Date: Fri, 1 Jan 2010 10:10:07 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: engine issues
In-Reply-To: <c916ef240912301139y28e9226cy7277549178422282@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
There are lots of reasons the oil pressure sender modification may have
failed. Most likely bad design and choice of fittings. The oil pressure
sensor holes in the case are straight 10mm threads and rely on the crush
washer for sealing and holding the sensor in place. The air cooled engines
used a tapered thread. I can almost bet the mechanic used 1/8" tapered pipe
thread fittings. While it may appear to work without some loc-tite and luck
it will not. There simply is not room to thread a gauge sensor directly into
the ports, too large in diameter.
My choice is to use the proper fitting, use steel tube to connect the sensor
and mount it with clamps up top, usually to the intake manifold. The steel
tube is resistant to wear and sudden failures. I use the VDO combination
sensors with the gauge and warning light connections.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jeff Gellman
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2009 2:39 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: engine issues
hey all
I write this as my 1989 VW Westy is in my driveway undrivable for the 2nd
time this year..I had an rebuilt engine put in about 10 months ago after
driving 160,000 on the factory engine...not sure where my mechanic got if
from but I saw it come out of the crate and it was a nice rebuilt one..so
about 20K into it, which is about 8 months for me a coolant pipe blew and I
did not realize it until I got off the highway and lots of smoke and then I
heard the little red light and alarm going off onthe dash that told me I had
engine problems..well..i melted the inside of the engine (that is what I was
told)...so after my mechanic looked around for something to put in he found
another engine..it was not rebuilt though..just said it was a decent
engine...well... 2 weeks ago it was done...I drove down to NYC from PVD 180
miles and then on my way back I lost engine compression about 30 miles back
into my return trip...I looked underneath and saw the oil pressure gauge
thingy hanging by the wire...the oil pressure gauge was put in by the
mechanic along with an aftermarket gauge on my dashboard...after careful
looking it looks like the pressure gauge thingy was broken off about 1 inch
from the end with some threads still showing...
so...is it possible that when it was installed it was not put in the correct
place? was it torqued to tight and the engine vibration dislodged it? pretty
much by this coming off my engine is destroyed...so after spending 4000.00
dollars i got 2 weeks worth of driving...I find it hard to believe that this
is my fault...should the mechanic be taking responsibilty for this?
--
Jeff