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Frank Condelli   & Associates

RR #2, Almonte, Ontario, Canada, K0A 1A0

Phone: (613) 256-6763                                 Mail: Fkc43@aol.com

 

Vanagon 2.1 Engine Oil Pressure Survey

 

 

            To have your stats included in this data base please copy & paste the list below to an e-mail then fill in your data and send it me at Fkc43@aol.com  Thanks !

 

            The type of gauge your using is important, please include this info.  If you have not included it in stats already sent in please do so now.

 

 

Engine: (OEM or rebuilt by whom) (oil pump – standard or hi-volume)

Mileage: (km or mi)

Oil

  Weight:

  Type:

  Brand:

Gauge: (details please)

Oil pressure

  Cold Start

      Idle:

      2000 rpm:      

      4000 rpm:      

 Fully warmed after at least 1 hour of running

       Idle:             

       2000 rpm:     

       4000 rpm:     

 

STATS

#1    

Engine: 2.1 l Boston Engine Rebuild

Mileage: ~ 20,000 m

Oil

  Weight: 20-50

  Type: Dino

  Brand: Castrol

Gauge: ?

Oil pressure

  Cold Start

      Idle: 65 psi

      2000 rpm:       65 psi

      4000 rpm:       65 psi

  Fully warmed after at least 1 hour of running

       Idle:              10 psi

       2000 rpm:      30 psi

       4000 rpm:      40 psi

 

#2

Engine:  1989 2.1Ltr. MV fuel injected

Mileage: 92,500 miles

Oil

  Weight:  20W50

  Type:     racing?

  Brand:    Castrol

Gauge: ?

Oil pressure

  Cold Start

      Idle:  55 psi

      2000 rpm:  60 psi

      4000 rpm:  70 psi

  Fully warmed after at least 1 hour of running

      Idle:             0-3psi   light flickering at  Oil temp 130 Degrees C

      2000 rpm:    10psi

      4000 rpm:    20 psi

 

#3

Engine: 2.1L MV
Mileage: 208,500 m
Oil 
    Weight:15w-50
    Type: Synthetic
    Brand: Mobil-1
    Change frequency, 7,500 miles

Gauge: ?
Oil pressure
    Cold Start
        Idle: ~58 psi
        2000 rpm: ~60 psi
        4000 rpm: ~65 psi
    Fully warmed after at least 1 hour of running
        Idle:  15 psi @ 180F oil temp
        2000 rpm: 28 psi
        4000 rpm: 45 psi

At 230F oil temp
  Idle: 10-12 psi
  2,000 rpm: 20-psi   
  4,000 rpm: 35-psi

Note that I have a thermostatically controlled oil cooler. I only see
the 230F temps when operating at high speeds with the AC.

 

#4

Engine: 2.1 Boston Engine            
Mileage: 22,000   
Oil
    Weight: 10W40
    Type: Dino
    Brand: Castrol

Gauge: ?
Oil pressure
    Cold Start
        Idle: 65-70 psi
        2000 rpm: 70+ psi
        4000 rpm: 70+ psi
    Fully warmed after at least 1 hour of running
        Idle: 8-12 psi
        2000 rpm: 20-22 psi
        4000 rpm: 40-42 psi

 

#5

Engine: 2.1l - Boston Engine Rebuild

Mileage: 900 km

Oil:

    Weight:10w30

    Type: standard

    Brand: Quaker State

Gauge: Generic mechanical (Canadian Tire)

Oil pressure

    Cold Start:

        Idle: 56 psi

        2000 rpm: 60 psi

        4000 rpm: 65 psi

    Cold Start: (w/block heater running more than 1 hr.)

        Idle: 45 psi

        2000 rpm: 55 psi

        4000 rpm: 58 psi

    Fully warmed after at least 1 hour of running

        Idle: 3 ~ 4 psi

        2000 rpm: 20 psi

        4000 rpm: 30 psi

 

Mileage: 8914 km

Oil:

    Weight: 5w50

    Type: Synthetic

    Brand: Mobil 1

Oil pressure:

    Cold Start:

        Idle: 80 psi

        2000 rpm:

        4000 rpm:

   Fully warmed after at least 1 hour of running

        Idle: 5 psi

        2000 rpm: 16 psi

        4000 rpm: 37 psi

 

#6

2.1 engine rebuilt by NW Connecting Rod in Seattle, WA, with Melling high volume oil pump.

30k since rebuild 

Castrol 20w-50 dino oil year round. 
Gauge: ?
Current stats:
Cold start (temps in the 40s):
Idle: 75
2000 rpm: 80+
4000 rpm: 80+

Warmed up for half hour (I don't drive for an hour in the winter much!)
Idle: 18-20
2000: 30-35
4000: 50-55

Last summer, on long trips in hot weather:
Idle: 10-12 (never below 10 psi, even in 90 degree driving)
2000: 25-30
4000: 40-45

 

#7

Engine: 2.1 OEM
Mileage: 220,000 km
Oil

  Weight: 5W50
  Type: Synthetic
  Brand: Castrol

Gauge: VDO dual gauge – 80 psi range
Oil pressure
  Cold Start
(Cold idle/2000/4000 readings confirmed with a manual oil pressure gauge.  VDO gauge was correct.)
    Idle: 35psi
    2000 rpm: 50psi
    4000 rpm: 65psi
  Fully warmed after at least 1 hour of running
    Idle: 10psi
    2000 rpm: 20psi
    4000  rpm: 35psi

 

#8

Engine: 2.1 OEM

Mileage: 240K miles

Oil

  Weight: 20W50 summer - 10W40  winter

  Type:

  Brand: Castrol

Gauge: VDO (gauge & sender)

Oil pressure

  Cold start

    Idle: 80 psi

    2000 rpm: no tach Transporter

    4000 rpm: no tach Transporter

  Fully warmed after at least 1 hour of running

    Idle: 10 ~ 15 psi (8 psi after a hard expressway run in the heat of summer)

    2000 rpm: no tach Transporter

    4000 rpm: no tach Transporter

 

#9

Engine: 2.1L Original Case, one Boston Bob head, one original head.
Mileage: 130,000 miles
Oil
  Weight: 20W50
  Type: Organic
  Brand: Havoline

Gauge: VDO gauge with dual sender – 80 psi range (includes 8psi warning light & gauge pressure).
Oil pressure
  Cold Start
      Idle: 60psi
      2000 rpm:  60psi    
      4000 rpm:   60psi   
Fully warmed after at least 1 hour of running
       Idle:   15 +/-          
       2000 rpm:   25-30  
       4000 rpm:   35-45 (varies depending on ambient temps. & terrain....once it went as low as 28 psi when cruising all day at 95 degrees F in the hills of Vermont.  Idle pressure also dropped to less than 8 psi.  Let the engine cool at a rest stop for about 30 minutes, and the pressure rebounded)

 

#10

Engine: 2.1, rebuilt

Mileage: 4000 mi.

Oil

  Weight: 20w50

  Type: Organic

  Brand:

Gauge:

Oil Pressure

  Cold Start

      Idle: 45psi

      2000rpm:

      4000 rpm

Fully warmed after at least 1 hour of running

      Idle: 15psi

      2000 rpm: 20 ~ 25psi

      4000 rpm:

 

#11

 

Rebuilt by me.  New bearings, but stock crank, case, and oil pump.  All was still within factory specs, so I just put it back together.

140k miles on vehicle, 200 miles now on freshly rebuilt engine

Oil

   Weight: 20-50

   Type: Dino

   Brand: Castrol

Gauge: VDO kit from VolksCafe

Oil pressure

   Cold Start

       Idle:  50psi

       2000 rpm:       60psi

       4000 rpm:       Cold?  Nah... I rarely see these revs even when warm.

  Fully warmed after at least 1 hour of running

        Idle:             10-12 psi

        2000 rpm:      20 psi

        3000 rpm:      31 psi

        4000 rpm:     42 psi

 

#12

 

Engine: Original 2.1 L - 87 Westfalia - 4 speed

Mileage: 153K miles

Oil 

  Weight:  20W50

  Type:  GTX High Mileage

  Brand:  Castrol GTX

Gauge: VDO 80psi Oil Pressure, VDO 300F Oil Temp

Oil pressure

  Cold Start

      Idle:  60

      2000 rpm:   63   

      4000 rpm:    63  

 Fully warmed after at least 1 hour of running

       Idle:   10          

       2000 rpm:  20

       4000 rpm:  30

@210 F, cruising at 68 mph/4k rpm   outside temp 49 F   

 

 

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This page was last updated on May 29, 2010

 

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