Sounds like you got it figured out. Jim's advice on the '83 style tube made from brake line is
good. Alternatively, you can make the Jetta tube work; that's what I did. 20w50 is ok, but it
must have a C rating for diesel engines, usually CH/CI these days. If it doesn't don't worry too
much. You are probably safe to use the non-diesel oil for 1/2 the standard oil change interval,
then change it before it gets too soot loaded. C rated oils have additives to handle the soot of
a diesel, among other things.

On 7 May 2007 at 23:20, Zoltan <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET> wrote:

> So, I had an educated guess.  Drained the whole thing and put in 3.7 quarts
> because the filter was not changed.  I only was trying to find out this oil
> level thing.  Cost me time and some quarts of oil. I also had no reference that
> I found, what kind of viscosity of oil I should use.  Used 20/50. Thanks for the
> input, sir. Zoltan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ahlgrim, Kevin"
> <kahlgrim@iusb.edu> To: "Vanagon Mailing List" <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>;
> <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET> Sent: Monday, May 07, 2007 10:48 AM Subject: RE: Keep
> pouring oil in ...
>
>
> You need to disregard the oil stick that goes into the engine block and
> only use the stick from the oil fill tube.  The engine you have in your
> Vanagon is probably from a Golf or Jetta. The original engines in the
> diesel Vanagon did not have the oil check stick in the block, only
> through the oil filler tube.  If it looks homemade someone has replaced
> the original one for some reason.  Hopefully the person measured the
> stick with an original.  You can still find original oil sticks with the
> filler tube but they are getting harder to find since the part is no
> longer available.  You are correct on the slanting part, that is why the
> filler tube is the only one to use.
>
> Kevin
>
> Date:    Mon, 7 May 2007 00:01:48 -0700
> From:    Zoltan <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
> Subject: Keep pouring oil in ...
>
> I checked the oil level of a diesel and there was no show of oil on the
> = stick.=20 But this van has a stick that is built into the oil fill cap
> too, so one = does not have to open the engine area.  On that stick it
> was ok, but it = is obviously a home made thing.
> I checked the back of the Bentley and it says 4 quarts.  And less if the
> = filter is not changed.
> I had to put in more than four to make it to the top of the mark of the
> = factory stick and there was plenty in there already.
> I have a Golf with the same engine and it is not as slanted as the one =
> in the van. =20 Anyone knows about this subject?
> Zoltan
>
>
>
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Shawn Wright
http://members.shaw.ca/vwdiesels
'88 Westy 1.6TD 5 speed
'85 Jetta Diesel 1.6NA