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Date:         Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:32:29 -0400
Reply-To:     Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Now...Water and Oil idiot lights? Doh!
Comments: To: akimmons@GMAIL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <7a0d6a660707240847w1d2935fud88c6639b842d4ed@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed

Are you sure you have the correct sender for the gauge? Have you checked the reading against another known good guage? A cold engine, (overnight cold) should start off with oil pressure high against the relief valve at 50 psi+. After warm up you should be able to hold ~10psi/1,000 rpm. 28 psi @ 4,000 rpm is considered a wear limit reqiuring attention.

Knowing operating the engine without the cooling system working properly is not a good thing. The cooling system should be bleed with the engine cold to avoid vaporizing the coolant with the resulting hot spots. You are asking for trouble here.

Dennis

>From: Anthony Kimmons <akimmons@GMAIL.COM> >Reply-To: Anthony Kimmons <akimmons@GMAIL.COM> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >Subject: Re: Now...Water and Oil idiot lights? Doh! >Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:47:08 -0500 > >I installed the two connection VDO oil pressure gauge when I did the >rebuild. I want to say it controls both the idiot light and the >pressure gauge, but I'm sure I had to remove the original sensor in >order to connect it. I'll have to crawl under there and see today. >If I remember correctly, the hose that came with the kit screwed >directly into the engine where the sensor normally screws in. The >gauge is reading very low (almost nothing) when the buzzer comes on. > >I'm heading out right now to start working on all this... Hopefully >I'll get somewhere with it! > > >On 7/24/07, Mike Collum <collum@verizon.net> wrote: >>By the way, Anthony, do you have a "Tee" on your oil pressure port where >>you can use the gauge sender and the original VW idiot light sender? >> >>If you're using the aftermarket idiot light sender it will cause the >>light and alarm to go off at a higher pressure than the original. >> >>Mike >> >> >> >>Anthony Kimmons wrote: >> > Thanks! It's the oil pressure is fairly high (30) when first starting. >> > After 10-15 minutes of idling it goes down to that normal level, like >> > you say, and seems fine for awhile, but then after a few more minutes >> > begins to fall until the buzzer goes off. >> > >> > I'm thinking that since there is air in the coolant, the oil is >> > getting to hot and thin maybe? Does this make sense? Anyway... >> > bleeding the system is on today's list so I'll have more to report >> > later. The level was very low and I saw lots of bubbles coming into >> > the coolant tank while running it yesterday. >> > >> > The coolant light is on constant, not blinking, does this indicate >> > anything different? The temperature gauge just gets above the light >> > when the oil buzzer goes off. >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > On 7/24/07, kenwilfy@comcast.net <kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote: >> >> >> >> What is your oil pressure at idle when warm? 7-10 psi? This is >>normal. >> >> What about at 2000 rpms? All vans start out in the morning with high >>oil >> >> pressure and then it decreases when the oil warms up. I am wondering >> >> if you >> >> are actually having an oil pressure problem or if you are having a >> >> problem >> >> with your warning system (very common). The coolant light blinking is >> >> due >> >> to the level in your expansion tank (blue cap under engine lid) being >> >> low. >> >> When the van is cold top this off and it should go out and stay out. >> >> If not >> >> check it again. If it is low, then top if off again while having >>someone >> >> rev the engine at around 2000 rpms. If you never bled the system >> >> after your >> >> engine rebuild this would be a great time. Also after an engine >> >> rebuild you >> >> should always run the engine for about 30 mins at 1500 rpms. Then >> >> dump the >> >> oil and put in new oil. Then drive for around 500 miles and dump the >>oil >> >> again and change the filter. You will see metal flakes in the oil >>each >> >> time. That is why you are dumping it, and it is a normal part of the >> >> break >> >> in process. >> >> >> >> Hope this helps, >> >> Ken Wilford >> >> John 3:16 >> >> www.vanagain.com >> >> >> >> -------------- Original message -------------- >> >> From: Anthony Kimmons <akimmons@GMAIL.COM> >> >> >> >> > Well, I remember now why I let my van sit for so long... >> >> > >> >> > Now that I've gotten the van to start up again after several years >> >> > (thanks again to the List!), I'm having some other issues that I'd >> >> > thought I'd check about with the List before I jump into it on my >>own. >> >> > Of course, I'll be checking the archive as well on this- >> >> > >> >> > My idiot TEMP light is on constantly from the moment I start up. As >> >> > the van idles, temperature goes up slowly about midway on the gauge, >> >> > then the radiator fan kicks in (loud). There looks as though there >>are >> >> > lots of bubbles coming into the reservior in the back, so I'm sure >>it >> >> > needs to be bled at least. >> >> > >> >> > After idling for about 15-20 minutes my oil pressure s lowly creeps >> >> > down on my gauge. >> >> > When first starting, pressure is around 40 and then as it heats up >>the >> >> > pressure falls until the idiot light and buzzer comes on. (I have a >> >> > VDO oil pressure gauge hooked up) >> >> > >> >> > The engine is idling ok, although it's far from smooth and >> >> > perfect...Of course, when both of these indicators light up, the >> >> > engine dies pretty quickly, or I turn off the ignition. >> >> > >> >> > Any thoughts on where I should start to look to fix this? This >>engine >> >> > has a total rebuild, my first, so I am fearful that I did something >> >> > wrong along the way (ie... bearings) I changed the oil pump but did >> >> > not change the plate in front of it. I know I've seen something >>about >> >> > changing it when you replace the pump. Think this could be the cause >> >> > of the pressure drop? It's got a new VW filter, relief valve, 20-50w >> >> > oil. What could be wrong? What tests should I be doing ? >> >> > >> >> > My plan so far for tomorrow is to bleed the system first and see if >> >> > the oil pressure problems are being caused by the oil getting too >>hot >> >> > and thin. Also, I'm going to check the blue temp sensor (this is >>new, >> >> > but has been sitting for awhile) Sound good? What next? >> >> > >> >> > THANKS! >> > >>


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