Can I drive my 1974 volkswagen super beetle when the alternator light is on
Asked by Andy Jun 28, 2015 at 09:41 PM about the 1974 Volkswagen Beetle
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
The alternator light came on ,it starter to ride rough,then oil light came on. When I
stopped there was oil on the engine by the dip stick. The oil was overfull, on the dip stick.
Can I drive it for an hour to the garage
4 Answers
I would not drive it if over filled with oil,drain some of it out,or have it towed,could damage your engine.
Christopher answered 9 years ago
You CAN NOT drive an aircooled Beetle when the alternator light is on. At all. The alternator drives the fan located behind it, which cools the engine rather than antifreeze and a water pump. If there is no belt, the fan is not turning. The oil light and rough running may be signs that it's already become overheated.
You have probably found this out by now, but, if the oil level is high for no reason, the oil light is on and it is running rough as you say, you probably have a leaking fuel pump diaphragm, which leaks gas into the crankcase, thereby diluting and thinning the oil. Very bad situation, as it ruins the engine. if you catch it before damage is done, then an oil change and a new fuel pump will fix it. Fuel pump change is easy, my wife did it on the side of the road on her 61 beetle with a 13mm wrench and a pliers in less than 30 min with no assistance from anybody.
