My WBX 2.1L has about 60psi at start up, cold and idling 1000rpm.
When underway at (say) 2500rpm pressure goes up to about 75psi.  When
the oil warms up the pressure settles down to 12psi at idle and 30psi
and 3000rpm.

I'm running Castrol 5W50 synthetic oil.

Laurence Smith
Hamilton, ON
90 Westy (fanumbos)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List
> [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
> Of Bill Marshall
> Sent: Friday, October 11, 2002 3:35 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: (TIICO) ridiculous oil pressures
>
>
> forwarded from the Tiico list.....
>
> Hi everybody,
>       The engine is acting a little squirrely again.  I've
> been getting a lot
> of clatter from the valves.  Since this is not a diesel
> semi, I decided to
> check the oil level and pressure.  Level is fine, using
> Mobil 1 15W-50.  I
> bought an oil pressure gauge at Walmart for $6 and
> installed it (it is the
> tube type, not electric, so it doesn't go all the way to
> the dash.  It's
> mounted in the back, where I can see it in the rearview mirror).
>
> I started up the engine, which was slightly warm.  The
> gauge read 70 psi at
> idle.  So I revved it to 2000 rpm, got 90 psi.  At 3000
> rpm, pegged it at 100
> psi.  So I let it idle a little bit more.  The pressure
> eventually dropped to
> 50, but still climbed rapidly with any acceleration.
>
> So, what the hell is this all about?  I've heard of folks
> seeing 80 psi when
> barreling down the highway, but rolling down my block at 15
> mph?  I've also
> heard that too much pressure is bad for the engine.  What
> could be causing
> this high pressure?  And can high pressure cause valve clatter?
>
> If anyone else has figures to offer, please write back.  I
> will be checking
> through the Vanagon archives and looking up specs for Golfs
> on the Internet.
>  Thanks.
>
> Bill Marshall
> 85 GL Tiico "Pandora's Box"
> Bradenton FL
>