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Date:         Fri, 3 Jun 2011 20:05:09 -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: Spooked!
Comments: To: Tom Hargrave <thargrav@hiwaay.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

none of that is going to help your apparent low oil pressure problem. I believe you expressed needing to use the van badly right away this weekend.

just tryin' to get you through the weekend. I hope it's clear I NEVER recommend a cooler t-stat as any sort of repair.

just tryin' to save ya for the weekend. Got any better ideas ?

----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Hargrave" <thargrav@hiwaay.net> To: "'Scott Daniel - Turbovans'" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>; <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 6:59 PM Subject: RE: Spooked!

>A cooler thermostat is a quick fix for a lot of ails but it rarely solves > anything. > > A lower temperature thermostat will open sooner causing the engine to run > cooler & consume more gas. It will also cause the engine to wear out > faster, > again because it's running cooler. > > But a cooler thermostat won't help overheating the least bit. When > overheating your standard temperature thermostat will be open just as much > as a cooler thermostat and your water flow will be the same. Either way > it's > just too hot. > > If you have a overheating problem you need to look for restrictions in the > system, most likely the radiator, or causes for the excess heat like lean > fuel mixture or incorrect timing. Even dragging brakes can cause a engine > overheating problem. > > Thanks, Tom Hargrave > www.stir-plate.com > www.towercooler.com > www.kegkits.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of > Scott Daniel - Turbovans > Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 8:32 PM > To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com > Subject: Re: Spooked! > > How many miles on the engine .. > or specifically the bottom end ? > > I was searching for some diesel AAZ connecting rods ( anyone got a set for > sale ? ) last night and stumbled onto 'how 2.1 waterboxer rods fail.' > > long report by a guy. He was driving a 2.1 wbxr with about 150K miles on > it > .. > and he was driving it with about 9psi oil pressure at speed, and 3 or 4 > psi > at a hot idle !! > > Sure blew that engine. His main point is without knowing what the actual > oil > pressure is ( with an OP gague on the dash ) ..........and miles are very > high on a 2.1 wbxr bottem end, you're taking a real chance. > > Oil pressure varies by the oil clearance at the bearings ( as the rod > bearings wear ) .... > and by temperature, and by weight of oil. > So hot engine, many miles on the engine, and say ...10W40 oil can result > in > very low oil pressure at times .. > down to just a few psi at idle.. > and at say 60mph ..it should have about 25psi at least. 20 min for sure. > > 2.1 rod bolts are the stretch type. You can read about that all day long > on > the internet .. > which is a factor in why 2.1's with high miles can have a rod bearing > problem. > > in the short term .. > it sounds like it was really hot., by your discription of how hot it > seemed > by the engine. > This is cheating .. > and it's only to get you through the week... > but you can help your situation by putting in a cooler thmerostat ( 80 C ) > and thicker oil. > > Bear in mind that a cooler t-stat does not make it run cooler when it's > really running hot .. > it will just make it 'try' to run cooler. Like if you're cruising on the > level, and it's not a hot day .. > it might run at 170F rather than the desired 180F or a bit higher . > If it's a real hot day, long grades, big laods, or stuck in traffic, it'll > still try to run at 200 or whatever. > > and put in 20W50 oil. or ..... > if it's a tired old trashed waterboxer engine anyway ..and it's an > emergency > .. > and you're not expecting miracles......like this is for emergency use only > ! > ..put in racing 50W oil. > > Don't tell anyone I said thes though. ( joking, I know this is public ) > it's not any kind of 'repair' , it's pure band-aid and hope. Extreme > short > term emergency use only. > > you should have an oil pressure guage so you really know what is going on. > unless there is a sensor or gauge/warning system malfunction .. > and miles are high on the engine .. > it sounds like you have a real ( and fairly common ) oil clearance/oil > pressure issue. > > Some people have improved this situation with new oil pump .. I don't > really > beleive in that ..might help a little. > and you might start researching new engine options. > the enhanced waterboxer I can recommend is the thecentife 2.2 better > waterboxer, by Chris Corkin .. > on thesamba. > Scott > www.turbovans.com > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> > Sent: Friday, June 03, 2011 5:28 PM > Subject: Spooked! > > >> While driving my manual tranny 88GL home this afternoon the oil >> pressure alarm sounded and the oil pressure light came on. I killed the >> ignition immediately, noted all the gages seemed normal, and being very >> close to my house just coasted on down the street, around the corner, >> and halfway up my up-slope driveway and stopped. All the while I'm >> thinking "Omigosh! What now?" ( I have an important art show to >> participate in on Sat. and have to set up by 6 am -- this is not good!) >> >> After getting stopped, I sat for a moment, the turned the ignition on. >> All the lights did their normal thing. I hit the switch, the engine >> started right up, oil pressure light went out. I noted no strange >> sounds, and the oil pressure alarm did not sound. I drove the remaining >> 100 feet up the hill to the house - all was normal. >> >> Today was extraordinarily hot - 100 plus degrees, driving was slow >> coming off the highway home, and even though the temp gauge needle was >> in the middle, nothing seemed wrong. I did note that at very slow speeds >> the fan kept coming on frequently. I was poking along about 30 mph when >> the alarm sounded and the oil pressure light came on. >> >> I opened the hatch, and noted the engine seemed really hot. The heat >> just came boiling out. I looked for oil leaking, coolant leaking, etc, >> but found nothing. Oil dip stick measures halfway between the marks, and >> the coolant level is up. I checked the rear oil pressure switch, and the >> wiring connector, but it was tight. >> >> I let the van sit a while with the hatch open to cool the engine, then >> started it up. After Idling a minute, I revved the engine up to 3000. I >> ran perfect. No lights, no alarms. I have tried several times now, but >> cannot reproduce the event. Of course the circumstances have changed as >> the atmosphere is cooling down. >> >> Anybody have any ideas? Can the engine oil get so hot under normal >> driving conditions as to cause low oil pressure. Surely that is not a >> good thing. But how can I avoid that in the common daily summer weather >> here in the South. I'm afraid this event might repeat itself at a >> tremendously inopportune time - as such events usually do. >> >> Thanks, >> >> John >> >> >> -- >> John Rodgers >> Clayartist and Moldmaker >> 88'GL VW Bus Driver >> Chelsea, AL >> Http://www.moldhaus.com > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1382 / Virus Database: 1511/3679 - Release Date: 06/03/11 >


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