2100-2300rpm seems awfully low for climbing a hill.  How far down was the
gas pedal?  I don't like to be below 3000 if I'm asking the engine to work
hard.  Down in the low 2000's I'm just barely putt-putting along, but I
have AT.

That dynamic oil pressure warning system does take rpm into consideration
when it decides to turn on the warning light/buzzer.  I think somewhere
around 2000rpm is where it changes it's criteria for what the oil pressure
should be.  So downshifting probably moved your rpm up above some
threshold.  And of course also raised your oil pressure...

Edward

At 08:05 PM 9/24/2006, Michael Hart wrote:
>After driving an '85 Westy trouble free for the past
>2 years/20k miles, I recently purchased an '87
>(with lower miles, much better exterior condition
>etc.)
>Unfortunately the oil pressure light/buzzer on my
>(new) '87 Westy went off 4 times today, as I was
>climbing a hill (highway 17 to Santa Cruz, not that
>steep, but a pretty hot day out here), with low rpm
>(~2100-2300 in 3rd or 4th).
>They (i.e. the light & buzzer) went away when I
>changed down a gear each time.
>Is this
>a). a clever device from VW to tell me to change down?
>     (although I've driven my '85 under similar and
>     much tougher conditions without ever seeing the
>     light)
>b). using the wrong oil? (not sure what's in the van
>     as it was just changed before I bought it).
>     Should I be using 10/30, 20/50, Syntec???
>c). a faulty sensor?
>d). an ominous sign that I should just keep my
>     '85 van and let someone else deal with the '87?
>Your opinions will be gratefully considered.
>The '87 has factory 2.1 engine with 110kmiles
>(The '85 has factory 1.9 with 160kmiles).
>My first post, so hopefully I'm following the
>correct etiquette?
>
>Thanks,
>Mike
>'87 Westy
>'85 Westy
>
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