Date:         Wed, 1 Jan 2014 11:30:59 -0500
Reply-To:     Steve Cotsford <cotsford@AOL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Cotsford <cotsford@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: oil light question
In-Reply-To:  <3159E5CF-B5BD-4949-B980-B4D043AD3258@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

On Jan 1, 2014, at 11:28 AM, Steve Cotsford <cotsford@aol.com> wrote:

> Thank you Karl.    I have received some info from some other folks and made a little progress.
> 
> I was informed that it might well be a defective oil pressure switch and I plan to replace both of them to eliminate that possibility.    Engine is a 2.1 originally from a syncro I believe and mileage is a bit over 100,000 miles.   Installed into my 89 Bluestar.   Yes i am not very knowledgeable about WBX engines.
> What happens is that the oil pressure light blinks on and off regularly, starting just a few minutes after cranking the engine and allowing it to idle.   It initially goes out as one would expect. 
> Then after idling for a while the light starts blinking on and off.    Revving the engine a little seems to change nothing.   The light still blinks on and off in a regular manner.    I can stop the engine, wait a few mins then switch the ignition back on and the red light still blinks on and off at the same regular manner even without the engine running.      I re-crank the engine and the light goes out, then after a few minutes of idling, it starts blinking regularly again.    This is not like a flashing you get with low oil pressure on an older car at a very low idle.
> I have revved the engine a little higher and if I get it over 2500 rpm, the light goes out.   When I lower the engine speed back down, sometimes it will start blinking again, sometimes the light will stay off.
> I am pretty sure the oil pressure is not problematic and as someone has suggested, an oil pressure switch is old and defective.    I have no way to hook up a gauge at present but I will soon and I intend to replace both the pressure switches.
> 
> Now concerning the temp gauge red light flashing.   I found out that I had no cable plugged in to the coolant reservoir sensor.   I was apparently not careful or knowledgeable back in May when i installed the tank and subsequently i have rooted around, found the cable, plugged it in and now I can run the engine and there is no more red light flashing in the temperature gauge.
> 
> I am learning a lot and admit that I still have a lot to learn :-)      Thanks for help from this list !!     Happy New Year to all !!     Steve
> 
> On Jan 1, 2014, at 10:56 AM, Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@Q.COM> wrote:
> 
>> Steve mentioned OP light, but later on spoke of coolant level sensor.  Regular flashing is not an OP light symptom, but is indicative of a missing coolant sensor wire, which he says is the situation on his van. 

>> 
>> More info , please?
>> 
>> Karl Wolz
>> Sent from my electronic umbilicus
>> 
>>> On Dec 31, 2013, at 2:29 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I'm here at Disney Epcot for New Years eve. I would begin by s
>>> Checking the wiring and sensors. A clogged oil filter can also cause the low pressure light while the high pressure buzzer may not come on as that switch is before the filter. The symptoms you describe are indicative of the oil pump inlet screen blocking with carbon or sludge. With the water boxer this usually means rebuild.
>>> 
>>> Dennis,
>>> From my phone.
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: Steve Cotsford<mailto:cotsford@AOL.COM>
>>> Sent: ‎12/‎31/‎2013 2:44 PM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM<mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>>> Subject: oil light question
>>> 
>>> It seems very quiet in Vanagon circles today.    Probably means that people are resting or socializing and generally doing worthy things :-)
>>> 
>>> I have read some articles on Vanagon oil pressures and I get the impression that its fairly common for older 2.1s to have problems in that area.
>>> 
>>> I have seen other types of engines with low oil pressure and generally the oil light will start flickering at idle when the oil gets hot and thin.   I am unfamiliar with the Vanagon system with two senders however.
>>> 
>>> My oil light will start blinking on and off at a regular fairly slow timing and no changes in engine speed seem to affect the blinking.   However when the engine is switched off and restarted, there is no oil light.   However after a few minutes, the regular blinking starts again.  And once again, the speed of the blinking, on-off,on-off seems to be completely unaffected by engine rpm.     My gut feeling is that its not oil pressure or lack of that is causing this but some other fault.     Engine is a 2.1 from a Syncro I think and its installed in my 1989 Bluestar Vanagon.  I am unsure of the mileage but was told its a little over 100k.
>>> 
>>> I can go buy a mechanical gauge and screw it into a pressure switch point but which one?   The one near the distributor or the one down between the pushrod tubes.  Which makes the most sense?    Are they both connected by oil passages within the engine?  Is this a common fault and is it likely to be related to something in the gauge assembly and not in the engine at all?
>>> 
>>> Thanks for any help.    Enjoy your new years eve :-)     Cheers    Steve
>