So this is a new engine ?
how new
how many miles
most rebuilders do use a thinner oil as a brake in oil

Bob Donalds
Boston Engine

----- Original Message -----
From: "A. Hurley" <ahurley@VIEWIT.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2006 3:22 PM
Subject: [Norton AntiSpam] Re: Oil Light flashing

> On Thu, 16 Nov 2006, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>
>> Is it possible the engine is idling too low or you are lugging it up
>> hills
>> to the point of going well below 1,000 rpm? Too low an engine speed will
>> give you a flickering light. What oil viscosity are you using? A quart
>> low
>
> No, I don't think so.
>
> I'll have to check the viscosity - but the people who built the engine
> changed the oil, so I would figure they put the right kind in.
>
>> will not turn on the light and in fact is better than over full. The top
>> line is not the full line. It is the maximum do never exceed no matter
>> what
>> line. Between the marks is the goal.
>
> It might be a bit too full now, then.
>
> Also, when checking oil allow time for
>> the oil to drain down, engine warm, and van level, especially side to
>> side.
>
> How much time? I would imagine I was on some sort of slope  then.
>
> I complained to Triple A, by the way, and they took this call off  of my
> record.
>
> The young woman told me that oil couldn't be delivered, but did say she
> would mention I thought I needed oil. The driver was sent to the wrong
> location in the blizzard, and never heard about the oil. He had said he
> would have brought some (although obviously I didn't need it)!
>
>
>
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> Of
>> A. Hurley
>> Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 5:38 PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Oil Light flashing
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I had the same thing happen. In a blizzard, driving past Ellensburg the
>> light came on. I was almost down a quart and for some reason didn't have
>> one with me. I have a new engine. Got a tow, added a quart, no light,
>> drove to the top of the mountain pass - light came on. Stopped, light
>> went off...then began coming on intermittently until I crested and
>> started going downhill. Hasn't come on since.
>>
>> Any ideas? I am a bit frustrated, to tell you the truth!
>>
>> Andree
>>
>> On Wed, 4 Oct
>> 2006, Dennis
>> Haynes wrote:
>>
>> > '85 doesn;t have the high pressure sensor or the dynamic oil pressure
>> warning system. Just the low sensor. Since the ligh is only coming on
>> during
>> slow dwn, I'm thinking chaffed insulation rubing on the protective tin.
>> Yes,
>> it has to be evaluated right away. Learning to gnore the warning light is
>> not a good thing.
>> >
>> >  Dennis
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: Frank Condelli
>> > Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2006 7:34 am
>> > Subject: Re: Oil Light flashing
>> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> >
>> > > 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
>> > >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Andree Hurley
>>
>> Viewit.com, Onwatersports.com
>> http://www.viewit.com/
>> Kayak Newsletter
>> http://www.onwatersports.com/KIX/Newsletters/KayakNewsletterFall2006.html
>>
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Andree Hurley
>
> Viewit.com, Onwatersports.com
> http://www.viewit.com/
> Kayak Newsletter
> http://www.onwatersports.com/KIX/Newsletters/KayakNewsletterFall2006.html
>