Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Van Smokes Under Load
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
borninabus
Samba R&D Dept.


Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 4532
Location: Arizona Highways
borninabus is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:13 pm    Post subject: Van Smokes Under Load Reply with quote

here's the long & short of it:

when i bought the van i changed the oil before i ever drove it.
i chose mobile1 10w30. i had some buzzing from the OP light @ temp so i replaced the dynamic switch and changed the oil to M1 15w50.
still got some buzzing so i added a quart of lucas oil treatment to try & thicken it up a bit.
still buzzing @ temp.
the oil is now over full which i now know is a no-no.

i tried to take it on it's maiden highway voyage and the first incline i hit it started pouring smoke out the back and made sounds like detonation; higher pitched valve sounding noises, not a rod knock.
backed off it and all seems normal.

i put an oil pressure gauge on it (in the low pressure sensor hole) and all seemed normal.
50psi @ start.
30psi @ operating temp & hwy speeds
10(ish)psi @ idle & temp.

the OP buzz will come on & the gauge is reading about 25psi so kinda confused on that.

i have not been able to replicate the smoke and believe me, i tried (the oil is still over-full)
the smoke itself is not what bothered me as much as the sounds the engine made.
is it possible that the 3/4 valve cover completely filled with oil and caused this smoke & strange noises?
i am not leaning toward a coolant leak because of the sounds the engine made. certainly it's a possibility though...
i did not get a whiff of the smoke or i would know what caused it.

ideas, thoughts; please discuss Smile
_________________
71 Ghia A/S - 88 Van A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
crazyvwvanman
Samba Member


Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 9895
Location: Orbiting San Diego
crazyvwvanman is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:44 pm    Post subject: Re: Van Smokes Under Load Reply with quote

You possibly put the wrong pressure switch in. Waterboxer 2.1 uses a .9 bar switch for the second one. Lots of parts books say it is a 1.8 bar switch but that is wrong. The 1.8 bar wrong one will cause oil alarms when the oil warms up and the pressure gets a little lower.


The smoke is from high rpm uphill with TOO MUCH OIL.
The van should be very level when you check the oil and it should never be higher than the top mark.


Mark


borninabus wrote:
..... i had some buzzing from the OP light @ temp so i replaced the dynamic switch .....

the oil is now over full which i now know is a no-no.

i tried to take it on it's maiden highway voyage and the first incline i hit it started pouring smoke out the back and made sounds like detonation; ..........
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Wildthings
Samba Member


Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50255

Wildthings is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A waterboxer can handle about an extra quart of oil on flat ground, but will blow a nice smoke screen when you get on a hill. If you were blowing enough oil through the crankcase ventilation I guess it would be possible for it to cause detonation. Wonder what the octane rating of motor oil is? Confused
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
borninabus
Samba R&D Dept.


Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 4532
Location: Arizona Highways
borninabus is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i for sure have a .9 bar switch.
maybe something grounding out?

so are we leaning toward simply too much oil?
_________________
71 Ghia A/S - 88 Van A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
crazyvwvanman
Samba Member


Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 9895
Location: Orbiting San Diego
crazyvwvanman is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The oil buzzer is only triggered by the high pressure switch and only when rpms are above 2000. The high pressure switch works in reverse of the low pressure, in that the high pressure switch grounds when there is pressure. So grounding the switch wire would prevent the alarm. A break in the wire would cause the alarm.


borninabus wrote:
i for sure have a .9 bar switch.
maybe something grounding out?

so are we leaning toward simply too much oil?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
borninabus
Samba R&D Dept.


Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 4532
Location: Arizona Highways
borninabus is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 6:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ok i'll take a close look at the wire and see if it's F'd up.
_________________
71 Ghia A/S - 88 Van A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
PDXWesty
Samba Member


Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6235
Location: Portland OR
PDXWesty is offline 

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 9:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I sometimes smoke when loaded.....oh.....wait...
_________________
89 Westy 2.1 Auto
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Kopasz
Samba Member


Joined: August 15, 2008
Posts: 241
Location: Portland, OR
Kopasz is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My van did that after I overfilled it with oil, but I have a conversion engine.

Drained about a quart of oil and no more smoking.....
_________________
adam

'87 Wolfsburg Weekender, Bostig Zetec

The rehabilitation of my Van can be found here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5949024#5949024
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
?Waldo?
Samba Member


Joined: February 22, 2006
Posts: 9752
Location: Where?
?Waldo? is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 1:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The air-cooleds didn't have the dynamic oil pressure warning system. Did you add the dynamic system to an air-cooled?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
borninabus
Samba R&D Dept.


Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 4532
Location: Arizona Highways
borninabus is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 10:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Andrew A. Libby wrote:
The air-cooleds didn't have the dynamic oil pressure warning system. Did you add the dynamic system to an air-cooled?

sorry Embarassed
to clarify it's an 86 2.1 auto.

so the OP gauge will come off today as i am satisfied that the pressure is good.
i drained about a 1.5 quarts of oil and the level is now just below halfway between the two marks.

gave it a good mountain cruise (15 miles uphill) with the A/C on full-blast and no issues but i'm still going to give it some hell this weekend to make sure everything is OK.

wish me luck Smile
_________________
71 Ghia A/S - 88 Van A/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.