Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 20:51:01 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes57@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes57@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: Before I buy an engine ...
My bet is that you have the wrong hi-pressure sensor (the one by the water
pump). The VW fiche is wrong. They list a 1.6 or 1.8 bar sensor. The
proper sensor is 1.2 bar. It is usually blue in color. Get the correct
sensor. I have been driven crazy with this. 1.8 bar equals 25 psi. Only
the best of engines will provide this pressure at 2500 rpm. A real tired
engine will have rod and bearing noises to match the low oil pressure
problem if it is legitimate. If no noises, I would replace the oil pump and
cover before going for an engine. The only other possibility is that if the
engine has not been maintained the oil pump inlet screen may be clogged
with carbon and goo. This will cause low or no pressure after warm up. Seen
it twice in past year. Unfortunately, only way to clean screen ids to tear
down engine. This problem will show as both the idiot light and lifters
will alert you at the same time.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Howard <howard@AUR.ALCATEL.COM>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Tuesday, April 07, 1998 1:23 PM
Subject: Before I buy an engine ...
>I'm about to buy a remanufactured long block from Fast German Auto
>to solve my low oil pressure problem. As a last try before I do this I
wanted to
>check with the group to make sure there isn't anything I've
>missed in trying to remedy the problem.
>
>I have an '87 Westy, manual trans, a/c with about 93K miles. I bought it
>with 60K miles and have been good about 5K oil changes (Mobil 1) and
>flushing the coolant every two years (using VW coolant). No head
>problems, replaced water pump at about 65K miles. The oil warning
>light and buzzer come on after about 10 minutes of driving. Specifically
>they come on when the engine speed drops below about 2500 RPM. When the
>RPM's go back up, the warning stops.
>
>Here's what I've done: took the van to VW to have the pressure
>measured. They said it was low. I don't have the numbers with me but
>I seem to remember 4psi at idle. Changed oil from Mobil 1 10W-40
>to Castrol 20w-50 to straight 40 weight. Each change helped in that
>it took longer for the warning to to start. Have always used VW oil
>filters. Had oil pressure sensors replaced. Replaced the oil pressure
>regulator piston and spring, had the oil pump replaced.
>
>Is there anything I'm missing?
>
>Thanks very much for reading this long post!
>
>Regards,
>
>Jeff H.
>North Carolina
>'87 Westy
>
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