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Date:         Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:50:33 -0700
Reply-To:     Bill MacLachlan <billmacla@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill MacLachlan <billmacla@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: oil pressure diagnosis.
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY132-DS4214F89C630594889CDE6A0C00@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Well, that's another variable...and a tough one too!!! :) :)

here's my approach- start with the easiest and cheapest, and work my way up to the most expensive & difficult 1) change the oil. might work, won't do any harm. If it doesn't work 2) drain & reserve oil, drop pan and look at the pick up screen/pressure relief valve.If that doesn't work, 3) change the oil pump if necessary. If that doesn't work..... 4) hope it does 'cos I really don't want to have to change the head !!! :)

On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 5:06 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> Another cause of low oil pressure on these engines is worn or damaged cam > bearing journals. There are no cam bearings! The cam rides directly on the > aluminum. An over tightened cam belt or any occurrence of no oil pressure > wipes the head quickly. Rimco used to align bore these heads and fit > bearings. It is difficult to check the bearing journal clearance. You have > to remove the cam, lifters, and using plasti-gauge install the cam so the > clearance can be measured. > > Dennis > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of > Bill MacLachlan > Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 7:20 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: oil pressure diagnosis. > > Thanks Dennis....they did guides & seals too, so I'm hoping the oil > consumption issue is resolved. > Their analysis was that oil use was due to sludged up rings not moving > right. Therefore they replaced rings and con rod bearings. > > Shops first answer to the oil light was that it was a sensor ( " they can > be > sensitive"), but then they used a pressure gauge - pressure low at idle, > OK > at running speed. Not sure how warm the motor was when they read the > guage. > > Thaks for the info on the pump, and the inlet screen. I'm thinking the > inlet screen may be dirty or the pressure relief may be gummed open. This > would be the sort of non culpable careless stuff I've run into with work > they've done. Sigh. No I won't use them again. > > Engine load is minimal and I don't rev it. > > Bill M > > On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 3:55 PM, Dennis Haynes > <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote: > > > Excessive oil consumption on these engines is usually the result of bad > > valve stem seal and/or worn guides. You need to confirm hot idle oil > > pressure with a gauge. May only be a bad sensor. Rarely do these oil > pumps > > wear out but a sludged up or other dirty engine can clog the pump inlet > > screen. Usually these engine will run fine on 10w-40 unless you are > getting > > things really hot form hi revs or high load. Also be careful that the oil > > level is not too high. > > > > Dennis > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf > Of > > Bill MacLachlan > > Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 6:26 PM > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > > Subject: oil pressure diagnosis. > > > > Hi all, I need a little bit of list wisdom/feedback here..... > > > > Just over a year ago I had a local shop put replaced my worn out I4 motor > > with a used one. > > > > The one they installed has been a lemon. > > > > Shop has just replaced rings and con rod bearings because the engine they > > put in was burning 0.5 litre of oil every 300 miles. > > > > Now when the motor is warmed up , the oil light's on at idle - wasn't > > before, but now it is. The only change has been the rings & bearings. > > > > Raise the revs 50 rpm and the oil light is off. Shop says oil pump's > worn > > - > > low pressure at idle, but OK above idle - 60 lbs. @ 3000 rpm > > > > I wouldn't be surprisd if the oil pump is worn, but I'm also thinking > > > > (1) oil weight too thin- should be 20/50 not 10/40 > > (2) is this a symptom of worn main bearings too? It wouldn't surprise me. > > > > any thoughts welcome... it'd be good to hear your opinions.... > > > > Bill M > > 82 I4 GL > > > > > >


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