Date:         Sat, 10 Jan 2004 02:41:29 -0500
Reply-To:     "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: what causes low oil pressure

synthetic oil might reduce surface temperatures due to friction, which
would be good, but should not make the van run cooler. i respectfully
submit that something other than changing to synthetic oil was responsible
for the falling temperature gauge described below. perhaps the van was
running a little hot in town, and then, as indicated by the falling
temperature gauge, cooled down a bit at cruising speed. in any case,
cooler is not necessarily better, and the thermostat will always attempt
to keep the engine at optimum temperature; in theory, even if all engine
friction was eliminated, the engine would run at the same overall
temperature.

dlk

On Fri, 9 Jan 2004 14:25:26 -0500, Steve Cotsford <Cotsford@AOL.COM> wrote:

>You are probably right that there is more clearance in the bearings and
the oil pressure is lower and although high enough for the engine to run
nicely, it sets off the buzzer etc.
>I believe my engine is just like that too.   Its a fact of life that
engines wear out.
>When the engine is working hard, the oil gets hotter and thinner and for
a given viscosity, the pressure gets lower and the buzzer sounds at mid
speed range.
>By replacing the oil with full synthetic, the gain is twofold:
>1 The engine runs cooler for the same load therefore the oil doesn't get
so thin.  Believe me you will see this on your temp gauge in about 50
miles.   It amazed me to see the needle go down as I drove.
>2 The synthetic oil of 15w-50 will retain its viscosity when hot to a
value higher than 10w-40 so the pressure will stay higher.
>
>If you change the high oil pressure switch next to the water pump to the
lower value or .8 bar I believe, instead of 1.5 bar, you will still get a
warning for catastrophic pressure loss but not get the annoyance of the
buzzer coming on when you really do still have enough oil pressure.    I
climb the Appalachians hard in very hot weather and still the buzzer stays
off.
>By all means put a pressure gauge on.  I was going to but its such a pain
that I never got a round tuit.  I may never bother.
>
>Dont be afraid of oil leaks showing up.  Only those that need fixing
anyway will appear.   When I changed my oil to Mobil1 15w-50 at 130k
miles, the only leak I got was around the base of the distributor.   A 30
cent O-ring fixed it.
>
>It will only cost $20-30 to change the oil over.  Just do it !!!
>Make your own experiences and conclusions.  If you dont like it, switch
back.  Its not irreversible.  I doubt you will though because I believe
you will be happy with the results.
>
>cheers,
>Steve Cotsford
>Columbia SC