Excessive oil consumption on these engines is usually the result of bad
valve stem seal and/or worn guides. You need to confirm hot idle oil
pressure with a gauge. May only be a bad sensor. Rarely do these oil pumps
wear out but a sludged up or other dirty engine can clog the pump inlet
screen. Usually these engine will run fine on 10w-40 unless you are getting
things really hot form hi revs or high load. Also be careful that the oil
level is not too high.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Bill MacLachlan
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 6:26 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: oil pressure diagnosis.

Hi all, I need a little bit of list wisdom/feedback  here.....

Just over a year ago I had a local shop put replaced my worn out I4 motor
with a used one.

The one they installed has been a lemon.

Shop has just replaced rings and con rod bearings because the engine they
put in  was burning 0.5 litre of oil every  300 miles.

Now when the motor is warmed up , the oil light's on at idle - wasn't
before, but now it is.  The only change has been the rings & bearings.

Raise the revs 50 rpm and the oil light is off.  Shop says oil pump's worn -
low pressure at idle, but OK above idle -  60 lbs. @ 3000 rpm

I wouldn't be surprisd if the oil pump is worn, but  I'm also thinking

(1) oil weight  too thin- should be 20/50 not 10/40
(2) is this a symptom of worn main bearings too? It wouldn't surprise me.

any thoughts welcome... it'd be good to hear your opinions....

Bill M
82 I4 GL