Oil pressure light winking

[neomoniker]

Hi 80-90
Can any members please offer some advice?
I'm currently looking at buying a T25 with a 2.1 dj engine. The seller tells me the oil pressure warning light flickers on idle when the engine is warm and has done this since the last oil change? Is this a common qwerk or a terminal problem?
Thanks
J

[chapperss]

Too much end float on the crankshaft can cause this. Bit of a job to fix properly. Shims behind the flywheel to adjust. So its engine out etc. but could be lots of things on the way out. I've bought a van like this, someone had fitted a high flow oil pump to "fix" it! But I did drive it for a few years before I needed to do a complete rebuild.

[neomoniker]

Hi thanks for the reply. I see from the service history that a new oil pump was fitted last year, maybe to cure the problem?
Thanks
Jared

[kevtherev]

According to VW it's normal.
But I would be trying to stop it.
What grade oil was used in the change?
15w/40 mineral is best.
I use 20w/50 though...no lights ever

[Ian Hulley]

The seller tells me the oil pressure warning light flickers on idle when the engine is warm and has done this since the last oil change?

I would want to know what oil was put in ... if the gibbons at $hit£it put 3 in 1 in then that may explain it ... and if seriously thinking of buying it I would want it changing for a proper mineral oil AND a full oil pressure test doing.

Ian

[colinthefox]

It might just be that the oil pump has a thick gasket behind the cover plate, (originals were very thin) if it has been recently changed. It may be a long shot, but worth investigating perhaps.

[Ian Hulley]

It might just be that the oil pump has a thick gasket behind the cover plate, (originals were very thin) if it has been recently changed. It may be a long shot, but worth investigating perhaps.

That wouldn't have changed 'since the last oil change' though .....

Ian

[Bubble Meister]

Have a read of my experience:

http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/oil-w ... 81480.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Not the pump, not indication but the control: pressure relief valve.

[Ian Hulley]

The fundamental thing here is the 'since the last oil change' thing .... that needs putting to bed in my mind. 'What's changed' is always the question to ask when a problem suddenly appears.

Ian

[captain Byrne]

Is this a common qwerk or a terminal problem?

Probably not a terminal problem. Personally I wouldn't touch it, just walk away & look for something else.

[Bubble Meister]

At least the current owner has been honest. Ask them if they would consider changing the oil again and do an oil pressure test - the info section on here will tell you the correct oil spec.

Personally I believe a good pump should provide enough flow to maintain pressure even with the thicker gasket. The oil pressure relief valve spring is known to fatigue over years and it's piston gets scored. The pressure switch will age and may have gunk in it

These engines are aged thus the oil system will degrade unless maintained.

[dbz864]

Everone is presuming the seller is telling the truth, which for some reason is hardly ever correct, it seems and has always been the case when people are selling cars/vans they will tell you any old crap to off load there crap. They will have changed the oil pump to try to get the light out,they will have put a new sender in, they have probably got 20/50 in it already, they have probably increased the tickover to try to hide it as well. Low oil pressure on tick over is not a major concern, not great tho. I sold a t25 approx. 6 years ago with the same problem, I bought it back after about 18months still running the same, I resold it approx. 2 years ago, I tested the oil pressure on tickover it was almost zero, I sold the van explaining there was a problem and it would need a engine rebuild in the near future, I put it in writing on the invoice as I guarantee everthing I sell for 3 months. The van is or was on ebay now for about £1.5k extra (than I sold it for)running the same engine with NO mention of the problem. The main point im making is its still running (fine id guess) approx. 6years later. You could try a new spring in the pressure relief valve and sender. Might be worth checking the oil pump cover plate for wear and the gasket (as already said), if none of thee help a bit (to get the light off). The problem will lie in the bearings on the crank mostly the mains. If you want my opinion on the van, send me a link to the advert, you can tell a lot from the pictures, I wont be interested in buying it myself so don't worry about that. adam

[neomoniker]

Hi, thanks for the advice guys. Very informative. I have decided to walk away from this particular van. Oil pressure problem aside it's lived too long on the coast and had and needs too much rust removal. Shame as it was a nice looking reimo conversion but more work than i wanted to take on.
Thanks
J