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Hi – Got the Subaru 2.2L conversion in my ’87 vanagon, built by Cesar and team at California Westy in El Cajon. ? The oil pressure light somewhat sporadically comes on, trying to diagnose. What I have done so far: - Replaced oil and oil filter, using 5w-30 Pennzoil. Did this myself to be sure I have the correct amount of oil as recommended by Ca Westy (4.5 quarts)
- There is NO engine oil leak. I check every day, no oil on the garage floor.
- Replaced the oil pressure sensor. I have to say, the old one looked fine – clean and new looking, not oily or covered in grease/mud/dirt. Learned a bit about the alternator as well! But, no noticeable difference – the light still comes on as described below.
? Symptoms: The engine starts as expected – the oil pressure light comes on for a few seconds, then goes off. While the engine is relatively cold, the light stays off. But if it is warmed up to normal operating temp, and I then stop for a few minutes, the light tends to start blinking once the engine is started and I drive again. It then stays on, does not go off. ? CEL is NOT going off. ? From what I can observe, the vehicle does not show any other obvious signs of distress. The engine temp stays in the normal range, no weird mechanical noises, engine seems to be running “fine”, no loss of power, or any other signs of an engine about to fail. ? Next steps? Oil pump check and/or replace? Reasonable ?job for hobbiests or for professionals only? ? ? Thanks guys! ? Terry ? ? ? ? ? ?
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When did Cesar build it for you (year/miles since then)
What did he say when you asked him? Andy Vanis USA and Whatsapp +1(505) 304-5306
Hi – Got the Subaru 2.2L conversion in my ’87 vanagon, built by Cesar and team at California Westy in El Cajon. ? The oil pressure light somewhat sporadically comes on, trying to diagnose. What I have done so far: - Replaced oil and oil filter, using 5w-30 Pennzoil. Did this myself to be sure I have the correct amount of oil as recommended by Ca Westy (4.5 quarts)
- There is NO engine oil leak. I check every day, no oil on the garage floor.
- Replaced the oil pressure sensor. I have to say, the old one looked fine – clean and new looking, not oily or covered in grease/mud/dirt. Learned a bit about the alternator as well! But, no noticeable difference – the light still comes on as described below.
? Symptoms: The engine starts as expected – the oil pressure light comes on for a few seconds, then goes off. While the engine is relatively cold, the light stays off. But if it is warmed up to normal operating temp, and I then stop for a few minutes, the light tends to start blinking once the engine is started and I drive again. It then stays on, does not go off. ? CEL is NOT going off. ? From what I can observe, the vehicle does not show any other obvious signs of distress. The engine temp stays in the normal range, no weird mechanical noises, engine seems to be running “fine”, no loss of power, or any other signs of an engine about to fail. ? Next steps? Oil pump check and/or replace? Reasonable ?job for hobbiests or for professionals only? ? ? Thanks guys! ? Terry ? ? ? ? ? ?
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If the CEL is on, what OBD1 codes can you see?
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Show quoted text
From: Terry Cline via groups.io
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2025 6:43 PM
Subject: [SubaruVanagon] Oil pressure light coming on
sporadically
?
Hi – Got the Subaru 2.2L conversion in my ’87 vanagon, built
by Cesar and team at California Westy in El Cajon.
?
The oil pressure light somewhat sporadically comes on, trying
to diagnose. What I have done so far:
- Replaced oil and oil
filter, using 5w-30 Pennzoil. Did this myself to be sure I have the correct
amount of oil as recommended by Ca Westy (4.5 quarts)
- There is NO engine oil
leak. I check every day, no oil on the garage floor.
- Replaced the oil pressure
sensor. I have to say, the old one looked fine – clean and new looking, not
oily or covered in grease/mud/dirt. Learned a bit about the alternator as
well! But, no noticeable difference – the light still comes on as described
below.
?
Symptoms:
The engine starts as expected – the oil pressure light comes
on for a few seconds, then goes off. While the engine is relatively cold, the
light stays off. But if it is warmed up to normal operating temp, and I then
stop for a few minutes, the light tends to start blinking once the engine is
started and I drive again. It then stays on, does not go off.
?
CEL is NOT going off.
?
From what I can observe, the vehicle does not show any other
obvious signs of distress. The engine temp stays in the normal range, no weird
mechanical noises, engine seems to be running “fine”, no loss of power, or any
other signs of an engine about to fail.
?
Next steps? Oil pump check and/or replace? Reasonable?
job for hobbiests or for professionals only??
?
Thanks guys!
?
Terry
?
?
?
?
?
?
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Thanks – No CEL to date. Would we expect to get a code if the oil pump is going bad? ? ? ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Peter Gibson via groups.io
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2025 6:53 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SubaruVanagon] Oil pressure light coming on sporadically? If the CEL is on, what OBD1 codes can you see? From: Terry Cline via groups.io Sent: Monday, January 13, 2025 6:43 PM Subject: [SubaruVanagon] Oil pressure light coming on sporadically Hi – Got the Subaru 2.2L conversion in my ’87 vanagon, built by Cesar and team at California Westy in El Cajon. ? The oil pressure light somewhat sporadically comes on, trying to diagnose. What I have done so far: - Replaced oil and oil filter, using 5w-30 Pennzoil. Did this myself to be sure I have the correct amount of oil as recommended by Ca Westy (4.5 quarts)
- There is NO engine oil leak. I check every day, no oil on the garage floor.
- Replaced the oil pressure sensor. I have to say, the old one looked fine – clean and new looking, not oily or covered in grease/mud/dirt. Learned a bit about the alternator as well! But, no noticeable difference – the light still comes on as described below.
? Symptoms: The engine starts as expected – the oil pressure light comes on for a few seconds, then goes off. While the engine is relatively cold, the light stays off. But if it is warmed up to normal operating temp, and I then stop for a few minutes, the light tends to start blinking once the engine is started and I drive again. It then stays on, does not go off. ? CEL is NOT going off. ? From what I can observe, the vehicle does not show any other obvious signs of distress. The engine temp stays in the normal range, no weird mechanical noises, engine seems to be running “fine”, no loss of power, or any other signs of an engine about to fail. ? Next steps? Oil pump check and/or replace? Reasonable? job for hobbiests or for professionals only?? ? Thanks guys! ? Terry ? ? ? ? ? ?
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Thanks Andy – ? Built for me Sept – Nov 2022. Probably about 10k or less on the new engine. ? Cesar gets the call tomorrow morning…! ? The most recent work they did for me was replacing the fuel injectors, including a full oil/oil filter/air filer/oxygen sensor change just last October. ? Terry ?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of ANDREW via groups.io
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2025 6:53 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SubaruVanagon] Oil pressure light coming on sporadically? When did Cesar build it for you (year/miles since then) What did he say when you asked him? Andy Vanis USA and Whatsapp +1(505) 304-5306 ? ? Hi – Got the Subaru 2.2L conversion in my ’87 vanagon, built by Cesar and team at California Westy in El Cajon. ? The oil pressure light somewhat sporadically comes on, trying to diagnose. What I have done so far: - Replaced oil and oil filter, using 5w-30 Pennzoil. Did this myself to be sure I have the correct amount of oil as recommended by Ca Westy (4.5 quarts)
- There is NO engine oil leak. I check every day, no oil on the garage floor.
- Replaced the oil pressure sensor. I have to say, the old one looked fine – clean and new looking, not oily or covered in grease/mud/dirt. Learned a bit about the alternator as well! But, no noticeable difference – the light still comes on as described below.
? Symptoms: The engine starts as expected – the oil pressure light comes on for a few seconds, then goes off. While the engine is relatively cold, the light stays off. But if it is warmed up to normal operating temp, and I then stop for a few minutes, the light tends to start blinking once the engine is started and I drive again. It then stays on, does not go off. ? CEL is NOT going off. ? From what I can observe, the vehicle does not show any other obvious signs of distress. The engine temp stays in the normal range, no weird mechanical noises, engine seems to be running “fine”, no loss of power, or any other signs of an engine about to fail. ? Next steps? Oil pump check and/or replace? Reasonable ?job for hobbiests or for professionals only? ? ? Thanks guys! ? Terry ? ? ? ? ? ?
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Hello All, I just had the same issue with a SVX conversion. Same symtoms and tries Terry did so far. My only difference is my van sat for a year.? My next thing to try is dropping the oil pan and check the pickup tube for a clogged screen.
On Mon, Jan 13, 2025 at 7:04 PM, Terry Cline via groups.io <tcline001@...> wrote: Thanks Andy – ? Built for me Sept – Nov 2022. Probably about 10k or less on the new engine. ? Cesar gets the call tomorrow morning…! ? The most recent work they did for me was replacing the fuel injectors, including a full oil/oil filter/air filer/oxygen sensor change just last October. ? Terry ? ? When did Cesar build it for you (year/miles since then) What did he say when you asked him? Andy Vanis USA and Whatsapp +1(505) 304-5306 ? ? Hi – Got the Subaru 2.2L conversion in my ’87 vanagon, built by Cesar and team at California Westy in El Cajon. ? The oil pressure light somewhat sporadically comes on, trying to diagnose. What I have done so far: - Replaced oil and oil filter, using 5w-30 Pennzoil. Did this myself to be sure I have the correct amount of oil as recommended by Ca Westy (4.5 quarts)
- There is NO engine oil leak. I check every day, no oil on the garage floor.
- Replaced the oil pressure sensor. I have to say, the old one looked fine – clean and new looking, not oily or covered in grease/mud/dirt. Learned a bit about the alternator as well! But, no noticeable difference – the light still comes on as described below.
? Symptoms: The engine starts as expected – the oil pressure light comes on for a few seconds, then goes off. While the engine is relatively cold, the light stays off. But if it is warmed up to normal operating temp, and I then stop for a few minutes, the light tends to start blinking once the engine is started and I drive again. It then stays on, does not go off. ? CEL is NOT going off. ? From what I can observe, the vehicle does not show any other obvious signs of distress. The engine temp stays in the normal range, no weird mechanical noises, engine seems to be running “fine”, no loss of power, or any other signs of an engine about to fail. ? Next steps? Oil pump check and/or replace? Reasonable ?job for hobbiests or for professionals only? ? ? Thanks guys! ? Terry ? ? ? ? ? ?
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I wonder if this condition has occurred on the Subaru forums and what they had to say about it.
Andy Vanis?
505-304-5306 USA and WhatsApp
Hello All,I just had the same issue with a SVX conversion. Same symtoms and tries Terry did so far. My only difference is my van sat for a year.? My next thing to try is dropping the oil pan and check the pickup tube for a clogged screen.
Derek On Mon, Jan 13, 2025 at 7:04 PM, Terry Cline via Thanks Andy – ? Built for me Sept – Nov 2022. Probably about 10k or less on the new engine. ? Cesar gets the call tomorrow morning…! ? The most recent work they did for me was replacing the fuel injectors, including a full oil/oil filter/air filer/oxygen sensor change just last October. ? Terry ? ? When did Cesar build it for you (year/miles since then) What did he say when you asked him? Andy Vanis USA and Whatsapp +1(505) 304-5306 ? ? Hi – Got the Subaru 2.2L conversion in my ’87 vanagon, built by Cesar and team at California Westy in El Cajon. ? The oil pressure light somewhat sporadically comes on, trying to diagnose. What I have done so far: - Replaced oil and oil filter, using 5w-30 Pennzoil. Did this myself to be sure I have the correct amount of oil as recommended by Ca Westy (4.5 quarts)
- There is NO engine oil leak. I check every day, no oil on the garage floor.
- Replaced the oil pressure sensor. I have to say, the old one looked fine – clean and new looking, not oily or covered in grease/mud/dirt. Learned a bit about the alternator as well! But, no noticeable difference – the light still comes on as described below.
? Symptoms: The engine starts as expected – the oil pressure light comes on for a few seconds, then goes off. While the engine is relatively cold, the light stays off. But if it is warmed up to normal operating temp, and I then stop for a few minutes, the light tends to start blinking once the engine is started and I drive again. It then stays on, does not go off. ? CEL is NOT going off. ? From what I can observe, the vehicle does not show any other obvious signs of distress. The engine temp stays in the normal range, no weird mechanical noises, engine seems to be running “fine”, no loss of power, or any other signs of an engine about to fail. ? Next steps? Oil pump check and/or replace? Reasonable ?job for hobbiests or for professionals only? ? ? Thanks guys! ? Terry ? ? ? ? ? ?
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Terry,
?
The ej22 and Svx both take heavier oil than the EJ25. 10w40 if my memory is correct. I’ve had oil light issues on both of those engines when run on 5w30.?
?
Swap to heavier oil and I suspect your issue will go away and your motor will be happy.?
?
Ransom Richardson
Small Car Performance/Crooked Finger Designs
|
Are you using an OEM Subaru oil filter??
On Tue, Jan 14, 2025 at 8:38?AM Ransom Horner-Richardson via <ransom.richardson= [email protected]> wrote:
Terry,
?
The ej22 and Svx both take heavier oil than the EJ25. 10w40 if my memory is correct. I’ve had oil light issues on both of those engines when run on 5w30.?
?
Swap to heavier oil and I suspect your issue will go away and your motor will be happy.?
?
Ransom Richardson
Small Car Performance/Crooked Finger Designs
|
Some rebuilds opt for the higher output oil pump . the fit is perfect .
?
I wondered if there any way higher output (pressure) from a larger oil pump may be tricking ?the ECU ?.
Is there a census of how common the upgrade is ?
M
?
?
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From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
On Behalf Of Ransom Horner-Richardson via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 7:38 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [SubaruVanagon] Oil pressure light coming on sporadically
?
The ej22 and Svx both take heavier oil than the EJ25. 10w40 if my memory is correct. I’ve had oil light issues on both of those engines when run on 5w30.?
Swap to heavier oil and I suspect your issue will go away and your motor will be happy.?
Small Car Performance/Crooked Finger Designs
|
Sounds like a loose or bad ground. Tap the top of the cluster cover and see if that helps. I rerouted the ground coming off of the 15-pin connector and solved the same problem in Freedom.
?
Duncan
--
Freedom van Go
1989 Westy, 3.3L SVX
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I purchased a Westy with an EJ22 in 2016 that had been professionally converted at RMW in 2013. I would get very low oil pressure at hot idle that would occasionally trigger the light. All other aspects of the engine seemed fine. Running heavier weight oil definitely helped the issue, as I installed a gauge and monitored it closely in all driving conditions.
I still wasn’t happy with my pressures even running 10-40 weight, but I wasn’t ready to tear the engine apart to chase the cause of low oil pressure. So I opted for a stop gap. I purchased an STI oil pump from a 2003 STI and it bolted right up. These pumps push about twice the volume of the stock 1990 EJ22 oil pump; per tables of pump flow I found online by year and model type. That extra volume capacity resulted in approximately double the oil pressure in all conditions. I was able to switch back to 10-30 weight oil and now have good idle and running pressures, even when hot. When cold, I hit the 80 PSI bypass on the pump, but that hasn’t turned out to be an issue.
It’s now been 8 years, and the engine is still going strong. I monitor the oil condition during changes by sending samples to Blackstone. None of those reports have suggested there is abnormal wear occurring internally. So, I never explained why my oil pressure was so low, but my stop gap solution is now semi-permanent.
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My ej22 drinks 1 qt of 10w-30 every 10h.? Should I use a heavier oil?? ?If so, which??
Get
Terry,
?
The ej22 and Svx both take heavier oil than the EJ25. 10w40 if my memory is correct. I’ve had oil light issues on both of those engines when run on 5w30.?
?
Swap to heavier oil and I suspect your issue will go away and your motor will be happy.?
?
Ransom Richardson
Small Car Performance/Crooked Finger Designs
Eric Freudenthal
sent from my mobile
|
You should change your oil rings Andy Vanis USA and Whatsapp +1(505) 304-5306
On Tue, Jan 14, 2025 at 11:13?AM Eric Freudenthal via <eric= [email protected]> wrote: My ej22 drinks 1 qt of 10w-30 every 10h.? Should I use a heavier oil?? ?If so, which??
Get
Terry,
?
The ej22 and Svx both take heavier oil than the EJ25. 10w40 if my memory is correct. I’ve had oil light issues on both of those engines when run on 5w30.?
?
Swap to heavier oil and I suspect your issue will go away and your motor will be happy.?
?
Ransom Richardson
Small Car Performance/Crooked Finger Designs
Eric Freudenthal
sent from my mobile
|
Sorry. You said "CEL is NOT going off" which I interpreted to mean CEL is staying on.
|
Ah! My bad, but no worries
Terry
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On Jan 14, 2025, at 1:08?PM, Peter Gibson via groups.io <soquel.dude@...> wrote:
? Sorry. You said "CEL is NOT going off" which I interpreted to mean CEL is staying on.
|
If you find no other answers, definitely remove the oil pan and check the oil return pick-up tube.
?
I have a 1987 doka with a '92 ej-22 that was installed by MasterCraft Motors in Santa Barbara, CA? in 2009.
?
In 2013 I started hearing a very slight rattle sound that would come and go and sounded like loose valve lifters.
This was kind of sporadic and over time became more pronounced.
I took it to a local shop and asked them to see if they could figure things out.
They found a directive that oil pumps should be resealed, so I had them do this.
I got a phone call from them to come down to their shop to see what they'd discovered.
They had been doing a test run of the engine when there was a loud banging sound and they immediately shut down the engine, pulled off the oil pan
and found the oil return pick-up tube had broken in half and fallen to the bottom of the oil pan.
?
My oil pan was a shortened pan, which they had been referring to as a 'Frankenstein oil pan'. When this pan was made the welding along the bottom edge
was rough, and the oil drain plug? was located right along this seam and was very difficult to seal without leaking.?
I'd tried to smooth it out with a file.
?
The oil pick-up tube had been shortened and was braised back together at a right angle.
Hanging down out of the bottom of the engine it was susceptible to engine vibration and eventually failed at this right angle joint and fell off into the bottom of the pan.
Luckily this occurred while at the mechanics shop and not somewhere out on the road, which most likely would have led to engine failure.
?
At the time I found a video on you tube discussing this issue.
Search on you tube for 'Subaru Oil Pick up failure, what you need to know' by MRT Performance.
?
I ended up replacing my oil pan and pick up tube with one from Out Front Motorsports.
?
?
?
?
d the doka up on the lift and?
.
---------- Original Message ---------- From: "Terry Cline via groups.io" <tcline001@...> To: [email protected]Cc: [email protected]Subject: Re: [SubaruVanagon] Oil pressure light coming on sporadically Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:36:46 -0800
Ah! My bad, but no worries
?
Terry
?
On Jan 14, 2025, at 1:08?PM, Peter Gibson via groups.io <soquel.dude@...> wrote:
Sorry. You said "CEL is NOT going off" which I interpreted to mean CEL is staying on.
|
Wow - interesting! Thanks for the thorough explanation. Something to consider, for sure.?
Terry
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On Jan 14, 2025, at 9:09?PM, rossmayfield@... via groups.io <Rossmayfield@...> wrote:
? If you find no other answers, definitely remove the oil pan and check the oil return pick-up tube.
?
I have a 1987 doka with a '92 ej-22 that was installed by MasterCraft Motors in Santa Barbara, CA? in 2009.
?
In 2013 I started hearing a very slight rattle sound that would come and go and sounded like loose valve lifters.
This was kind of sporadic and over time became more pronounced.
I took it to a local shop and asked them to see if they could figure things out.
They found a directive that oil pumps should be resealed, so I had them do this.
I got a phone call from them to come down to their shop to see what they'd discovered.
They had been doing a test run of the engine when there was a loud banging sound and they immediately shut down the engine, pulled off the oil pan
and found the oil return pick-up tube had broken in half and fallen to the bottom of the oil pan.
?
My oil pan was a shortened pan, which they had been referring to as a 'Frankenstein oil pan'. When this pan was made the welding along the bottom edge
was rough, and the oil drain plug? was located right along this seam and was very difficult to seal without leaking.?
I'd tried to smooth it out with a file.
?
The oil pick-up tube had been shortened and was braised back together at a right angle.
Hanging down out of the bottom of the engine it was susceptible to engine vibration and eventually failed at this right angle joint and fell off into the bottom of the pan.
Luckily this occurred while at the mechanics shop and not somewhere out on the road, which most likely would have led to engine failure.
?
At the time I found a video on you tube discussing this issue.
Search on you tube for 'Subaru Oil Pick up failure, what you need to know' by MRT Performance.
?
I ended up replacing my oil pan and pick up tube with one from Out Front Motorsports.
?
?
?
?
d the doka up on the lift and?
. ---------- Original Message ---------- From: "Terry Cline via groups.io" <tcline001@...> To: [email protected]Cc: [email protected]Subject: Re: [SubaruVanagon] Oil pressure light coming on sporadically Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2025 14:36:46 -0800
Ah! My bad, but no worries
?
Terry
?
On Jan 14, 2025, at 1:08?PM, Peter Gibson via groups.io <soquel.dude@...> wrote:
Sorry. You said "CEL is NOT going off" which I interpreted to mean CEL is staying on.
|
Put a pressure gauge on it. My 02 2.5 read a little lower using the rear oil galley for the running pressure but was always around 12-15 psi (guesstimating) at idle using my Autometer gauge. Then there's this from Busaru YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EsnibCFa4k?
?
?
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What's your idle rpm? Mine was around 800 rpm with 12 volts connected to the A/C switch at the ECU.
|
Terry Cline
Dr Mark
Duncan