Well, that's another variable...and a tough one too!!!  :) :)

here's my approach- start with the easiest and cheapest, and work my way up
to the most expensive & difficult
1) change the oil. might work, won't do any harm. If it doesn't work
2) drain & reserve oil, drop pan and look at the pick up screen/pressure
relief valve.If that doesn't work,
3) change the oil pump if necessary. If that doesn't work.....
4) hope it does 'cos I really don't want to have to change the head !!! :)

On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 5:06 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> Another cause of low oil pressure on these engines is worn or damaged cam
> bearing journals. There are no cam bearings! The cam rides directly on the
> aluminum. An over tightened cam belt or any occurrence of no oil pressure
> wipes the head quickly. Rimco used to align bore these heads and fit
> bearings. It is difficult to check the bearing journal clearance. You have
> to remove the cam, lifters, and using plasti-gauge install the cam so the
> clearance can be measured.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Bill MacLachlan
> Sent: Monday, October 19, 2009 7:20 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>  Subject: Re: oil pressure diagnosis.
>
> Thanks Dennis....they did guides & seals too, so I'm hoping the oil
> consumption issue is resolved.
> Their analysis was that oil use was due to sludged up rings not moving
> right. Therefore they replaced rings and con rod bearings.
>
> Shops first answer to the oil light was that it was a sensor ( " they can
> be
> sensitive"), but then they used a pressure gauge - pressure low at  idle,
> OK
> at running speed. Not sure  how warm the motor was when they read the
> guage.
>
> Thaks for the info on the pump, and the inlet screen. I'm thinking  the
> inlet screen may be dirty or the pressure relief may be gummed open. This
> would be the sort of non culpable careless stuff I've run into with work
> they've done. Sigh.  No I won't use them again.
>
> Engine load is minimal and I don't rev it.
>
> Bill M
>
> On Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 3:55 PM, Dennis Haynes
> <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:
>
> > 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
> >
> >
>
>