TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Feb 15, 2023 1:42 pm

Not trying to stoke the great oil debate but I run different oil in my bug (Castrol 20 50) than my bus (Valvoline 20 50). This morning my wife accidentally added about 1/2 quart of the Castrol 20 50 to the bus. Sure changing the oil is easy but I'm super busy at work and won't have time to do anything to the VW's for about the next month. Any opinions about if I'll be alright or not? If it's a big deal I can make time but would rather wait.

Thanks

Wed Feb 15, 2023 1:55 pm

see links on the 3rd post
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/mixing-brands-with-same-weight.351236/

if you want to read (or conduct) useful discussion about oil, that's the best forum to do so
they use logic, science and lab testing of oil...not dogma, superstition or folklore

and yes, it's perhaps not ideal but fine
mixing oil is not like mixing coolant
incompatibility with potentially drastic outcomes is not the norm

Wed Feb 15, 2023 2:06 pm

Thanks for the quick reply. There is certainly a ton of information on that thread you linked that upon first glance puts my mind at ease!

Wed Feb 15, 2023 4:00 pm

As long as the weights are the same, I would not stress about it. Base oils are base oils.

The additive packages are made my only a few companies worldwide. Chances are this is also a non issue.

Just enjoy the ride.

Wed Feb 15, 2023 4:32 pm

In this day and age of litigation there would be a BIG WARNING not to mix with other brands of oil, don't sweat it.

Wed Feb 15, 2023 5:12 pm

Find something else to stress over... your oil is fine.

Wed Feb 15, 2023 5:54 pm

drive it.

Wed Feb 15, 2023 5:55 pm

Some people intentionally mix two different grades of oil to get an intermediate grade. As mentioned mixing two different brands is mostly likely going to be okay as the base oils are going to be very similar. You can even mix dino oils and synthetic oils. Having sufficient oil in the crankcase is the most important part.

Wed Feb 15, 2023 7:35 pm

Appreciate the answers, and it's definitely driven! Not stressed about it, just don't want to screw up the current state of symbiosis we seem to finally have achieved. All is good!

Thu Feb 16, 2023 3:54 am

Starbucket wrote: In this day and age of litigation there would be a BIG WARNING not to mix with other brands of oil, don't sweat it.

It’s well known that you can’t mix shell and Mobil products.

🎣

Thu Feb 16, 2023 7:12 am

Abscate wrote: Starbucket wrote: In this day and age of litigation there would be a BIG WARNING not to mix with other brands of oil, don't sweat it.

It’s well known that you can’t mix shell and Mobil products.

🎣

It’s well known that you can’t mix shell and Mobil products.

Is it because they will turn into SheBils :?:

Thu Feb 16, 2023 7:55 am

Wildthings wrote: Some people intentionally mix two different grades of oil to get an intermediate grade. As mentioned mixing two different brands is mostly likely going to be okay as the base oils are going to be very similar. You can even mix dino oils and synthetic oils. Having sufficient oil in the crankcase is the most important part.

As Wildthings mentioned. It’s ok to mix viscosity.

This is from my 1974 beetle owners manual. I would think this applies to your bus as well.

“ As temperature ranges of the different oil grades overlap, brief variations in outside temperatures are no cause for alarm. It is also permissible to mix oil of different viscosities if you find it necessary to add oil.”