Date: Sat, 9 Oct 2004 01:25:56 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Fw: '86 Westy Oil light flickers briefly...other basic ?'s
In-Reply-To: <009901c4adb5$0c2bf630$93d23b45@Dell>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Congrats on your new ride. May you have many trouble free miles (an
oxymoron or sorts ??? Vanagons and "trouble free"?? But I jokes!!!) and
years of fun.
Oil - 20W50 Dino oil or 15W50 synthetic. I use Mobil One Synthetic in
my 88 GL . I swear by it, but others disagree as to whether there is an
advantage worth measuring.
Flickering light -- hmmmm. Could be pressure switch, could be worn out
engine, could be wrong oil type ( but that has been addressed) could be
oil filter related.
Oil filter. Anecdotal evidence is that the only way to go on the 2.1 L
and 1.9L WBX engines is either a Mahle or Mann oil filter. There are a
number of reasons.....internal filter material, how it is constructed,
heavier internal relief valve and spring ------ and this latter item is
a big issue. In the Mahl/Mann filters, the relief valve spring and the
design of the valve itself does a better job of keeping the oil pressure
up in the engine oil galleries after the engine is shut down. This helps
prevent the lifters from going flat and inducing the infamous "Vanagon
clattering lifter" syndrome. If you have not experienced it yet, you
will. It is inevitable ...... and it will scare the hell out of you. You
will swear you have dropped a valve or something. Never fear. No damage
done. Run the vehicle up the road for half hour and the offending lifter
will pump back up and will be just fine. Brand new lifters do this on
these engines. Just undeerstand and appreciate the engines
idiosyncracies and you will have few problems to crop up.
Blue coolant, orange coolant (GM's DEXCOOL) are both fine. Don't know
about the blue stuff, but it is most likely like the orange stuff in
mixing, which gets mixed 50:50. I have used the orange stuff for years,
and I change it every two years. Also, when I put in the new stuff, I
add a bottle of Redline water wetter. Don't know if it helps, but it
can't hurt.
Other List Members who are Westy owners can help you with the specific
Westy questions.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Larry Occhipinti, DVM wrote:
>Dear Vanagon Listmates,
>
> I'm new to this list, and a first time Westy owner ('86) and glad to be
>onboard....from the few posts I've gotten today this should be a great
>learning experience.
>
>I'm not a mechanic by any means, so I am hoping someone on this list can
>recommend a good westy mechanic in the Newport, Oregon area who can tend to
>my '86 Westfalia...
>
>I just aquired my first Westy on Sunday....luckily for me it has been gone
>through very extensively during the last 12 months and 10,000 miles-
>completely
>rebuilt engine/replaced heads, new exhaust system, brakes, cooling system,
>clutch, etc...it is a good runner for sure, but occasionally the oil warning
>light flickers on briefly.
>
>It was a quart low on oil when I got home with her, and I topped her off
>before heading out yesterday morning, and while it is not doing it as often
>now, it still occasionally flickers, especially when rpms are low...I
>figure no big deal since it runs so great, but thought I'd ask if this is
>something that should be addressed.
>
>Another basic question is should I follow the factory rec for oil changes
>every 7,500 miles, or do my usual every 3,000 mile change?
>
>Is it vital to only use the factory german oil filters, or are the ones
>installed at the neighborhood oil change places adequate?
>
>I'm using Castro 20/50 wt oil....hope that is the best for these.
>
>It is not leaking a drop that I can see on the driveway.
>
>Do have the blue coolant....should I add it full strength for top offs , or
>dilute 50 : 50 with distilled water?
>
>Sorry for all the questions on my first post....thanks again, and if there
>is a good westy mechanic in my area please let me know where he is!!
>
>Looking forward to gaining good basic pointers from you all and sincere
>gratitude for your sharing of pertinent vanagon info...
>
>
> Larry Occhipinti
>
> Newport, Oregon
>
>
>
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