Date:         Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:18:08 -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: Head gasket, cracked head, or more?
Comments: To: Ken Lewis <kdlewis@NORTHSTATE.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=response

if the engine has not run for a while..
there will be no oil pressure ..
so if you turn on the key, see the warning light, and unplug the oil
pressure switch ..
the light will go out immediately.

here is a related test though ..
fire up the engine .............so it's running and has oil pressure.
Shut off the engine, but turn the key back on as quickly as you can.

the residual oil pressure will keep the light off.
and that time duration ..........depending on oil viscosity and temperature,
can give a very rough idea of bearing clearance and oil pressure...the time
it takes for the oil light to come on.

for example......pretty tight engine ............pretty thick oil, say 20W50
...and the engine is cold.
start it up ......let it run a minute at medium rpm ..
shut it off, turn the key back on immediately.
oil pressure can be high enough under those circumstances that it can take
even 20 seconds for the light to come on .................that is,    for
the residual oil pressure to bleed off.

in the scenario below ..
the oil pressure light better go out immediately ..
electricity travels at the speed of light I believe.
gonna be hard to time that time interval.

Scott

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken Lewis" <kdlewis@NORTHSTATE.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 1:48 PM
Subject: Re: Head gasket, cracked head, or more?


> ED,
> I believe the oil pressure light is a separate problem. Here is how I
> would
> proceed to test that theory.  Turn on the ignition but do not start the
> car.
> Unplug the oil pressure sensor. Have someone time how long it takes for
> the
> light to go out. If the duration is the same there is a problem in the
> warning circuit.
>
> Good Luck,
> Ken
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ed Duntz" <eduntz@hotmail.com>
> To: "Ken Lewis" <kdlewis@NORTHSTATE.NET>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 4:28 PM
> Subject: Re: Re: Head gasket, cracked head, or more?
>
>
>> Those bubbles would be one thing, but my worry is the combination of the
>> bubbles (foam, really), the water in the exhaust, and the delay in the OP
>> light going out.
>>
>> Ed
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Ken Lewis" <kdlewis@NORTHSTATE.NET>
>> Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 4:16 PM
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Subject:      Re: Head gasket, cracked head, or more?
>>
>>> FWIW;
>>>
>>> I got a lot of worrisome bubbles in the coolant reservoir after
>>> installing
>>> my rebuilt engine. Evidently it takes quite some time for them to all
>>> purge
>>> out because now it is fine.
>>>
>>> Good Luck,
>>> Ken
>>>
>>