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Date:         Sun, 5 Jun 2011 10:11:11 -0500
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: Spooked!-temp gauge-oip pressure problems.
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY152-ds77334B875C45BF1E83274A0610@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Dennis, thanks for the tips.

In 2000 I had this engine completely rebuilt. Since then all things have been fairly consistent. The temp gauge reads what it reads and always shows what it shows. After 11 years I know what to expect from that gauge, so even if it's off a bit, I would be reluctant to tamper with it. However, if it changes significantly or takes on some erratic behavior, then I would make changes, event to the extent of replacing it if need be. At this point, I have been alerted to something going on, so will keep a weather-eye out, so to speak. Definitely want to head off any crucial/critical issues.

John

John Rodgers Clayartist and Moldmaker 88'GL VW Bus Driver Chelsea, AL Http://www.moldhaus.com

On 6/5/2011 8:55 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote: > You may have a bad gauge or thermostat. Get some means to test actual > coolant temp such as an infrared thermometer. Normal gauge position should > be at or at the top of the center warning light. Bad sensor, poor > connections, wiring problems, or the gauge being out of adjustment can > through things off. If the gauge is right 1/2 way between the bottom and the > light is too cold. 87C = 188.6F. The gauge dose have an adjustment in it. It > can be re-calibrated. > > Dennis > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of > John Rodgers > Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2011 9:28 AM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: Spooked! > > A bit more as followup on this subject. - I drove my '88GL to my art > show as planned. No problems. OAT coming home was 97F plus. Traffic was > trudging along at about 40-45 mph, and I watched the temp gauge like a hawk. > Half way home the temp guage was showing a very slow rise. The needle > normally rides halfway between the bottom mark and the warning light in the > center. It was now at the bottom edge of the light. Slowly the needle > continued to move towards Hot. When the bottom edge of the needle touched > the top edge of the light, I set the heater lever to full hot and turned the > blower on hi-speed. In a little bit the needle was back down one needle > width below the coolant warning light. It stayed there the rest of the way > home. It got mighty hot IN the van, but I never got the low pressure warning > horn nor the warning light. > > I'm going ot keep my eye on this situation. I've been using Mann and Mahle > oil filters and Mobil one 15W50 for 10 years in this van. Has > 120,000 or so miles on the engine since rebuild. Never had the oil light > problem and warning horn this way before. Only happened once when a belt > broke and knocked the wire of the pressure switch at the pulley end of the > engine. > > John > > John Rodgers > Clayartist and Moldmaker > 88'GL VW Bus Driver > Chelsea, AL > Http://www.moldhaus.com > > > On 6/3/2011 7:28 PM, John Rodgers wrote: >> 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 >> >> >


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