Date:         Wed, 9 May 2012 05:45:09 -0400
Reply-To:     Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Best way to judge life left in Waterboxer?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

        As previously stated the demise usually comes from low oil pressure due to worn bearings, the front main and rear cam are the first to go, then #3 rod bearing !  Limit is about 400,000 kms if all has been perfect throughout it's life, never overheated, oil always changed at correct intervals and always something w/50.  So with that knowledge install an oil pressure gauge so you can monitor the oil pressure, oil pressure is a result of the space between rotating parts and the bearings, normal new is 40 
~ 60 lbs at 4000 rpm when fully warmed up, at least one hour of driving, so when that oil pressure drops to 15lbs. at 4000 rpm when hot, it's time to shut'er down !  Also flickering oil pressure light at idle is a good indication the pressure is bad.


On 2012-05-08, at 3:29 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> 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.



Cheers,    

Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 VW Westy, '00 Kawasaki 250 Sherpa, "98 Ducati 750 Monster & Lionel Trains (Collection for sale)
Frank Condelli & Associates - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems
BusFusion a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10, 2012