Thanks everybody for the help and input. Here are my next steps

   1. Change Oil back to Castrol Synth 20/50 (is there anything else
   recommended that would be better?) Might drop some SeaFoam and consider it
   an engine cleaning rather than a wasted oil change.
   2. Switch out the BOSCH filter for a MANN, MAHLE or NAPA or
   MOBILE1-M1-205 (my last one was a NAPA Gold, but want to try a MAN, MAHLE
   this go around)
   3. Work on getting an Oil Gauge installed (
   4. I do want to upgrade the engine, knowing its on the way out. Thinking
   of putting in an order for a Vanistan.com engine over the winter or finding
   a reputable mechanic for a rebuild (any Asheville, NC people have a source
   please let me know) Sure would like a 2.1 though...
   5. Continue to enjoy my time with Artie McParty and his 192k engine.
   Fall festival season is here and I got some trips to make up the mountain!

I consider myself lucky on this van, I am the 3rd owner and the second
owner only had it for 6 months after buying it from an older gentleman (a
professor at ASU from what I was told) in AZ and driving it to NC. Its a
rust free, unmolested, clean with the original engine. With that many miles
I consider it a blessing to have had this much fun including an engagement
trip out west to NM, CO
<https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/101740169475139345962/albums/5795906082007912833?sort=1>
including numerous high passes. Made just over 4k miles in a month without
a hick-up (well one broken belt, no biggie)

Anything else to drop in that list?

Ryan Perry