Nope. Our owners manual (1982) say this is normal, and every VW I have
owned (and 2 Porsche 914's) did the same thing (to varying degrees), and
had similar notes in the owners manual. No motor problems.

An idling motor doesn't require much oiling...and your oil pump provides
plenty of pressure at idle (.9 bar, or thereabouts). The pressure sender is
working, and there is no cause for alarm.
Some "snake oil" motor additives make use of this fact, and show, through
the use of their product, "we can remove the drain plug, and let this motor
idle for a half an hour...". Great.

Be concerned when a light "blip' of the throttle doesn't shut it off, it
may be time for a rebuild, or at bare minimum, a Melling 150% flow oil
pump. Don't re-adjust your idle to compensate, that will only be wasting
fuel, and polluting my air. Be happy that you have a motor that runs great
at 150k, and keep changing the oil.

Cheers.
G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
www.bulley-hewlett.com
Cary, NC USA
888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message-----
From:   M.R. Nimmo [SMTP:mrnimmo@YAHOO.COM]
Sent:   Monday, April 26, 1999 12:36 AM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Oil Light on at idle only when hot

My oil light does not come on when my 84 vanagon first
starts.  After a few minutes, it begins to flicker at
idle.  After driving the vehicle or extended idling,
the oil light stays on while the vehicle is idling.
20/50 oil and VW filter.  With only a VERY slight
increase in RPM the light drops out.  (I have not
tached it yet to see what the idle rpm is.)  Engine
has 150k and runs well (70+ on the interstate with a
quarter throttle or less.)

I plan on turning the idle up a bit, but am I merely
masking the problem?  Should I be thinking oil
pressure problems (bearings?) Or overheating???

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