Date: Thu, 10 May 2012 08:55:01 -0400
Reply-To: pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: pickle vanagon <greenvanagon@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Best way to judge life left in Waterboxer?
In-Reply-To: <BAY152-ds26BF552D9FA3D0FFDA45AA0160@phx.gbl>
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I just want to point out:
for some people, activating the light at a higher pressure could be a big
disadvantage.
Especially once you have a gauge, the idiot light should really just be
used an indication that you have catastrophic oil pressure failure, not as
a gauge to indicate engine wear. So you could argue that introducing any
nuisance blinks at that light may only desensitize the driver to its
purpose.
There is also at least one case in the archives of someone who rebuilt his
engine because he occasionally had flickering of that light with the VDO
sender, only to have things not really improve. Obviously I don't think
you would make the same mistake but I'm just saying it's worth people
keeping in mind the difference in specs.
Of course you can always use a tee to run both the VDO and stock sender,
although more connections is its own disadvantage.
On Wed, May 9, 2012 at 11:23 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:
> I would never want to use a plastic tube to bring pressurized oil into the
> passenger compartment. Use an electric gauge. The VDO with the dual
> terminals, ( gauge and warning light) are amongst my favorite. Especially
> since it will activate the light at a higher pressure than the stock unit.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jon Durham [mailto:jon_durham@knology.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 09, 2012 7:53 AM
> To: Dennis Haynes
> Subject: Re: Best way to judge life left in Waterboxer?
>
> What type of oil pressure gauge shall I install? A sensor or one in which
> the oil flows thru a tube to the gauge?
>
> On 5/8/2012 11:17 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> > A properly working oil warning light is either on or off. No faded
> > glow. It shall turn on each time the ignition is turned on and then
> > turn off after the engine starts and sufficient oil pressure is reached.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> > Behalf Of Richard Koerner
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2012 3:30 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Best way to judge life left in Waterboxer?
> >
> > Stuart,
> >
> > Thanks, that's helpful information; I'll keep an eye for that oil
> > pressure light flickering. I've had an occasion recently of very
> > faint dull red glow from the LED at startup and idle, which
> > subsequently quickly faded away once at operating temperatures.
> >
> >
> > Reason I'm asking is that I'm trying to plan for the future. I've
> > been know to take some pretty long roadtrips in my Vanagon, like
> > 10K-12K miles at a crack. That would be unfortunate, to have to
> > decide on a rebuild or Subie conversion while on the road thousands of
> miles from home base, lots of
> > downtime too and expense. And still not sure what my long term travel
> > plans are, to keep Vanagon-based for the next 10 years or upsize a
> > little to something like a Sprinter or the next generation Ford
> > Transit scheduled for USA manufacture in 2014 (latest rumor). I still
> > really appreciate the handling of the Vanagon and garage-storage
> > capability, both of which would be compromised by a larger van-style
> > rig; I don't know if even a small Class A motorhome would suite my
> > style which is on the "minimize" side. And I've been a VW Van owner
> since
> 1974 so it's in my blood now.
> >
> > So if my current motor would be good for another 25K or so, it would
> > buy me a few years time to dial in my long-term options. I know at
> > this age of the vehicle there are just so many factors to take into
> > account regarding overall vehicle longevity, but I appreciate the
> > helpful List advice on this issue.
> >
> > By the way, when I said it doesn't "burn oil", I guess it would have
> > been more accurate to add "excessively"....I use about a half quart
> > every 2000 miles.
> >
> > Rich
> > San Diego
> >
> > --- On Tue, 5/8/12, Stuart MacMillan<stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> >
> > From: Stuart MacMillan<stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM>
> > Subject: Re: Best way to judge life left in Waterboxer?
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 9:31 AM
> >
> > Rich,
> >
> > Just drive on, and forget about it! If you do a compression test,
> > what will you do if it's low (and it will be)? The death signal is
> > when the oil pressure light starts coming on or flickering, particularly
> after a long run
> > on the freeway. When that happens it's time for a rebuild, or if it get
> so
> > gutless a passenger has to help you push it up hills.
> >
> > My '84 went over 200,000 miles and was running strong, but I replaced it
> > with a used 2.1 just for the fun of it years ago. Bad idea. I blew
> that
> > one up (http://volksweb.relitech.com/21rodbrg.htm) and I don't have
> > that rig anymore.
> >
> > Stuart
> > '85 Westy
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> > Behalf Of Richard Koerner
> > Sent: Monday, May 07, 2012 3:45 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Best way to judge life left in Waterboxer?
> >
> > The 1.9 engine in my 85 manual Vanagon has 198,000 miles. Never been
> > opened for any reason. Runs smooth as silk. Gentle driving, burns no
> > oil, always passes smog, power seems about the same as always.
> > Wondering how long this thing can last? What's the best way to get some
> idea, compression test?
> >
> > Rich
> > San Diego
> >
>
> --
> "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
> Anatole France
>
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