Date: Mon, 31 May 2010 16:18:12 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: What's wrong with my 1.9 WBX engine?
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The right thing to do is check the oil pressure with an oil pressure gauge,
even if you only connect it temporarily.
for a pretty definitive report on the actual condition of your engine
.........oil analysis.
That can tell you quite a lot, like if there is excessive bearing wear, or
coolant in the oil, or if it's diluted with fuel, etc.
An Oil Analysis reports on about 25 things about the oil.
since you are wondering about condition of the engine in general, you could
check compression.
Not that that's very related to oil pressure, but it's free and easy if you
have the tools...
and might provide more information to add to what you know about your
engine.
'10 years' ago on 'head gasket' .....I think you mean both head gaskets..
that sounds like 'forever' to me on a waterboxer engine ....even if it's not
driven very far in that time period...
Though not directly related to low oil pressure,. or not likely anyway.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "M. Jade" <tinho2010@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 31, 2010 3:55 PM
Subject: What's wrong with my 1.9 WBX engine?
> My engine recently developed a problem I can not fix. It is a 85 Vanagon
> with a 1.9 WBX engine with 140k miles. There was work done to the cylinder
> head gasket about 10 years ago. It runs very well still. I made a 200
> miles trip yesterday and everything appeared OK except this problem.
>
> Every time I got off a freeway and came to a red light the oil light would
> either blink or turn on steadily. Continue to drive a few blocks the
> symptom would go away. A few times one or more of hydraulic lifters would
> collapse and make clapping noise. They would recover if continued driving
> for a a minute. Temp gauge showed normal. There was no coolant leak or
> anything. It ran absolutely no problem if drove back on to freeway. In
> fact it ran very well with plenty of power yesterday during the 200 mile
> trip.
>
> Is it developing a serious problem now? I am running 10w40 oil. But
> changing to 20w50 made no difference. I have had two oil filter changes
> already. No change. I am not ready to give up this engine at only 140k
> miles. I don't think it is an oil pressure sensor issue. At one time I was
> in a stop and go situation for a while the oil light came on. So it does
> not have to be driven on the freeway to have the problem.
>
> This engine has been very reliable with no problems for the past 10 years.
> I don't drive it much but do occasionally took it to trips of a couple of
> hundred miles. Am I dealing with an engine that is ready to quit? Thanks
> for any suggestions.
