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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:31 pm Post subject: Oil Light Problem- *UPDATE* |
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Hey guys,
As most of you know, a little over a year ago I rebuilt my engine and have been taking good care of it ever since. But within these past 2 week, while going to my girlfrieds, my oil pressure light has started to flicker at idle. Her house is only a 15 mile trip away from mine but it's all highway driving. I know that the official VW manual says that after the engine warms up after a bit its normal to see the light flicker. But being cautious, I read up on oil and changed my oil for straigh 30w to 10w-40 to try and increase case pressue.
I started feeling better after driving to her house a few days ago after the oil change and the light stayed off..I figured I had fixed the problem.
But today, after going on a 24 mile trip, the light came on and would stay on at idle, it wouldn't flicker it was just on. The second I started to go again, it would go off..But still it is a point of concern..I have just over 10,000 miles on the engine and don't drive it rough at all so I hope its just a switch issue and not the bearings
So I just want a second opinion from you guys..I'm thinking its the oil pressure switch because I don't abuse my engine and I change the oil constantly. What do you guys think?
Thanks fellas! _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer
Last edited by PatterBon on Wed Apr 06, 2011 10:57 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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69 Jim Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2004 Posts: 6264 Location: Chickengeorge's Neighbor
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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What are the rpm's at idle? |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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I set them to 900, so its right around where it should be. Not to low and not to high I don't think, I'll take a video and we can listen by ear. But the closest access that I have to a tach is 36 miles away and when he's open I'm at school or work. But I'd say 900. _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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Also, the light went off after some "smoother" driving at lower speeds..it only does it while highway driving.. _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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vw_hank Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2001 Posts: 5371 Location: Everett WA
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Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2011 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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Hay are you on the olydubs site, or bugswest?? I know there are guys in you neighborhood that have A tack.. When your oil light comes on reeve the motor up A little(just A little) vroom,vroom,vroom,, if the light wount go off Stop driving it.. _________________ 1302s sunroof..
1600cc motor. Glenn ring 010. full toplineparts.com suspension. factory front disk brakes. Tram type-3 rear brakes. Hurst shifter. empi-8's. low-back's. tons of mods! |
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Paul Windisch Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2009 Posts: 2546 Location: Clinton Township, Michigan
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Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 6:15 am Post subject: |
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Try to get the oil light to flicker and come on then install an oil pressure gauge to see what the actual oil pressure is. You may have a pressure switch going bad. Certainly you are in tune now to how the engine is supposed to sound, so if you don't hear any unusaul noises, my bet is on the switch going bad. Check it out before you assume, though. _________________ *ASE Recertified Master Automotive Tech*
1984 Mexican Beetle
-1914cc
-L3 Heads 35x32 valves 52cc chambers
-0.040" deck for about 9.1:1 Compression
-Engle W110 cam
-CB Super Stock 1.1:1 Rockers
-Stock Heat Exchangers w/ Tri-Mil Muffler
-Dual Weber IDF 40s w/ 26mm venturis
-034 SVDA Distributor
2013 Chevrolet Volt DD
2005 Pontiac Montana SV6
MAHLE Service Solutions
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Scott Gray Samba Member
Joined: September 18, 2008 Posts: 181 Location: Flat Lick,Ky.
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Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 8:12 am Post subject: |
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Mine does the same thing.I put in a new switch and it still does it.It's a single port out of a 67 that I put a new top end on.It runs perfect and has no endplay.If I set the idle to 1000 it won't come on.I've put about 5000 miles on it since the rebuild and it's done it since day one.I'm going to check my oil relief spring and piston on my next oil change.
Someone one on here says that theirs has come on at idle since 1973. |
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Paul Windisch Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2009 Posts: 2546 Location: Clinton Township, Michigan
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Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:38 am Post subject: |
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A flicker at idle when hot is ok, but Patterbon said at one point it came on solid while he was reving it, that's no good and needs to be sorted out.
EDIT: I mis-read. It did not stay on while reving / driving. Either way, make sure the actual oil pressure is within spec and proceed from there. _________________ *ASE Recertified Master Automotive Tech*
1984 Mexican Beetle
-1914cc
-L3 Heads 35x32 valves 52cc chambers
-0.040" deck for about 9.1:1 Compression
-Engle W110 cam
-CB Super Stock 1.1:1 Rockers
-Stock Heat Exchangers w/ Tri-Mil Muffler
-Dual Weber IDF 40s w/ 26mm venturis
-034 SVDA Distributor
2013 Chevrolet Volt DD
2005 Pontiac Montana SV6
MAHLE Service Solutions
Applications Engineer |
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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Wilco, I'm trying to get my hands on a pressure switch, to and from school it does just fine and the engine runs like a champ, takes hills really well, the whole 9 yard..But I can't express my concern about having the engine in top shape..I don't want to do rebuild #5..John Morris suggested pressure switch, releif plugs, and oil pump..but he's a good 45 minute highway drive from here and I'd rather not risk it..If you know what I mean.. _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32584 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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PatterBon Samba Engine Connoisseur
Joined: September 27, 2008 Posts: 3446 Location: Copperas Cove, TX
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Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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Will do, I'll go do that tomorrow after school..Thanks guys..I'll report back and let you all know..Dave, is there any way to tell if the old switch is bad once its out? Or should I just take the beetle on a drive and see how she does? _________________ PNW Dub Folk & Kitsap dub Folk (KdF)
Austin Aircoolers VW Gang
2020 Ford F-150
1973 Standard Beetle
1969 Cessna 172K Airplane
1959 Karmann Ghia
US Army CH-47 Chinook Helicopter Repairer |
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19super73 Hardcore Stock Nazi
Joined: October 18, 2007 Posts: 4351 Location: Cité Soleil
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djkeev Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007 Posts: 32584 Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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fred69vert Samba Member
Joined: August 17, 2007 Posts: 2200 Location: Home of the US Navy Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, VA
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Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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I figure (especially after reading the oils sticky) that the ACVW engine runs hotter than H2O cooled gas engines. And diesels run hotter. So putting 2 and 2 together, I switched to Shell Rotella 15W-40 diesel engine oil. _________________ I'm not losing my hair, it's just retired and relocating further south.
1969 VW convertible, "Heidi" |
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marklee Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2009 Posts: 821 Location: Flintshire, North Wales
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Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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Just a thought, what oil are you using, when was it last changed etc, the new modern thin 0w/10 oils and other synthetic oils for modern engines arent really suitable for a VW air coole lump.Try a 20w/50, worked for me with similar issues in my Vanagon. Sorry if Im teaching granny to suck eggs but a good quality mineral or maybe semi synthetic oil and frequent changes is in my opinion best for a VW Air cooled car, the others get too thin and can cause this issue and leaks. A friend had an old 911 Porsche, complained to me of smoky start ups and oil light flicker at idle when hot. The correct oil cured the problem.
Hope this helps, Mark _________________ CGLI qualified body repair and refinish tech
CGLI qualified motor repair tech
Qualified automotive Glass installer
Motor Insurance Repair and Research Centre,Thatcham, Advanced Vehicle Damage Estimator.
Police qualified vehicle examiner
Police Class 1 High performance, pursuit trained Advanced driver |
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dan macmillan Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2003 Posts: 3110 Location: Northern Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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marklee wrote: |
Just a thought, what oil are you using, when was it last changed etc, the new modern thin 0w/10 oils and other synthetic oils for modern engines arent really suitable for a VW air coole lump.Try a 20w/50, worked for me with similar issues in my Vanagon. Sorry if Im teaching granny to suck eggs but a good quality mineral or maybe semi synthetic oil and frequent changes is in my opinion best for a VW Air cooled car, the others get too thin and can cause this issue and leaks. A friend had an old 911 Porsche, complained to me of smoky start ups and oil light flicker at idle when hot. The correct oil cured the problem.
Hope this helps, Mark |
From the OP's first post,
Quote: |
But being cautious, I read up on oil and changed my oil for straigh 30w to 10w-40 to try and increase case pressue. |
He mentioned that it was done within the past 2 weeks. _________________ Licensed Automotive Service Technician
Licensed Truck and Coach Technician
Licensed Heavy Duty Equipment Technician
CFC/HCFC/HFC A/C handling and installation license
Alignment specialist
66 Modified Manx,68 Kyote,74 Thing,74 Beetle, 76 Transporter,75 self made Double Cab,65 Meyers Manx,78Westy,68 Ghia, 79 Bradley GT2
Current projects:
Built for others:69 Manx Clone |
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dasdachshund Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2010 Posts: 728 Location: Vancouver, WA USA
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Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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marklee wrote: |
.....Try a 20w/50, worked for me with similar issues in my Vanagon.......... |
Yep, that's an old water cooled VW trick. Worked for me also, on a 1985 Cabriolet.
I say do the 20w-50 oil trick. Bet it cures it.
-dasdachshund |
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Semper_Dad Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 3510 Location: Indiana
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Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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PatterBon wrote: |
I set them to 900, so its right around where it should be. Not to low and not to high I don't think, I'll take a video and we can listen by ear. But the closest access that I have to a tach is 36 miles away and when he's open I'm at school or work. But I'd say 900. |
You really need to pick up a cheap dwell/tach meter. Should be part of any VW toolbox. You don't need to install one on the dash, Just pick up a cheap portable one. Less than $30. Until then, give me a call and borrow mine. I think mine is 20 years old. _________________ Walküre Restoration Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=737492 |
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vw_hank Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2001 Posts: 5371 Location: Everett WA
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Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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Semper_Dad wrote: |
PatterBon wrote: |
I set them to 900, so its right around where it should be. Not to low and not to high I don't think, I'll take a video and we can listen by ear. But the closest access that I have to a tach is 36 miles away and when he's open I'm at school or work. But I'd say 900. |
You really need to pick up a cheap dwell/tach meter. Should be part of any VW toolbox. You don't need to install one on the dash, Just pick up a cheap portable one. Less than $30. Until then, give me a call and borrow mine. I think mine is 20 years old. |
PatterBon,, See I told you there were guys in your neighborhood
And if you know John Morris? then your in good hands _________________ 1302s sunroof..
1600cc motor. Glenn ring 010. full toplineparts.com suspension. factory front disk brakes. Tram type-3 rear brakes. Hurst shifter. empi-8's. low-back's. tons of mods! |
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marklee Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2009 Posts: 821 Location: Flintshire, North Wales
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 5:38 am Post subject: |
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dan macmillan wrote: |
marklee wrote: |
Just a thought, what oil are you using, when was it last changed etc, the new modern thin 0w/10 oils and other synthetic oils for modern engines arent really suitable for a VW air coole lump.Try a 20w/50, worked for me with similar issues in my Vanagon. Sorry if Im teaching granny to suck eggs but a good quality mineral or maybe semi synthetic oil and frequent changes is in my opinion best for a VW Air cooled car, the others get too thin and can cause this issue and leaks. A friend had an old 911 Porsche, complained to me of smoky start ups and oil light flicker at idle when hot. The correct oil cured the problem.
Hope this helps, Mark |
From the OP's first post,
Quote: |
But being cautious, I read up on oil and changed my oil for straigh 30w to 10w-40 to try and increase case pressue. |
He mentioned that it was done within the past 2 weeks. |
I agree, but if the wrong type or grade of oil was used it couldve been done an hour ago the trouble would still be apparant..... _________________ CGLI qualified body repair and refinish tech
CGLI qualified motor repair tech
Qualified automotive Glass installer
Motor Insurance Repair and Research Centre,Thatcham, Advanced Vehicle Damage Estimator.
Police qualified vehicle examiner
Police Class 1 High performance, pursuit trained Advanced driver |
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