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Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 19 Jul 2013, 20:43
by sternal
Another question with hopefully a quick answer !
Having had the carbs redone it now runs fine...phew !

The last few times of using it (away this weekend in it) I have noticed when slowing down the oil light starts to flicker this has not happened round town only on a run, when flickering and you press the accelerator the light goes off. It doesn't flicker from cold only on a run !

So it's only happening on idle could it be the idle needs a twist ? Oil level is fine and van not over heating .


Many thanks in advance

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 19 Jul 2013, 20:53
by KINGPRAWN
Change oil... 10/60 works for me it's a bit heavier when hot!

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 19 Jul 2013, 21:14
by AdrianC
Your engine's getting too hot for the oil you're using to maintain pressure with the tolerances inside your engine. What oil are you using?

You've really got four choices...
- Use a thicker oil. It's the second number that's important for hot.
- Use an oil that'll stand up to the heat better.
- Fit an oil cooler.
- Address the root cause of the problem, and rebuild your engine...

The other day, with these ambients and after a 30-min blat down a lovely A-road followed by city traffic, five minutes in a carpark heat-soaking, then heavy traffic again, I was just starting to get flickering of the oil light at hot idle, with 10w40 off-ish-brand semi-synth, in our c.200k mile DJ. Mind you, that oil's more than ready for a change.

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 19 Jul 2013, 21:32
by sternal
Using 15 40 mineral oil

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 19 Jul 2013, 21:35
by bigherb
It should be 15w50 mineral.
http://www.carparts4less.co.uk/15w50-engine-oil" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 19 Jul 2013, 21:44
by AdrianC
Have a look at the owner's handbook for the acceptable viscosities and approvals that VW say you should look for in an oil. You're looking for an oil that meets VW501.01 or (preferably) VW500.00 or (even more preferably) VW505.00. All those are old specs now, but any that meet or exceed them should still say on the bottle.

http://www.westfaliat3.info/VW_T25_Inst ... iaT3WM.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
p74 petrol, p75 diesel.

One thing's for certain, random cheap oil won't meet those specs.

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 19 Jul 2013, 21:45
by dbz864
Id agree with Adrian totally,firstly id change oil for good quality,id change oil pressure relief valve spring as well and the sender

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 19 Jul 2013, 21:47
by AdrianC
dbz864 wrote:id change oil pressure relief valve spring

That's probably not a bad plan on ours - how big a job?

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 19 Jul 2013, 21:50
by dbz864
2 mins heritage sell them.

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 19 Jul 2013, 21:54
by AdrianC
dbz864 wrote:2 mins heritage sell them.
Ta.

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 19 Jul 2013, 21:57
by bigherb
AdrianC wrote:Have a look at the owner's handbook for the acceptable viscosities and approvals that VW say you should look for in an oil. You're looking for an oil that meets VW501.01 or (preferably) VW500.00 or (even more preferably) VW505.00. All those are old specs now, but any that meet or exceed them should still say on the bottle.

http://www.westfaliat3.info/VW_T25_Inst ... iaT3WM.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
p74 petrol, p75 diesel.

One thing's for certain, random cheap oil won't meet those specs.

Why link to a 1987 watercooled manual when he has a 1983 air cooled motor.

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 19 Jul 2013, 21:59
by KINGPRAWN
Mobil 10/60 synthetic sorted my poor oil pressure... Nothing to loose?

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 19 Jul 2013, 22:03
by AdrianC
bigherb wrote:Why link to a 1987 watercooled manual when he has a 1983 air cooled motor.

Because I missed the sig reference to it being an air-cooled... <grin>

So
http://www.westfaliat3.info/1983_VW_T25 ... iaT3WM.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
P43

But since air-cooled engines use oil even harder, being largely oil-cooled, surely that makes the need for decent quality oil (VW500.00 is mentioned) even stronger?

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 20 Jul 2013, 07:33
by sternal
Wasn't meant to be a what oil thread !

So I'm going to do an oil change next week and use what oil ???

Re: Oil light flickering when on long run slowing down

Posted: 20 Jul 2013, 07:43
by AdrianC
sternal wrote:So I'm going to do an oil change next week and use what oil ???

<points up to handbook link>
VW recommended, in that, VW500.00 spec.

Opie have these oils that meet that spec.
http://www.opieoils.co.uk/c-744-vw-50000-oil.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I've used Fuchs oils very happily - they used to be Silkolene.