Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:22:49 -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: Oil drain plug washer?
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The preferred and ideal oil level is right between the marks.
reading taken on a warm engine, van sitting level.
overfilling is one of the very worst things you can do to an engine, oil
wise.
there has been much discussion.
if you search the internet you can probably find such discussions.
The general consensus is that on the full mark will shorten engine live long
term.
I think right between the marks is best.
that might be 4.6 qts .......or whatever it is.
I would not 'jam' five qts in myself..
unless that just happens to put the level right between the marks on the
dipstick.
I don't think the drain plug washer material matters too much.
I put a little sealant on the treads anyway.
what I really believe in lately it an oil pressure gauge.
It's nice to see that it never gets down too low at a hot idle.
Eventually they will.
10 psi or higher at a hot idle is good.
I usually pre-fill a new oil filter too.
be extra careful as the center hole where you put the oil in is the
non-filtered, bearing side of the filter element . Can't have one spec of
anything in there, except good clean oil.
Weekenders are special vanagons. Will always hold value very well if taken
care of.
They have the most interior room of any factory US model vanagon.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Edwards" <edwards151@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2011 11:41 AM
Subject: Re: Oil drain plug washer?
> Oh, and I forgot one other question. Is it okay to dump 5 fresh quarts in,
> even though the Bentley calls for 4.8?
>
> On Thu, Jun 23, 2011 at 12:32 PM, Jonathan Edwards
> <edwards151@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> So I'm getting ready to change the oil for the first time in my '85
>> weekender 1.9 this weekend. I read somewhere that it's recommended to
>> replace the oil drain plug washer with each change. Is that really
>> necessary
>> and if so, what size and type is best. I've seen rubber washers labeled
>> as
>> 'drain plug washers' at the local hardware, and I'm sure my FLAPS has
>> similar washers, but I need to know what size and type (rubber or
>> copper?)
>> and get some before I pull the plug and can see for myself what's on
>> there
>> now.
>>
>> I'm waiting on my Mann filters to arrive. I just picked up a case of
>> Mobil
>> 1 full synthetic 15w50 and am planning to go the synthetic route. My 1.9
>> was
>> rebuilt less than 10k ago and has been running dino oil since then, but
>> I'd
>> like to give synthetics a try and plan on 5000k oil changes instead of
>> every
>> 3000k. I know this is a hugely debated topic - oil types, etc. - so
>> maybe I
>> shouldn't have opened that can of worms...
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Jon
>>