Club 80-90 Forums

I realise this is probably a stupid question but is it ok to get by without the covers or is it better to have them? Never had them on mine. Do they not just turn into a handy trap to collect crud?

Probably, it seems a few are driving around without but your pushrod tubes are delicate
hit a piece of debris on a fast road and you often hear it clattering under your vehicle hit a push rod tube it will damage it

your normally closed oil switch connects there too, it will corrode more with dirt and salt spray so make sure you check the light comes on everytime when igntion first on, thats the only indication its broken

your choice really

Yep, daft question! Off to bw to part with some more money.On the subject of the oil switch, ive recently noticed that the oil light flashes on the right off so maybe a fault there? I'll get a low pressure switch and replace at next oil change.
Cheers

SamsBus2012 wrote: the oil light flashes on the right off so maybe a fault there?

not sure what your mean?

Sorry typo - when I switch the ignition on, the oil light flashes on then goes out immediately (before starting engine).

Well if its flashing thats the self test but my 88 van keeps flashing on ignition position 1 until you start the engine, is yours different?

86 van with '90 vw refurb engine. Coolant light flashes then after starting goes out (normal), charge light goes out as expected but I would expect oil light to go out once engine running not before. I have the two oil sensors (blue and yellow wires) - one by crank pully and one on left between pushrods so assume the DOP system fitted. Sounds like might be a fault here. Might be wiring as the connections were spliced when replacement engine fitted (long before I owned it). I'll clean up/replace but could be that switch has corroded as you pointed out earlier.

Yes as i said my oil light flashes until you start, rather than changing switch just try grounding the blue(black trace iirc) wire this is what the switch does when engines not running, yellow wire is the normally open switch for the buzzer over 2000 rpm

Sounds like a plan. Just found some s/s pushrod covers on BW for £75 a pair - their own. Over £150 for genuine tin on VW Heritage. Out with the plastic.

Or make your own. Tin snips and alloy sheet. A breeze to do.

good idea. The worrying part is removing the exhaust manifold studs! Need to find a suitable thread to learn any tips.

late van should have studs, not bolts, as long as you have some stud sticking out you don't need to remove the nuts from the exhaust, just stretch the covers over the studs and they then fix with two bolts at the base to the engine, haven't bolted mine on the exhaust studs for years making them easy to take off and inspect oil switch etc.

Had a look, Mixture of studs and bolts! Fortunately, one stud on each side. Could weld something onto THE other bolts I suppose. Not in a rush to replace as they all look very rusty!
I'll have crawl under the engine over the weekend and come up with a plan!
Cheers again for help and advice.