There are 16 cups to a gallon. 2 cups/month is 1.5 gallons/year. That is a
leak, not normal consumption. At that rate you should never need to change
the coolant as it is getting replaced about 2.5 years. Regular additions of
coolant are actually bad for a system for a number of reasons. While I agree
that coolant level should be checked frequently there should only be a
minimal loss. The only expected loss should be evaporation from the overflow
tank.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )
Sent: Saturday, December 6, 2014 7:15 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Final Oil pressure result

At least look behind the license plate at that bottle.

if all is normal..coolant will be a couple inches deep at least in there.
  ( I have seen *many* of them pretty low or empty ..
most vanagons in my experiencing use coolant slightly ..
say cup or two a month . )

if the guy opened up the system ..
and the cap on the pressure bottle is working like it should ( not always a
give ) you may find the license plate bottle low or empty.

On 12/6/2014 1:26 PM, Dennis Jowell wrote:
> Thanks for the quick update on my oil pressure. I'll talk them about this
and check the coolant level tomorrow .
>
> Dennis Jowell
> Scotch Hollow Farm
> West Newbury, Vermont
>
>
>> On Dec 6, 2014, at 6:00 PM, SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )
<scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>>
>> perfect oil pressure readings.
>>
>> find out if any coolant pipes were touched working on the oil pump.
>> if the cooling system was opened up ..
>> sounds like something is going on ..
>> like air in the system.
>>
>> I have never ever seen a t-stat itself  make gauge reading swings..
>> right now I'd say cooling system not bled propery. ( usually not a
>> big deal either )
>>
>> or possible gauge weirdness.
>>
>>
>>> On 12/5/2014 1:57 AM, Dennis Jowell wrote:
>>> OK here are the final results of Noah reworking the oil pressure
syndrome problem on my 88 Westy. Drove 200 miles yesterday on the interstate
and back to the farm.
>>>
>>> 65 mph, 3200 rpm's, 42 psi.
>>> At idle 12 psi
>>> I think this is all within acceptable parameters ? Any thoughts ?
>>> What was done was to replace and add the correct gaskets and sealant at
the oil pump and flange cover etc. that was the problem.
>>> Thanks to all of you with your suggestions, they helped in diagnosing
the problem.
>>>
>>> One almost final note is that during my test drive of yesterday I
noticed that the thermostat now has swings of up to 60% range down to 20%
range on the gauge. Before I dropped it off to Noah the gauge was constant
at 50%. Is this coincidental or just another new problem? Could something
been unplugged during the oil pump problem? I'll look at the coolant  level
this morning. The weather may warm a bit its 2 below now.
>>>
>>> Thanks for all the help
>>>
>>> Dennis
>>>
>>> Dennis Jowell
>>> Scotch Hollow Farm
>>>
>>>
>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>
>>>> From: Dennis Jowell <dennisjowell@gmail.com>
>>>> Date: November 24, 2014 at 6:41:36 AM EST
>>>> To: Noah VW Repair Crowther <craigsvwrepair@yahoo.com>
>>>> Subject: Fwd: Oil pressure ?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Dennis Jowell
>>>> Scotch Hollow Farm
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Begin forwarded message:
>>>>
>>>>> From: Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca>
>>>>> Date: November 24, 2014 at 1:37:05 AM EST
>>>>> To: Dennis Jowell <dennisjowell@GMAIL.COM>
>>>>> Subject: Re: Oil pressure ?
>>>>>
>>>>> I bet the oil pump gasket is the problem. Well that sounds arrogant
and assured, but if the oil pressure problem arose after the gasket
replacement....
>>>>>
>>>>> I'd go back to the no gasket set up, using the loctite anerobic gasket
goo.
>>>>>
>>>>> Good luck,
>>>>>
>>>>> Alistair
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Nov 23, 2014, at 3:30 AM, Dennis Jowell <dennisjowell@GMAIL.COM>
wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The seal that was replaced was the pulley seal close to the oil pump
cover and that seal area was also resealed. Noah's shop also added a small
gasket at the pump cover which had none except a silicone type sealant was
used from GOWESTY. I tried 2 different OP blue pressure switches with the
same results happening.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Dennis Jowell
>>>>>>> Scotch Hollow Farm
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Nov 23, 2014, at 12:22 AM, Dennis Haynes
<d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I would be concerned that the problem started after replacing the
rear seal.
>>>>>>>> I would also be concerned that the seal had to be replaced on a new
engine.
>>>>>>>> Something is wrong. Are we talking the rear seal as in the
>>>>>>>> pulley seal or the flywheel seal? Or was is the oil pump cover
>>>>>>>> seal? Then I would suspect the wrong gasket was installed.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> One thing I would do is get the rear oil pressure switch from the
dealer.
>>>>>>>> The aftermarket ones including the OEM looking Meyle stuff is
>>>>>>>> junk and they are all over the place. The newer dealer switches
>>>>>>>> have also been redesigned with more band between setting on and
releasing to help prevent the falsies.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Dennis
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]
>>>>>>>> On Behalf Of Dennis Jowell
>>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2014 7:00 PM
>>>>>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>>>>>> Subject: Re: Oil pressure ?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> New filter, oil is 20w50 NAPA, oil level is slightly less than
>>>>>>>> 1/2 on the stick. Pressure does rise off idle. Not to sure if
>>>>>>>> oil cooler is working or how to check it out. It was 20 out
>>>>>>>> during the 80 mile trip back an forth from the farm. Could
>>>>>>>> there be an oil pump problem on the new 2.2 engine? The oil
>>>>>>>> pump pressure was tested by Noah when the rear seal started to
>>>>>>>> leak and he replaced the seal. Then the trouble with the light/
buzzer syndrome started.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Dennis Jowell
>>>>>>>> Scotch Hollow Farm
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On Nov 22, 2014, at 6:42 PM, Dennis Haynes
>>>>>>>>> <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> What viscosity oil are you using? 22 psi at 3,600 RPM is low
>>>>>>>> especially for a new engine. Any chance you are over filling it?
>>>>>>>> Clogged or otherwise restricted filter? Is the oil cooler
>>>>>>>> working? The
>>>>>>>> 6 psi at idle is also low but not that uncommon Pressure should
>>>>>>>> rise quickly above idle. 28 psi at
>>>>>>>> 3800 is considered a wear limit unless there are extenuating
>>>>>>>> circumstances such as after a prolonged high speed drive.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Dennis
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]
>>>>>>>> On Behalf Of Dennis Jowell
>>>>>>>> Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2014 5:50 PM
>>>>>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>>>>>> Subject: Oil pressure ?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> After installing my new VDO electric oil gauge I finally took
>>>>>>>> my 88 Westy out this afternoon for a test ride. Driving the
>>>>>>>> interstate at 65 mph, oil is at 22 psi, drove for another 40
>>>>>>>> miles down to the exit ramp and oil pressure light/buzzer goes off
at the end of the ramp.
>>>>>>>> PSI was at 6 at 900 rpm's. Is this common? Or is there a
>>>>>>>> problem with my new GOWESTY engine that has 3000+ miles on it ?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Dennis Jowell
>>>>>>>> Scotch Hollow Farm