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shagginwagon83
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Joined: February 07, 2016
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Location: VA/TN
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 Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 5:28 am Post subject: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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1983.5 1.9L 4-speed
It has been about 2 weeks since a ~800 mile road trip in my van. Last minute, a friend wants to campout. So this morning I rush to get everything thrown in the van to camp tonight. It's about 32 degree F out. On the way to work I usually pull this big hill at ~40-45 mph in 3rd. I did not have that power. I was pulling 25-30 in 2nd. After the hill I notice I'm not even pulling in 4th.
I pull over. Nothing on the dipstick. I add a full quart to get the oil at the lower half at the dipstick. I drive the rest of the way to work babying it.
I know I messed up. The whole 800 mile trip I was monitoring oil level whenever I filled up.
I'm going to drive it at lunch. It'll be around 57'F then. Second gear has been hard for me to find when cold. Relativity new RedLine oil in the trans.
I wonder if I caused permanent damage
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
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Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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shagginwagon83
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 3800
Location: VA/TN
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 5:35 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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No the oil light did not come on.
One thing on the trip that did happen is that my fuel pump was making some noise. My aftermarket fuel pump is about 3 years old. Original fuel pressure regulator.
Spark plugs are fairly new. Just replaced expansion tank gaskets.
2015-
Spark plug wires (gowesty)
Gas tank reseal
What gauge are you talking about plummeting?
Compression test a month ago showed 130, 130, 150, 150
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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mikemtnbike
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Joined: March 26, 2015
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Location: North Carolina
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shagginwagon83
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Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 3800
Location: VA/TN
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 5:43 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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No oil pressure gauge. I'm going to pick one up now. Maybe a RPM gauge too.
I'm usually warmed up before that hill. I just babied the hell out of it after I put the quart of oil in.
And yes. I would floor it and not get any response like I expected.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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mikemtnbike
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Joined: March 26, 2015
Posts: 2796
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 5:57 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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Vacuum leaks can be worse when cold, did you build the smoke machine we talked about? Although I don't think that would cause power loss under load, not really an expert on that.
I'd check that noisy fuel pump and injectors, I think I remember that you have aftermarket, but not fancy marco 24k gold injectors, installed.
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1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled  https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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dobryan
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shagginwagon83
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Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 3800
Location: VA/TN
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 6:03 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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No I haven't made the smoke machine yet, Mike. Looks like that's what I'm getting into this weekend.
Dave, I've never took off a cat before. What's going on there, a behive in your cat? I'm running the original cat with GoWesty 2.1 exhaust.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan
Last edited by shagginwagon83 on Fri Oct 19, 2018 6:04 am; edited 1 time in total |
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mikemtnbike
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djkeev
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shagginwagon83
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Joined: February 07, 2016
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Location: VA/TN
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 6:10 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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I'll check my cat out. Last I checked I had very loose bolts at the 'entrance' side of the cat. I have an exhaust bolt kit I bought but never got to replacing the bolts/nuts.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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crazyvwvanman
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Joined: January 28, 2008
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Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 6:20 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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metoo
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=575525&highlight=dead+cat
Mark
| shagginwagon83 wrote: |
| I'll check my cat out. Last I checked I had very loose bolts at the 'entrance' side of the cat. I have an exhaust bolt kit I bought but never got to replacing the bolts/nuts. |
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Ahwahnee
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Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 6:44 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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If you remember what you exhaust sound was before - you can sometimes diagnose a clogged cat by just listening.
Hopefully you will choose to install a new one if needed - air breathers among us would prefer you not just punch out the insides of the old unit. |
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IdahoDoug
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Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 7:33 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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Yeah, it's something else - a quart low is not going to damage things in real time.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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mikemtnbike
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 8:11 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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Brandon- again, don't panic. Check the cat and then go through the digijet troubleshooting pro manual procedures. You'll figure it out.
_________________
1991 Vanagon GL 2.1 AT Westfauxlia. "Frankie" Totaled https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=764510&highlight=carnage
1995 Eurovan Camper "Marzivan"
2020 GTI SE manual |
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shagginwagon83
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Joined: February 07, 2016
Posts: 3800
Location: VA/TN
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 8:17 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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Thanks Mike and everyone for all their suggestions. Not panicking. I'd like to keep the engine in my life. I went ahead and bought the injectors as I thought it would be a good investment.
I'll keep you guys posted about how it reacts after lunch
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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danfromsyr
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Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 8:39 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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cold effects the grounds well the voltage and resistance at connections.
the engine may have been out of sync with what it thought temps and load were..
loose bolts ahead of the catalytic can burn them up,
can confuse the )2 if leaks upstream of the O2 sensor.
a leak doesn't need to sound loud OUT to suck clean air IN.
and as mentioned the cold has bad effects on the intake seals and rubber S boot.. take it off and make sure it flexes and doesn't shine light from inside to out.. ie. take it to a dark room and put a bright light inside while you flex it..
a smoke test may not show a almost failing rubber boot.. especially as temps vary.
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bettingonvans
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Posts: 85
Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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Do you let your van warm up at all?
Lots of people seem to fire it up and drive but my van gets garbage power until around when the coolant needle starts to move. Probably indicative of some other problem.
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SyncroButter
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Location: Seattle
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 9:46 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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Agreed with others that low oil level is unlikely to cause of the problem you describe.
But... if you just finished an 800 miles trip where you were monitoring oil at every stop (and I assume keeping things at the right level), how did you end up more than a quart low (you say you added a quart just to get to lower half of dip stick) when you kicked off this current trip? A quart+ is a lot to leak/burn/whatever, just wondering if you know where it is going. For example if that is all being burnt off then you have a lot of oil going through your catalytic converter which can lead to failure so it could be that the oil is, in a circuitous way, causing the issue.
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Grant
In the stable: 1986 Syncro Westfalia/Bostig, 1989 Doka Tristar, 1974 Vespa Rally 200, 1973 Vespa Primavera 125, 1963 Solex 2200, 1938 Buick Special
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shagginwagon83
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Joined: February 07, 2016
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| Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2018 10:15 am Post subject: Re: Loss of power on the way to work -> was down a quart |
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| SyncroButter wrote: |
Agreed with others that low oil level is unlikely to cause of the problem you describe.
But... if you just finished an 800 miles trip where you were monitoring oil at every stop (and I assume keeping things at the right level), how did you end up more than a quart low (you say you added a quart just to get to lower half of dip stick) when you kicked off this current trip? A quart+ is a lot to leak/burn/whatever, just wondering if you know where it is going. For example if that is all being burnt off then you have a lot of oil going through your catalytic converter which can lead to failure so it could be that the oil is, in a circuitous way, causing the issue. |
I'm not sure the answer to this question. The last gas station I stopped at was 250 miles away. I know for a fact that I checked the oil because I bragged to my friend that I was able to clean windshield, gas up, and check oil in the time he bought burgers for us inside.
So I don't know how this happened. The van is garage kept and I'm not leaking any.
I don't let the van warm up as I hear a lot of people say get in and drive.
I took the van out for lunch and put it on the interstate. It seems my power is back. So this issue only happens when its cold. I'm running synthetic 15w50.
Possible suspects:
Catalytic converter
Air flow meter
Throttle body
Injectors (Marcos on the way)
S-Boot (last checked OK)
Last year I took the whole top plenum off. Replaced all vacuum hoses except the S-Boot as it checked out okay. Intake gaskets replaced too.
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan |
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