2.4 TD, oil pressure advice please. |
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mbtrac
Not Quite Newbie Joined: 16 Feb 13 Location: Cork, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 35 |
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Posted: 09 May 13 at 21:33 |
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Did you check both oil pressure switches to see that both are connected? In my case the upper oil pressure switch was disconnected but the lower one was connected. Before I found the problem, the oil pressure light and buzzer would switch on after 500m of driving and it would only switch off when I turned off the engine. Once I reconnected the upper switch, it was fine. Now when I turn on the ignition,the oil pressure light blinks and when I start her, the blinking light extinguishes immediately.
If you think the switches are faulty and wish to replace them, note the colour of the wire to the switch when ordering them. |
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Cool Box
Groupie Joined: 23 Jul 10 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 73 |
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Sorry, I didn't phrase my query very well. The flashing led comes on when the engine starts, and comes on during driving even though the pressure switch was disconnected. Now I've reconnected the switch the led comes on during driving but less than it did. Now the pressure switch has been reconnected the red lamp with the picture of an oil can starts flashing when the ignition is switched but goes off when driving, which never happened when the switch was disconnected. Does this happen on other vans? I've ordered a new pressure switch and have a spare gauge if that fails. The Haynes manual and a poster above mentioned the audible low pressure alarm, this has never sounded. |
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1991 Florida.
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LTCamper89
Vanorak Joined: 18 Apr 12 Location: The Toon Status: Offline Points: 4285 |
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^^^
Up late then Hutch. Night night. Easy Listening on BBC Four for us.
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1989 LT28 2.4D Saviour of 6Music, well one of them. Now playing http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_6music
VW LT Camper not Cramper ....at least the roof is not rusting away.... |
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mrhutch
Moderator Group the ginger princess Joined: 21 Aug 07 Location: Herefordshire Status: Offline Points: 5147 |
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yes.. it's so you know the LED works |
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T3 1981 Westy Vanagon - thinks lubricant is a fuel
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Cool Box
Groupie Joined: 23 Jul 10 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 73 |
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That's odd, I found exactly the same thing to be the problem with mine this morning. Not before I changed the oil a couple of weeks ago. How come the oil pressure light comes on even though the oil pressure switch is disconnected? Now I've refitted the cable there's a red oil light in the display that flashes before you turn the engine on. Is this normal? |
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1991 Florida.
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mbtrac
Not Quite Newbie Joined: 16 Feb 13 Location: Cork, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 35 |
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Thanks guys for your support.
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mrhutch
Moderator Group the ginger princess Joined: 21 Aug 07 Location: Herefordshire Status: Offline Points: 5147 |
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T3 1981 Westy Vanagon - thinks lubricant is a fuel
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mat_the_cat
Vanorak Joined: 06 May 09 Location: North Wales Status: Offline Points: 1862 |
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Excellent, a nice easy fix!
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Mid engined, 6 cylinder, turbocharged 2 seater - it can only be a VW LT!
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mbtrac
Not Quite Newbie Joined: 16 Feb 13 Location: Cork, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 35 |
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Hi Folks,
Found the problem, the wire to the top oil pressure switch was plugged out so when I plugged it back in, it sorted the problem.
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mbtrac
Not Quite Newbie Joined: 16 Feb 13 Location: Cork, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 35 |
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Hi guys, I bought a 1993 lt 31 2.4 turbo diesel last summer but lately as i accelerate the engine, the oil pressure warning light and and buzzer switches on. After reading your posts I changed the oil and filter today but when I road tested her, the buzzer and oil pressure warning light switched on again. I used a MAN filter and a 15W/40 oil to VW 505.00 spec. Do you think that the oil pressure switches are faulty? Are they know for giving trouble? The vehicle was idle for at least 3 years before I bought it but I driven it very little since I got it,apart from getting it tested which it passed. Should I check the gearbox and axle oil levels just in case? Thanks guys |
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volition82
Yardie Joined: 06 Jan 10 Location: somerset Status: Offline Points: 972 |
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As Tardis said the garage could have used their standard mixed fleet oil which isn't suitable for your engine.
If it's not the oil/filter it could be the pressure sender switch. Something like that i'd by a genuine VW one.
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1989 LT35 - 2.4 Lpg/Petrol - Converted To Camper
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Cool Box
Groupie Joined: 23 Jul 10 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 73 |
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Cheers for all the advice everybody. I'll get some oil and a filter and let you know how it goes. I got an eye full of warm engine oil last time I tried anything like this so wish me luck. |
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1991 Florida.
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Tardis
Groupie Joined: 02 Oct 11 Location: Teesside Status: Offline Points: 41 |
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Another vote for dropping the oil here.
Our older engines really don't like modern synthetic and semi-synthetic oils that seem to be the norm these days, if the person who serviced it for you doesn't have much experience with older vehicles the chances are they will have used a 10/40 semi oil. To give you an idea of the difference I bought a non runner Porsche 924 which uses the same audi derived petrol engine as my LT, when I got it running I noticed that when the engine god warm the oil pressure was quite low on tickover (almost alarmingly low), after dropping the oil, which was like water, I changed the filter and refilled with 20/50 motorquip mineral oil and hey presto double the oil pressure on tickover :-) |
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If it ain't broken don't try an fix it. If it is broken it's probably an early LT.
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mat_the_cat
Vanorak Joined: 06 May 09 Location: North Wales Status: Offline Points: 1862 |
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You can get mineral and synthetic oils in a range of grades, but the easily available synthetics tend to be thinner. I'm more of the opinion that for a similar cost I'd prefer to change a cheaper (mineral) oil more regularly than leave a synthetic one in for longer. I've never had oil analysis done to give any hard facts as to what's best though. Most people just do what makes them feel happiest!
The Motoquip MQP is mineral, but it meets the VW specs required for the engine which is the important thing. Mine's coming up to 240k miles now, with a maximum of 5k miles between oil changes with correct grade mineral or semi synthetic oil used each time. |
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Mid engined, 6 cylinder, turbocharged 2 seater - it can only be a VW LT!
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BeJay
Vanorak Joined: 03 Jun 09 Location: Leicester Status: Offline Points: 1325 |
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WHS^^^ and don't forget to use a new filter (almost fill the filter before fitting it and just smear a film of oil on the sealing ring before fitting, then spin up finger tight, then another 1/4 turn by hand only)
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NIL ILLIGITIMUS CARBORUNDUM
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mrhutch
Moderator Group the ginger princess Joined: 21 Aug 07 Location: Herefordshire Status: Offline Points: 5147 |
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no, drop the oil and fill it again with proper stuff. and don't overfill it!
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T3 1981 Westy Vanagon - thinks lubricant is a fuel
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Cool Box
Groupie Joined: 23 Jul 10 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 73 |
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Cheers for the replies BeJay and Mat. The oil itself doesn't seem to be contaminated, I've not changed the oil since the problem started. I think an oil change is the way forward. I've been toping it up with synthetic oil, the stuff in the picture above is mineral isn't it? Does this make a difference? If the current oil is too thin would it be possible to top it up with a thicker oil to cure the problem? |
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1991 Florida.
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mat_the_cat
Vanorak Joined: 06 May 09 Location: North Wales Status: Offline Points: 1862 |
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Has the oil been changed since the problem first occurred? Although I suppose even if it has, IF the wrong oil was used (seems coincidental to start after a service) then the low oil pressure from too thin an oil could cause bearing wear which would then mean even the correct oil wouldn't hold good oil pressure. I doubt that a non OE oil filter would be the sole cause of the problem - some cheaper ones may not have the anti drain back valve so would need to fill with oil whenever the engine is first started. This could potentially lead to greater engine wear over time, but not straight away. The filter is towards the bottom of the engine, on the (UK) driver's side, at the front. Should look something like this, apologies if I'm being patronising! Edited by mat_the_cat - 03 Feb 13 at 21:29 |
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Mid engined, 6 cylinder, turbocharged 2 seater - it can only be a VW LT!
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BeJay
Vanorak Joined: 03 Jun 09 Location: Leicester Status: Offline Points: 1325 |
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first job check the level on the dipstick, it may be low on oil, if it seems overfull see if you can tell if there is any water or diesel contamination in the oil, either of which will thin the oil down so it'll show as low pressure, if there is contamination you could have either a headgasket or overfueling problem, if the oil seems OK just drain the sump (warm engine) then fit a new filter (and drain plug washer) it's not a difficult job just messy, and refill with what you know to be a good multigrade diesel engine oil (S.A.E 15/40 or 20/50) to eliminate the possibility of the wrong oil being used and see how it goes from there.
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NIL ILLIGITIMUS CARBORUNDUM
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Cool Box
Groupie Joined: 23 Jul 10 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 73 |
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Just looked, it doesn't mention the type of oil.
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1991 Florida.
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