brand new here. and with vw diesels. need some help

[dieselwabbit84]

hi guys. i picked up an 84 2-door rabbit not long ago with a 1.6na diesel.
i replaced the head gasket and timing belt and some other stuff as the gasket was leaking a little bit. still ran great, though.
anyways, i got it all back together and timed, but now i notice the oil light stays on. i pulled the sensor out of the head and started the engine up and oil doesnt shoot out, but dribbles. it is a little cool this morning, but how much pressure should be at that point?
also...when i unplug that sensor, the light goes out. when its plugged in, it comes on.

any help is much appreciated.

[theman53]

Is the head gasket upside down?

[dieselwabbit84]

no, sir. notches are (facing engine) driver's side front. to the right of the hump on the head.

[CRSMP5]

different brands have notches in different spots... some 1 n 2 and others 3 n 4...

get real gauge... test the op reading..

[dieselwabbit84]

fml.

guess i gotta tear it back down. think i can reuse the gasket? or should i just get a new one? and i know ill need new head bolts. might just get studs like i originally wanted to.

[R.O.R-2.0]

fml.

guess i gotta tear it back down. think i can reuse the gasket? or should i just get a new one? and i know ill need new head bolts. might just get studs like i originally wanted to.

ive successfully, along with a few others also, re-used head gaskets AND bolts, as long as you only re-use the bolts once..

[dieselwabbit84]

fml.

guess i gotta tear it back down. think i can reuse the gasket? or should i just get a new one? and i know ill need new head bolts. might just get studs like i originally wanted to.

ive successfully, along with a few others also, re-used head gaskets AND bolts, as long as you only re-use the bolts once..

i haven't even done the final torquing (after the first heat cycle OR after 1000miles) on them. i should be ok?

[theman53]

I was just wondering if that the gasket could be upside down. I know some mfg that place the notches/holes on the opposite side as VW did. If it is a possibility that you did put it on upside down then I would do as CRSMP5 suggested.

I would take the vac pump out, connect an oil pressure gauge to that port you found on the head, and spin the oil pump with a drill rated fro 2,500 rpm or so. Could you should see at least 40psi.

There are other possibilities that it could be. Something as simple as a clogged oil filter or mixed up wire to the sender...doesn't have to be upside down HG. That would be the most serious for me though.

[dieselwabbit84]

I was just wondering if that the gasket could be upside down. I know some mfg that place the notches/holes on the opposite side as VW did. If it is a possibility that you did put it on upside down then I would do as CRSMP5 suggested.

I would take the vac pump out, connect an oil pressure gauge to that port you found on the head, and spin the oil pump with a drill rated fro 2,500 rpm or so. Could you should see at least 40psi.

There are other possibilities that it could be. Something as simple as a clogged oil filter or mixed up wire to the sender...doesn't have to be upside down HG. That would be the most serious for me though.

i took the valve cover off and ran it for maybe half a minute. no oil. and i also ran it with that sensor completely out of the head. if theres supposed to be some decent psi there, it would have shot out, but it didnt. the possibility of the gasket being on upside down is there. wont know till i check it. wiring is fine, exactly how it came apart.
 i dont THINK i put it on upside down, but who knows. i was so sure the HG was supposed to go on the way i put it maybe i did and didnt even think to check.
i had no idea at all that manufacturers did that (changed the location of the notches)

[theman53]

What are you running for an oil filter? If it is fram buy a different one. I guy on here last year had oil pressure issues and replaced the filter and it worked. I am in the he-man fram haters club, so if it is orange I would replace it anyway. They are cheap and I wouldn't want you to pull the head unless you have to.

[8v-of-fury]

Did you do a new oil filter when you put new oil in after the HG??

I have had filters fail out of the box and not allow any oil to the head.

Pretty sure that was me Lucas, had a FRAM fail.. replaced with MANN.

[billybobf]

OK, getting oil elsewhere? hows your vacuum pump look? could you pull the vacuum pump and make an adapter to put a drill on the oil pump itself? check oil pressure at the oil filter housing? lots of EASY checks first?

[dieselwabbit84]

What are you running for an oil filter? If it is fram buy a different one. I guy on here last year had oil pressure issues and replaced the filter and it worked. I am in the he-man fram haters club, so if it is orange I would replace it anyway. They are cheap and I wouldn't want you to pull the head unless you have to.

yea, it's a NEW fram. had a fram on it originally as well with no problems. this seems like an easy (and cheap) enough thing to try

[theman53]

068115561E
Upgraded AHU filter that I use on my 1.6. On this page https://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=sd4xvszwcutzo1555kanml45&makeid=800026@VW&modelid=1369661@JETTA TDI &year=1997&cid=20@Engine Parts, Seals %26 Gaskets&gid=5340@Oil Filter

I usually get 50.00 worth to pay for shipping. You being in TX might not be as bad of shipping. I always need something else for my car, but even if I don't I change the oil regularly enough I will buy 8 filters if nothing else.

[dieselwabbit84]

replaced the filter with a wix one. still the same.