The '84 (1.9 L) doesn't have an oil warning buzzer.  The oil warning
light is connected electrically, so, the problem could be electrical ...
or with the pressure.

The electrical sender is on the driver's side of the engine down kind of
between the pushrod tubes.

Mike
Houlton, Maine
'84 GL 7 pass
'85 GL Westy

----- Original Message -----
From: "Wesley Alden Pegden" <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2004 11:12 AM
Subject: Re: what causes low oil pressure

> I have an '84 vanagon.  A while back, for a period of maybe 2 hours or
so,
> I had a problem with my oil light coming for a couple seconds every
once
> and a while.  There was no buzzer though.  Does that mean it was some
> electrical problem?
>
> Thanks,
> wes
>
> On Fri, 9 Jan 2004, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>
> > Is the light coming on or are you getting the light and buzzer? If
only
> > the light, than you may have a bad switch or a wire shorting to
ground.
> > 120K is not reason for a rebuild on its own.  With care and luck,
the
> > lower end can double that. You need to do some troubleshooting. Both
> > electrical and mechanical with oil pressure gauges. When replacing
the
> > switches, make sure to get the correct ones. The high pressure
switch
> > (rear) should be .9 bar, not the 1.8 many parts books indicate.
Also,
> > make sure the oil level is not too high. The top dipstick mark is
"Max",
> > not "Full" Oil level mid way works best.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
Behalf
> > Of Ben S
> > Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 12:26 AM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: what causes low oil pressure
> >
> > well thanks for the advice everyone.  i do indeed have a 2.1 wbx,
and it
> > rolled over 120k miles just before the oil light last came on.  i
know
> > that it is about time to rebuild or replace this engine, but i'm
hoping
> > to wait until snowboarding season is over to do it since this is my
only
> > car and i can't very well ride my motorcycle to the mountain!
> >
> > the scenario posed in boston bob's article seems like a probable
> > explanation: some bearing is wearing down, a clearance is
increasing,
> > and too much oil is escaping.  the only thing i don't understand is
why
> > this would be exacerbated by heavy engine load or high engine speed.
it
> > seems to me that the oil pump is spinning faster at high engine
speed
> > and could more easily maintain output pressure at a high flow rate.
> >
> > i have heard people mention a high oil pressure sensor... does that
also
> > set off the light and buzzer?  could i actually be having excessive
> > pressure?
> >
> > i guess in the end i just need an oil pressure gauge.  is it
possible to
> > install a sender for one in place of switch that drives the light?
i
> > have also been thinking of switching to a full synthetic oil, but
i'm
> > afraid that my oil leakage/consumption will worsen.
> >
> > Ben.
> >