):

(the tubing is about 2.5 meters long, hence I expect a small drop compared to what is the real reading as well as a delay. therefore readings are carried out at about 3 minutes of respective rpm) . I began at about 3 to 4 minutes after starting up.

_rpm _ 1000 2000 1000 2000 __ 1000 2000 1000 2000_ _pressure [psi] | 55 60 | 25 30 | _ 15 20 | 10 *12.5 * |_ _ waterpump T [deg C] | 25 33 | 59 72 | 86 95 | 95 97 | oil cooler T [deg C] | 25 33 | 55 66 | 74 81 | 88 90 | oil pick up T [deg C] | 25 30 | 40 45 | 52 65 | 57 79 | heads from below T [deg C] | 55 71 | 90 100 | 110 120 | 115 130 |

Then I stopped to not cause any damage. The fan did not yet kick in, but the radiator was heating up, so I would expected it to kick in fairly soon. however the pressure was so low so I did not want to rev higher (2600 to have the other sensor read the pressure). Its quite obvious, I am loosing pressure when it is getting hot (OK I know pressure supposed to drop but not so much) and the revs are higher.

Anyway I will change the oil pump cover and see what is wrong with the gaskets. I had another look and there is quite a gap of at least 0.5mm between cover and pump (gasket is 0.2mm). I don't think i put the wrong gaskets in, as they have different inner diameters for the big hole, however I might have added an O-ring to the groove where oil is supposed to flow around the oil pump ... who knows I just try to see what mistake I could have made. Anyhow there is a gap which is too large and i see oil coming out. Not a lot, nothing is dripping, but its oily. Directly at the pump even a bit of a leak, or too much gap between the gears and the cover is for sure a cause for low oil pressure (I hope ;-)) . So I will follow Dennis suggestion and support the engine, remove the muffler/catalytic converter and the tin. I hope that I can get the engine holding bracket out without having to undo the exhaust pipe to the heads. Then I hope that the water pipe i high enough to take the cover off. Then I see what kind of gasket is in and decide whether I have to get the pump out as well, to replace the inner gasket. This might be a pain to do with the water pipe/pulley in place but well, I'll give it a try. Lets hope there is something wrong and i do not have to take everything apart again.

Thanks a for all your help. Suggestions about what i could do better or should do before this job are always welcome. I will let you know what happens when I am done.

Cheers Thomas

Dennis Haynes wrote: > If you have the thick gasket between the pump cover and body, that is > a major part of your problem. Removing the muffler and rear tin will > give you access to it. Supporting the engine and removing the rear > mount will make it easy. You should be able to change the cover gasket > with the pulley in place. > > For checking oil and case temperatures, an infrared thermometer will > get you close enough. Some experience will tell you what areas to aim > it at such as the oil filter. The gun can also be used to check water > temps and aiming at the exhaust it can also help find mis firing > cylinders. > > Dennis > > >> From: Thomas Pfrommer <pfrommer@phas.ubc.ca> >> To: Dennis <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> >> CC: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >> Subject: Re: oil pressure >> Date: Tue, 08 May 2007 00:17:48 -0700 >> >> Dennis wrote: >>> Unless the relief spring and piston is extremely loaded with crud, >>> it does >>> not fail. The 2,600 rpm vs. 2,000 rpm buzzer issue is strictly an >>> electrical issue with the dynamic oil pressure board and I have seen a >>> number that operate at that RPM. My guess is that there was a >>> revision at >>> some point to quiet the noisy buzzers. >>> >> I agree. Is there am easy way to change this or how are these >> revision usually made? Well I am getting ahead of myself anyway ... >> first the manual gauge .... >>> A healthy engine should be able to maintain ~ 10psi/1,000 rpm. If you >>> can’t hold .9 bar at 2,000 or 2,600 rpm, something is wrong. Since >>> you are >>> having trouble once warm you have to consider viscosity, temperature, a >>> clogged inlet screen or excessive clearances somewhere. You need the >>> test >>> the oil pressure with an oil pressure gauge. You need to check the >>> relief >>> valve with a cold engine >> Hm how can I check whether its working or not? the piston is clean >> and the spring is new. >> >>> ant them map oil pressure a various oil >>> temperatures and engine speeds. >>> >> Yes the pressure gauge is what i will do next .... temperature gauge >> will also be implemented. I keep you posted with the results ... >>> If the oil pup has a gasket between the pump body and cover, and that >>> gasket is not so thin as to rip by merely looking at it, you have the >>> wrong gasket there. >>> >> Hm it seems that I accidentally changed the two gaskets, I cannot see >> the one between pump and case, but between cover and pump, a ~1mm >> thick gasket is visible. is there an easy way to get to change this? >> I.e. letting the engine to the ground onto some lumber, taking the >> exhaust off (is there enough space or do I have to get the rear tires >> a bit higher?) , taking the engine bracket off and then taking the >> cover off? Or is the coolant pipe in the way? Meaning I have to undo >> the pulley as well? >> Well This will be the next step after the manual oil pressure I guess >> ... >>> What level is the oil filled to? Any chance it is too high. At or above >>> the top mark on the dip stick is too much. >> It is at the high side ... I will let a bit out but my guess is >> perhaps 200ml too much if that. Could this cause the low oil pressure? >> >>> Is water flowing through the >>> oil cooler? >> The oil cooler is new, How could I check? Just with the hands if it >> is running to feel the flow? >>> What is the coolant and oil temps. >> Coolant temps is just above center of gauge. Don't have an oil temp >> gauge yet. >>> Without using an oil >>> pressure gauge and doing some real diagnostic testing, you only >>> grasping >>> at straws and hoping for a miracle. >>> >> Yes I agree thats why the pressure gauge is the next step. I still >> hope that i do not have to do a major change .... >> Thanks a lot for your thoughts and help! >> Cheers >> Thomas >>> Dennis >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On >>> Behalf Of >>> Thomas Pfrommer >>> Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 1:52 PM >>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >>> Subject: Re: oil pressure >>> >>> David Kao wrote: >>> >>>> --- Thomas Pfrommer <pfrommer@phas.ubc.ca> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> Actually i do not get a blinking, meaning even with a hot engine and >>>>> idling now warning occurs. With a cold engine the same, and also >>>>> when i >>>>> rev above 2600 rpms everything is fine. BUT when the engine is hot >>>>> and >>>>> >>> I >>> >>>>> rev above 2600 at some point, not right away the buzzer+warning light >>>>> gets on. A small tip on the accelerator to bring the engine at about >>>>> 2800 stops the buzzer/warning light. Going then back to idle no >>>>> blinking occurs. I believe that there is certainly a low oil pressure >>>>> problem, as at 2600 or 2800 the pressure is not supposed to be around >>>>> 0.9bar but rather 2 to 3 bar. I am certainly above 0.3bar while >>>>> idling. >>>>> The 0.9bar switch is new. What is strange is that the change from the >>>>> 0.3bar switch to the 0.9bar switch occurs at 2600rpm and not at >>>>> 2000. I >>>>> tested it by disconnecting the cable to the 0.9bar switch. >>>>> Thanks >>>>> Thomas >>>>> >>>>> >>>> Thomas: >>>> >>>> So it is unrelated to overheating. Have you checked your oil pressure >>>> >>> relieve valve? >>> >>>> If the sping is stuck and compressed you will get constant low oil >>>> >>> pressure. >>> >>>> >>> I changes the spring last week as I also thought this is the problem. >>> However I am not sure if it is stuck ... how can i tell? the piston >>> came >>> out nicely when I changed it and I cleaned everything and put it back >>> together, with the groove being farther away from the spring .... I >>> hope >>> that was the right direction ... the bentley for the 2.1l 87 does not >>> show which site of the piston faces upward, but for the air-cooled >>> it is >>> shown nicely and i assumed it will be the same way. that means the >>> spring connects to the outer ring of the piston and it is hollow at the >>> spring site. The piston is flat facing the engine ... makes sens to >>> me... >>> >>> aaarrrgggghhhhhh I am running out of ideas what it could be WITHOUT >>> talking the monster out/apart again NNNOOOOOOO!!! >>> >>> Thanks >>> Thomas >>> >>>> Overheating and rod bearing clearance problem will cause blinking >>>> >>> warning light. >>> >>>> David >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> __________________________________________________________________________ >>> >>> __________ >>> >>>> The fish are biting. >>>> Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. >>>> http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php >>>> >>>> >> > >


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