Running a Water Boxer on 10w-30 is asking for engine failure to begin
with. Very risky for extended highway travel. You really want 20w-50 or
15w-50 synthetic. The WB wants and needs a high viscosity oil. Your gauge
is probably enthusiastic at the low end reading 15 psi at idle with that
oil Especially since your at 30 at 4,000 rpm. This is close to the wear
limit of 28. FUN BUS still hold 40-45 psi at highway speeds with 254k on
the engine. 10 psi/1,000 rpm is sort of a universal baseline for most
engines. Where did you connect the gauge to the engine? Best spot is where
the low pressure sensor sits between the pushrod tubes.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Richard Golen
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 10:17 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: What does your oil pressure gauge "say", and what other gauges do
you have in your Vanagon

Hi,

This weekend I put in a 3 gauge panel in my Vanagon. One of which is
an oil pressure gauge. As I haven't had an oil pressure gauge in a
Vanagon before, I need a "baseline" to compare my readings with.
Currently, my 87 Westy as 155K miles, and I have 10W30 oil in it.
When warmed up, idle pressure is 15psi, at 3K RPM - 30psi, at 4K RPM
- 40psi. What oil pressure readings do you get in your Vanagons?

As far as the other gauges in the panel, I have a 12V voltmeter. The
third gauge is a temperature gauge. The temp gauge came from my old
86 GTI (as did the voltmeter), however I do not have it hooked up as
I don't have the sensor for it, and on the GTI I was able to run the
sensor off of the oil cooler. The Vanagon oil cooler doesn't seem to
have a place to put the temp sensor. So, rather than having a
non-functioning gauge filling up the spot on the gauge panel, I'm
curious as to what other gauges you folks might have in your Vanagons.

Thanks.

Ric