Date:         Mon, 29 Jun 1998 19:05:42 -0900
Reply-To:     Steven Johnson <afslj1@UAA.ALASKA.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Steven Johnson <afslj1@UAA.ALASKA.EDU>
Organization: University of Alaska Anchorage
Subject:      Oil light and buzzer
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

>Date:    Mon, 29 Jun 1998 14:40:33 -0500
>From:    Anthony Kimmons <Anthony.Kimmons@CHRON.COM>
>Subject: HELP!

Ok...now Im asking for help...

>Picks up fine and never seems to want to die no matter
>how long I continue to drive it with the buzzer buzzing,
>but of course, I never want to drive it very far after it goes on.

Sounds like a problem similar to the one I had on my 87.  I bought it,
and did the obligatory oil change (not knowing how long it had been
since the PO did one).  I noticed that his spare bottle of oil was
Castrol 20w50, a weight that the owners manual suggests for cold weather
(foreshadowing).  I put in 10w30, as usual, and after about 30 minutes
of driving the light and buzzer went off.

Imagine for a second buying a vehicle, changing the oil the next day,
and then having the oil light and (obnoxious) buzzer go off.  Can you
say scared?  Assuming I didn't put the filter on or didn't put the plug
in, I pulled over to check.  All systems go, oil level fine.  I started
it again, drove for 5 min, and again, buzzing and lights.

So I called up the mechanic, and he told me that some wasserboxers
really like the heavier oil.  I dropped the (brand new) 10w30, refilled
it with Castrol 20w50, and it's run fine since.  No burning, no hard
starting, no light and buzzer.

>Question is...
>        I was not having any oil pressure problems before the rebuild.
>Should I be concerned about the oil pump?
>I am planning on changing the sensors and want to install an oil
>pressure guage. Oil level is normal, no leaks.

>Car will idle fine for about 15 minutes, then oil light will start to
>flash.

This sounds exactly like my problem.  When the oil heats up, it loses
viscosity and essentially becomes thinner.  The pressure sensor may
notice this, and try to tell you that there's insufficient oil
pressure.  I'd try a heavier weight oil.

Steve Johnson
Anchorage, AK
'87 Westy

BTW: Thanks to all who responded to my earlier "Dying Van" post about
the engine cutting out on the road.  I've talked to Karl Vochatzer from
Texas, and he's kindly sending me an auxiliary wiring harness for my
AFM.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will solve the problem.