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Subject:Re: what clues about engine health can I get...
From:Alistair Bell
Date:Tue, 15 May 2012 19:48:14 -0700

my experience with I4 in vanagon is that oil temp is higher than 80 C. I was running routinely around 105 C

alistair

On 2012-05-15, at 7:28 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:

> Seems like the engine oil weight would be a 4th data point for sure.
> 
> 80C ..that's a very 'par normal' temp ....close to 176 F ..something
> like that, the thermostat I run in summer.
> 
> so there's your data point there ..'normally warmed up' .
> The oil will be around 80C most of the time unless it's very cold , or
> it hasn't been running long ..
> 
> Does it even mention oil weight for this test.
> I looked for the official oil pressure testing thing in Bentley and
> didn't find it.
> what page is it on please.
> 
> 
> On 5/15/2012 6:29 PM, Chris S. wrote:
>> Factory oil pressure spec is based on 3 data points: engine speed, temperature and pressure.  2000rpm, 80C, 2 bar.  If you're not using 3 data points, you're guessing.
>> 
>> After 2 years of looking at my oil temp and pressure gauges I can tell you that water temp is a poor indicator of oil temp.  Therefore, for the purpose of determining engine health, which I though we were discussing, you must use 3 data points or, again, you're guessing. And if a guess is close enough then you're ok.
>> 
>> Chris.
>> 
>> Wysłane z iPhone'a
>> 
>> Dnia May 15, 2012 o godz. 20:02 Scott Daniel - Turbovans<scottdaniel@turbovans.com>  napisał(a):
>> 
>>> yes and no..
>>> oil temp at first tracks coolant temp.
>>> it's going to be at least that warm.
>>> then....the more you drive, and the hotter things are ...oil temp goes up and up gradually ..
>>> so in terms of not exceeding redline oil temp ...a gauge is useful..
>>> otherwise ..
>>> you know when it's normal and when it's extra hot ..
>>> like when ambient temps are high ....under a lot of load , that's when oil temps can get dangerously high without much in the way of an oil cooler.
>>> otherwise ..you know when it's well warmed up but likley not 'that hot.'
>>> 
>>> oil pressure at an  oil temp  of 'par warmed up' is what of interest.
>>> 
>>> On 5/15/2012 2:22 PM, Chris S. wrote:
>>>> Oil pressure gauge is a good start, but you also need oil temp, since the two are very closely related. Half the information is close to no information.
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Chris.
>>>> 
>>>> Wysłane z iPhone'a
>>>> 
>>>> Dnia May 15, 2012 o godz. 15:33 Scott Daniel - Turbovans<scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>  napisał(a):
>>>> 
>>>>> that's how to tell really how good/bad  it is ..
>>>>> running it.
>>>>> oil pressure gauge on it then would be nice too.  That's important info
>>>>> on gauging engine condition and life remaining of course.
>>>>> 
>>>>> On 5/15/2012 7:59 AM, Alistair Bell wrote:
>>>>>> will do. I bet some of the lifters will be collapsed, motor has been sitting as is for a few years.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Depending on the comp. test results, I might swap the engine in early next month. I'll be dropping trans and engine on my van then (for other reasons) and the current engine has a couple of annoying leaks that need dealing with. So I might gamble with the spare while I fix up the other one.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> alistair
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> On 2012-05-15, at 4:49 AM, Kenneth Lewis wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Alistar,
>>>>>>> Pull the rocker arms and look for mushrooming valve stem ends. If you are
>>>>>>> not going to use the engine for a while, just leave them off to relieve
>>>>>>> pressure on the springs and hydraulic lifters. Check for collapsed or
>>>>>>> spongy lifters.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Ken
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Mon, May 14, 2012 4:11 pm, Alistair Bell wrote:
>>>>>>>> when engine on bench?
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> I had to move my spare engine, again, while working in the barn.  I need
>>>>>>>> to decide what to do with it. Came as a spare with my syncro. was given to
>>>>>>>> the seller by a friend. Supposedly pulled from van to make way for
>>>>>>>> conversion.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> What I can see upon casual observation:
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> - oil leak from base of crankcase breather tower (seen that before!)
>>>>>>>> - minor oil weeping from one valve cover
>>>>>>>> - pushrod tubes shiny, oil and rust free
>>>>>>>> - oil pump endplay 0.004" (good)
>>>>>>>> - water pump seized
>>>>>>>> - crank can be rotated, there is compression. I suppose I could rig up my
>>>>>>>> spare bellhousing and starter to spin the bugger and test compression.
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> So what else can I look at apart from pulling the heads?
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> alistair
>>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>>>