Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 23:35:08 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Eric Caron is on the road! Oil pressure and the warning light.
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While VW tried to reduce some fears with the right up in the owner's manual
you have to give this situation some thought.
The 85 Vanagon has only one oil pressure warning switch. It is located to
sense pressure at one of the lowest pressure points in the lubrication
system, the center cam shaft bearing. The original switch should be a .2 bar
switch, just under 3 psi. So the light turning on or flickering is telling
you the oil pressure is near 3 psi or below. A healthy Water Boxer should be
able to maintain around seven to 10 psi per 1,000 rpm. Sometimes this is
hard to reach if the oil is hot enough such as after an extended high speed
drive. However dropping below 3 psi at idle is not a good condition.
First things to look at are oil level and viscosity. These engines need high
viscosity oil. 20w-50 conventional and 15w-50 for some synthetics. Oil level
needs to be checked, engine warm, van fairly level including side to side,
and allow a few minutes for the oil to return to the sump area. The level
should be between the marks, never ever above the top (maximum) mark.
Overfilling can cause excess oil aeration and raise oil temperature
considerably. Oil temperature does not always follow coolant temperature. It
is possible to get the oil very hot and still normal coolant temperature
indication. Overheated oil causes low oil pressure for two main reasons.
The hot oil has a lower viscosity causing pressure to drop. The oil pump and
bearing clearances increase also causing lower pressure. These two concerns
can combine until a thermal/pressure run away results in a bearing failure.
Thrown rod here we come.
Have the oil and filter changed so you know what is in there. Consider
having the oil pressure tested. Since this is a recent acquisition consider
a compression and leak down test of the engine so you know its condition now
and can evaluate changes later on.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Eric Caron
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 12:52 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Eric Caron is on the road!
Eric Caron, his current guide dog, retired guide dog, and Heidi the amazing
driver had a great 300 plus mile trip home from New Jersey to Vermont,
traveling in the 85 Westfalia recently seen in Ken's upper ball joint
video and in the video done in it's introduction when it came up for sale.
What a potentially scary thing to do, buy a Westfalia without ever
really seeing it from far away and then driving it home. This is the second
time in my life I have done this and again it has worked out great!
Driving back I followed recommendations from this group and kept the van at
between 3400 and 3600on the tachometer and this resulted in speed between 55
and 60 miles per hour. And, I thought the just over 20 miles per gallon
seemed reasonable.
I hope this sounds about right compared to others with a 1.9 engine.
One interesting thing, Ken mentioned always paying attention to the
dash lights. If there is a indicator stop before there is a problem. At
the end of our trip, with about 5 hours behind us and a hour to go the oil
light came on! This happened right as we started to idle waiting for the
tole booth. We pulled over and then read the original owner's manual and it
said. If the oil light comes on it may not be a indicator of low pressure.
If there is a problem the Oil light and break light would come on together.
If just the oil light comes on when idling after prolonged driving , it
should go out when you accelerate. Sure enough. a touch of the gas made the
light consistently go out. the oil level was perfect and the engine purrs
happily. That was a slightly scary moment but all is well and documented as
normal for VW operation.
It was great meeting Ken and I only wish I had him near by to continue the
great work he has done maintaining this camper.
I still can' hardly believe he stopped the work he was doing to first
spend almost a hour driving us to the car rental drop off, and then going
over the camper with us, exceptionally generous as I was purchasing the van
from Ken's long time customer not from Ken himself.
This community is truly made up of positive and supportive folks!
Eric Caron
85 automatic Westfalia
Now located in southern Vermont
On Jun 21, 2013, at 7:14 PM, kenn
eth wilford (Van-Again) <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> Eric came to pick up his 85 Westy today. It was great to meet him and
> his helper/driver and the two puppies. I hope he gets as much
> enjoyment out of the van as previous owner did.
>
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com
