Date:         Fri, 5 Jun 1998 17:58:01 -0700
Reply-To:     David Dustan <dustan@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         David Dustan <dustan@IX.NETCOM.COM>
Subject:      Oil Checking My '86 Vanagon
Comments: To: "Vanagon@VANAGON.COM" <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi!
  I bought an '86 Vanagon about 3 weeks ago and have some questions
about the oil lights and checking the oil that are not answered by the
owners manual.
  First, the oil pressure light in the center pod (between the speedo
and the tach) blinks when the other lights are steady when the ignition
is switched on (but the engine hasn't been started).  Is this normal??
This light will blink forever I suppose.... well at least as long as
battery would let it!
  I am also having a problem actually determining the level of the oil.
The dipstick seems to be pretty clean when it is pulled from the
dipstick holder so I am having a problem seeing the level.  Today I
thought I had a mark on the bottom end of the stick and filled with a
quart based on this.  So afterward I ran the engine then checked the oil
a few minutes later and it appears that the oil level is high!!  This is
after wiping the stick, inserting it, then pulling it.  Ya know, this
ain't anything like my old '77 bus!
  Now I may have an overfilled oil supply which I know is not
good........
  Any tips on oil checking, filling, changing, spilling, and
overfilling??
                                               Thanks,
                                            David Dustan