Date: Mon, 12 May 2014 06:18:12 -0700
Reply-To: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: A tiny overfill of oil -- enough to worry about?
In-Reply-To: <BAY407-EAS356589B94A82BBB55BD365CA0350@phx.gbl>
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"An easy way to get rid of excess oil is to remove the filter, pour some
out and just re-install it."
This would be true for a standard 1.9, but the tencentlife add-on oil
cooler is higher than the filter and even after the crankcase is
drained, pulling the filter dumps quite a bit of oil in a somewhat messy
fashion.
"I'm curious about your winter blend versus camping season blend!"
It's tough to predict what grade motor oil to use! Unlike the typical
image one has of the temperate Pacific Northwest, Central Oregon, has a
climate more like the plateau of Central Asia. Our temps are extreme and
unpredictable, with wide daily variations.
According to Wikipedia, "[t]he winter season in Bend provides a mean
temperature of 31.1 °F (−0.5 °C) in December, and nighttime temperatures
are not much lower than daytime highs during the winter. [...A]nnually,
the lowest nighttime temperature is typically −5 °F (−21 °C) to −10 °F
(−23 °C."
This January or February, we had a week in the minus teens or twenties
°F at night followed by a few weeks in the 50s. In '72 a record low of
-27 °F was recorded in December in nearby Redmond, Ore.
"Central Oregon summers are marked by their very large diurnal
temperature ranges, with a July daily average of 64.5 °F (18.1 °C), and
an average diurnal temperature variation approaching 35 °F (19 °C)."
A couple-three weeks in the 90s with a few days close to the 100s happen
frequently. In '72 a record high of 105 °F was recorded in August. A lot
of my camping driving is in high 90s.
And even summer can see nights drop below freezing.
"Hard frosts are not unheard of during the summer months."
Yeah, 50+ degree swings from day to night in summer.
"[T]he USDA weather station in Bend recorded the last below-freezing
temperatures after July 3 and the first below-freezing temperatures
before August 31. Based on 1981–2010 normals, the average window for
freezing temperatures is September 13 thru June 19."
Right now, at 6 am, it's 33 °F (19 °C) outside. On Thursday we are
looking at 80+ °F.
So what's a girl to do? I've studied the recommended oil chart in the
OEM manual and really, none of the weights encompass the possible range.
What I've settled on is 0W-40 for winter, 15W-50 for summer, although
this time I put in 20W-50.
--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
Bend, Ore.
On 05/11/2014 07:06 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> If the oil cooler can really do the job then it should not be problem. The
> excess will burn off. I'm curious about your winter blend versus camping
> season blend! An easy way to get rid of excess oil is to remove the filter,
> pour some out and just re-install it.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Rocket J Squirrel
> Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2014 8:00 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: A tiny overfill of oil -- enuff to worry about?
>
> 1.9L, with a tencentlife oil cooler setup.
>
> I changed the oil today, as I do every spring, from the winter blend to the
> camping season blend. Also changed the oil filter. My notes had me put in 4
> quarts of new oil, which I did. After letting things settle a bit, I checked
> the dip stick -- it was barely up to the lower notch. I checked it a couple
> more times, same results.
>
> So I put in half a quart (about 500 ml) of additional oil -- and the reading
> jumped to just above the upper notch. About 1/8'' (3mm) high.
>
> Honestly, it kind of surprised me that 500ml would raise the measured level
> that much.
>
> I ran the engine until it got hot enough to open up the oil cooler
> thermostat and send oil to the remote oil cooler -- but it still measured
> high.
>
> I really don't like climbing under the van. And I am constitutionally lazy.
> But if the community says that 3mm overfill is Not A Good Idea, I will drain
> a bit of the oil off.
>
> So -- whatcha think?
>
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
> Bend, Ore.
>