In my opinion, the dynamic oil pressure system fails more often than
indicating a real oil pressure problem.  My '86 Vanagon starting buzzing
after the gaskets were replaced by the dealer under warranty.  They had
routed the back oil pressure switch too close to the spark plug wires.  It
would go off whenever.  The system also failed on my '89 Jetta diesel.  I
have the one switch wire grounded to satisfy the not-so-dynamic oil
pressure system.  The low pressure light still works and yes, I have gauges
on all my VW's.  I am glad my '85 Westy doesn't have this nuisance.

Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET> on 01/22/2001 04:25:51 PM

Please respond to Mark Drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>

To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
cc:    (bcc: Jay L Snyder/AE/DuPont)
Subject:  Re: any guesses on oil light woes

I don't know what VW may have known about the 2.1 rods but from what
I've seen they started putting the extra oil warning system in their
cars starting about the 1982 model year. It is called the Dynamic Oil
Pressure Warning System. They eventually phased it into the full product
line AFAIK, reaching the Vanagon production during 1985 (model year
1986). Waterboxers, inline 4 and 5, diesel and gas, turbo and
non-turbos, all have it starting at some point.
Mark
>Stuart MacMillan wrote:
>
> Brian,
>
>..........
> One critical thing the early 1.9 vans lack is the dual pressure warning
> circuit of the 2.1s.  On those there is a second sender that will trip a
> buzzer if the pressure drops below 8 psi (or something like that) at
> 2000 rpm or above, which is much more critical than the idle pressure.
> VW knew the weakness of the 2.1 rods, and put this extra warning system
> on this engine.
> .........
>