Thanks for all of the replies. I'm happy to report that we're
currently rolling through our 200th mile without a peep from the oil
pressure buzzer or the speedo cable.

My son, however, occasionally whines about how much farther it is yet.

I suspect it was not the buzzer as some of you have indicated, it
should be a clear warning and not something one should guess at.

Happy trails, one and all.

On 11/17/07, Richard Golen <rgolen@umassd.edu> wrote:
> An easy way to figure it out is to run the motor while the van is
> parked. Once the engine gets above 2500 rpm the buzzer should sound
> and the oil pressure light will blink. If its the speedo cable, then
> there will be no squeaking.....
>
> Ric
>
>
>
> At 10:30 AM 11/17/2007, mordo wrote:
> >SO does the light always come on when the buzzer sounds? No lights
> >come on when this sound occurs.
> >
> >Jus as an alternate theory, some on the Samba have suggested it's
> >not the buzzer but instead a cold speedo cable.
> >
> >On Nov 17, 2007 9:51 AM, Richard Golen
> ><<mailto:rgolen@umassd.edu>rgolen@umassd.edu> wrote:
> >
> >The tone is a continuous, annoying tone......
> >
> >At 09:14 AM 11/17/2007, mordo wrote:
> > >Okay, that's good info. I don't think I'm over-full. I remembered the
> > >caveats about that. Is it possible that I've not enough oil? It shows
> above
> > >the lower notch, perhaps exactly midway between - that's what I was
> aiming
> > >for. I used a five gallon jug of oil and left a bout a 1/2 quart
> according
> > >to the marks on the side of the jug.
> > >
> > >The critical question is, if I didn't have an oil pressure problem before
> > >the oil change, should I be very concerned that I have a buzzer now?
> Also,
> > >the buzzer is not conistent. It only came on twice for a few moments each
> > >time. It occurs to me that maybe both times were during off-throttle
> > >deceleration. I've got 300 miles to drive today and I obviously don't
> want
> > >to do any damage.
> > >
> > >Thanks for the comments.
> > >
> > >On Nov 17, 2007 9:03 AM, Michael Snow
> > <<mailto:mwsnow@gmail.com>mwsnow@gmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > > I use Mobil 1 15W-50 exclusively in my waterboxers.  The brand/grade
> > > > of oil is almost certainly not the problem.
> > > >
> > > > The high RPM oil pressure alarm is a continuous tone.  You can easily
> > > > cause this by overfilling the crankcase.  Above the lower mark on the
> > > > dipstick is right.  As you approach the upper mark, you run a great
> > > > risk of having too much oil in the engine.  When this happens, the
> > > > crankshaft and associated parts can contact the oil, causing
> > > > splashing,  foaming, and low oil pressure.  When I change the oil, I
> > > > add oil until the level reaches the lower dipstick mark, then add an
> > > > additional 1/2 quart.
> > > >
> > > > Mike
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Nov 17, 2007 5:15 AM, mordo <
> > <mailto:helmut.blong@gmail.com>helmut.blong@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > Thanks, Ric. So, is it high pressure or low pressure warning? The
> sound
> > > > I
> > > > > have is a continuous tone, not a beeping or pulsing.
> > > > >
> > > > > It seems to me that if it is in fact the pressure warning
> > buzzer, it has
> > > > to
> > > > > be related tot the change to the 15/50 Mobil 1. I wish I knew why
> that
> > > > might
> > > > > be.
> > > > >
> > > > > cheers,
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > > > > From: Richard Golen < <mailto:rgolen@umassd.edu>rgolen@umassd.edu>
> > > > > Date: Nov 17, 2007 7:49 AM
> > > > > Subject: Re: What does the oil pressure warning buzzer sound like?
> > > > > To: mordo <
> > <mailto:helmut.blong@gmail.com>helmut.blong@gmail.com>,
> > <mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Hi,
> > > > >
> > > > > Sounds like the oil pressure buzzer. It is an annoying "high C"
> sound
> > > > > and starts when the engine hits 2500 rpm. The buzzer is located
> under
> > > > > the dash/instrument panel.
> > > > >
> > > > > You might want to check the connections to the oil pressure sending
> > > > > units - the one that sets off the buzzer (high pressure sender) is
> > > > > located near the crank pulley. The two sensors have a common
> > > > > connector to the main harness on the left side of the engine. To do
> a
> > > > > quick check on the high pressure sender, you can ground out the
> > > > > connector. If the buzzing continues, then there's a fault somewhere
> > > > > in the wiring harness. If it stops, then the problem may be with the
> > > > > sensor, or worse....
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Ric
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > At 06:55 AM 11/17/2007, mordo wrote:
> > > > > >Fellows: I need some quick help because I'm leaving on a
> > trip today and
> > > > am
> > > > > >concerned about a sound alien to me. I posted at the Samba
> > too so I've
> > > > > >pasted that below:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > Last night, I drove a 8 mile errand trip, stopping once. On my
> > > > return
> > > > > > > trip, I was baffled by a sound I have never heard. At first I
> > > > > > thought it was
> > > > > > > interference on my radio as I was passing a group of television
> > > > > transmitter
> > > > > > > antennae. However it continued after I turned off the radio.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > The sound occurred twice and both times it was a slow crescendo
> to
> > > > about
> > > > > > > high C. I can't say what RPM it occurred at for sure but I would
> > > > guess
> > > > > > > around 2500 RPM. The sound seemed to stop when I let off the
> > > > throttle
> > > > > but
> > > > > > > maybe it didn't stop immediately. The outside temp was about
> 40F.
> > > > > > The engine
> > > > > > > was well warm but not highway hot.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > A few days ago, I changed the oil from Castrol GTX 20/50
> > to Mobil 1
> > > > > 15/50.
> > > > > > > I always use a Mann filter.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > There was no flashing light. Is this the sound of the oil
> pressure
> > > > > warning
> > > > > > > buzzer? If so, it seems silly. It is too vague to be an alarm if
> > > > > > you ask me.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Thanks in advance for the help.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >--
> > > > > >mordo
> > > > > >1990 Carat
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > mordo
> > > > > 1990 Carat
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >--
> > >mordo
> > >1990 Carat
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >--
> >mordo
> >1990 Carat
>

--
mordo
1990 Carat