My bug has a good condition, recently serviced 1776cc but when I take it on longer trips (over 45min) and stop at the lights the idle speed drops to the point where the oil light comes on. I use 10W30 fully synthetic good quality oil and the engine never seems to get hot (even on long runs in the middle of a Perth summer!).
Any ideas what causes this?
555bug ·
two possible issues 1) the idle is to low 2) the oil pump is stuffed and the clearences are out, when it gets hot the oil gets thinner and the clearences cause your issue. If you pull the cover off your oil pump you may see score marks from the two gears.
just my thoughts, good luck
stubug ·
Cheers, 555bug
I will look at the oil pump on the weekend.
68AutoBug ·
I wouldn't be running 30 grade oil in an air cooled VW
not even in a water cooled engine...
unless I was in Antartica...
15w/50 is the lowest I would use... in an air cooled engine
synthetic oil is very thin , oil light is coming on because the oil has become too thin when its hot..
DUMP the empensive stuff anf refill with Castrol GTX 2
and the oil light won't come on..
and the engine will be protected all the time...
including when sitting at the lights....
Ford in the US started recommending 10w/30 oil a few years ago because their engines could NOT meet the US MPG test
when running 10w/30 oil, because its thinner, the cars reached the Miles per gallon target..
they knew the engines wouldn't last as long, but most original owners would have sold the car by the time the engine wore out....
LEE
stubug ·
Cheers for the advice Lee
I'll see what sort difference it makes.
(this is another reason while it would be GREAT to have some gauges in the car, I just don't want to ruin an oval)
Sulla ·
Synthetic oils were designed for modern cars - not for 30 year old vehicles.
Whoever recommended such an oil for your car should be excuted!
Wrong oil your car!
silver ·
Are you sure it is not the Generator light
While it is running pull the oil switch wire off and see if the other warning light comes on. they could be around the wrong way
bump up the idle
Silver
Joel ·
10/30 is fine to use in a fresh engine
i run it in mine tilll there over 50,000kms then switch to 15/40
but anything over 20/50 is way to thick it will bypass the oil relefe valve which makes the engine run hotter
the idle oil light when hot is common on worn tired engines but like silver said make sure it is the oil light
pre 69 beetles didnt have the warning lights labled
vw assumed that ppl would realise green light means oil....
synthetic is also the worst kinda oil u can put in a vw
stick to good ol dino qaulity oils like pennzoil and ur dub will love it
stubug ·
Cheers guys
Grey 57 ·
Big 10/4 on the GTX2 comment from Lee. Dont use Synthetics your motor will leak like a sieve
68AutoBug ·
Grey 57 wrote:Big 10/4 on the GTX2 comment from Lee. Dont use Synthetics your motor will leak like a sieve
yes, synthetic oil will leak thru bolt/stud threads etc...
GTX2 is recommended for VW air cooled engines
I was going to use Castrol Magnatec 15w/40
but Castrol recommended GTX2
which is 15w/50
LEE
greedy53 ·
the humble bug or any type 1 motors not only use the oil to lubracate but to cool the engine it was designed to use 30 oil by mr. porsche i have used it in all engines even supercharged motors i only use more of it external coolers and larger sumps as soon as you go yo 20 w 50 or such the cooling drops badly
but good luck
and i'll stick with the worn oil pump too🤪