In a message dated 03/10/2006 11:03:12 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Hi  Volks,

Dad called from tonight from near Salamanca NY, he's headed down  rt
219 on the way to John Brown's Buses for the weekend.

Apparently  his 85 Auto westy has started to exhibit a new
behaviour... the oil light  is now flickering during 45MPH-ish down
hills.

Details: The oil  level is good (perhaps an eight-inch high, actually,
and the oil clean  enough to be almost invisible.,The oil light does
not come on at idle, and  he is running 20W50 with the engine temp
right in the middle of the scale.  Just a heart-stopping flicker on
trailing throttle at near-highway  speed.

Our best guess at the moment is a wonky sensor. What sayeth the  list???

If helpful emails could be cc'd to gord@pottsfamily.ca it would  be
appreciated, as the motel they're in tonight does have internet  access.

This is critical to diagnose immediately.  It  is possible that the high
pressure sensor is bad.  It is however possible  that the oil pressure is low for
the high pressure sender which is indicating  worn rod bearings and if that's
the case the next thing that happens is the  number three rod will come out of
the case right on top with a loud bang.   The only true way to know what's
going on is to connect up a real oil pressure  gauge to the port between the
push rod tubes and get a true oil pressure reading  of the oil when hot at
running temperatures.  PITA I know but unless you  want to see that number three rod
in your engine compartment it's the only right  way.  This is why it is
highly recommended to have a "REAL" oil pressure  gauge mounted on the dash board,
instead of a bobble head, to keep an eye  on the "REAL" oil pressure of these
old high mileage waterboxer engines

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa  Valley
_Frank Condelli  & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007