| Author |
Message |
Randy in Maine
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
|
 Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 11:43 am Post subject: |
 |
|
In olden days (when we all had mechanical lifters and no oil filters) we always adjusted the valves and changed the oil every 3K.
Now that I have an oil filter and hydraulic lifters  I know that I can get by with doing it every 7.5K, but I do it every 5K because it makes ME feel better.
Even if I were still using dino oil, I would still change it every 5K. I think it is important to get the acid by-products of combustion out of the oil on a regular basis. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
pocvw
Samba Member
Joined: November 08, 2004
Posts: 338
|
| Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 2:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
These have been great replies....from great sources too. According to the owner's manual, as mightyart said, twice a year would fall in my category (since i don't put that many miles on mine). And I think i'll make the switch to synthetic. Again...thank you all for your opinions!!
_________________
Life is a garden - dig it!
1980 VW Westfalia |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Rocky_rozen92
Samba Member
Joined: December 29, 2012
Posts: 67
Location: Denver, CO
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| pocvw wrote: |
| These have been great replies....from great sources too. According to the owner's manual, as mightyart said, twice a year would fall in my category (since i don't put that many miles on mine). And I think i'll make the switch to synthetic. Again...thank you all for your opinions!! |
How is synthetic holding up for you since this post? I'd like to make the switch either to this group III "synthetic" stuff or a full syn.
_________________
Mo' Money Mo' Problems. Keep your life simple and you will simply be rewarded.
'79 Champagne II, '01 Passat Wagon 4-motion, '99 Dodge Ram 1500 Van |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
VdubVanner
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2017
Posts: 734
Location: Cowtown AB
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
E1
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2013
Posts: 6529
Location: Westfalia, Earth
|
| Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 9:55 am Post subject: Re: Synthetic oil or natural oil? |
|
|
I am a huge believer in synthetic for its ability to maintain viscosity under severe strain.
But I find the video may be misleading, if only for failing to mention oil weight in this test. I can only presume they used heavy oil to dramatize the test, and it would have been good to know the Dino brand and viscosity they used and whether or not both were the same weight.
That said, I ran heavy oil year-round when living in Denver, Castrol dino 20/50, though in our vans it's been synthetic all the way.
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32579
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
VdubVanner
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2017
Posts: 734
Location: Cowtown AB
|
| Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 1:10 pm Post subject: Re: Synthetic oil or natural oil? |
|
|
| djkeev wrote: |
Wow!
Holy gravedig batman!
Since this post originated oil discussion has been funneled into a few main threads found in the FAQ section.
One of them is about synthetic use.
Thanks
Dave |
Actually, Dave, the FAQ section is where I went with my shovel to dig up that grave.  Hit the Synthetic Discussion link and you end up with this wee thread. Since the grave is now open, does anyone use/favor this stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Liqui-Moly-2041-Premium-Syn...op?ie=UTF8 . There's a High Tech (high mileage) version as well. I've been using Castrol Syntec 5W50 but may switch to the LM after the new engine is broken in. GoWesty recommends using Red Line 10W60 after the break-in period but I'd prefer something that better addresses cold temperatures.
BTW There are almost 22,000 visits to this tiny thread so folks are obviously hungry for info on the subject.
_________________
"Fritz", a temperamental and unforgiving 1989 Westy that proudly bears his German flags and status as a member of the exclusive GoWesty Belly Flop Club.
1989 Westy Makeover: GoWesty 2.3L Engine plus plus plus https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22639
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
|
| Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 1:26 pm Post subject: Re: Synthetic oil or natural oil? |
|
|
Oil has the ability to scavenge acid deposits, and they effectiveness can be measured as 'TBN' by a number of services such as Blackstone; changing oil with TBN still in spec is wasteful, expensive, and of no benefit with regard to engine life.
_________________
.ssS! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32579
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76899
Location: Sneaking up behind you
|
| Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 1:40 pm Post subject: Re: Synthetic oil or natural oil? |
|
|
| VdubVanner wrote: |
| BTW There are almost 22,000 visits to this tiny thread so folks are obviously hungry for info on the subject. |
Come over to the dedicated topic in the Performance Forum... we have 4400 posts with almost 800,000 views. We don't bite 
Official "What oil / additives should I use" topic
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32579
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76899
Location: Sneaking up behind you
|
| Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 2:03 pm Post subject: Re: Synthetic oil or natural oil? |
|
|
| djkeev wrote: |
Always an option one can utilize ........ If one desires Air Cooled opinions...... 
Dave |
Didn't Vanagons come with aircooled engines?
Also Vanagon engine are great for big displacement aircooled when you cut the water jackets off.
Yes.. we know a bit about engines.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50337
|
| Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 2:13 pm Post subject: Re: Synthetic oil or natural oil? |
|
|
| For WBXer Vanagons the advantage of synthetic is that it keeps the lifters cleaner. I agree with the comment above that changing oil with a good base number is a waste of time and money. When my wife was driving 25-35,000 miles a year I changed the Mobile 1 I was using once a year after doing some oil analysis, the TBN was always fine, and the engine ran until rod bolt stretch became an issue at 180K miles at which point it was taken out of service. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32579
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Glenn
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76899
Location: Sneaking up behind you
|
| Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 2:35 pm Post subject: Re: Synthetic oil or natural oil? |
|
|
Saw that, but I would of done what the "smart" Vanagoners do and go Subaru.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32579
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tjet
Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2014
Posts: 3533
Location: CA & NM
|
| Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: Synthetic oil or natural oil? |
|
|
| I only use Valvoline VR1 racing (non-syn) in my 2.2 WBX. I use a different viscosity depending on outside temps. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Merian
Samba Member
Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
|
| Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 3:47 pm Post subject: Re: Synthetic oil or natural oil? |
|
|
| Abscate wrote: |
| Oil has the ability to scavenge acid deposits, and they effectiveness can be measured as 'TBN' by a number of services such as Blackstone; changing oil with TBN still in spec is wasteful, expensive, and of no benefit with regard to engine life. |
Sure. But the cost for oil analysis is close to that for an oil change (DIY). Good to do an analysis periodically, just to see if metal ions from the bearings are starting to show up...
_________________
.... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
therastavan
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2020
Posts: 81
Location: California
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 9:06 pm Post subject: Re: Synthetic oil or natural oil? |
|
|
| I have a 1987 Vanagon with 2.3L GoWesty engine with only 30K miles on it and I switched to Redline 10W60 as GoWesty recommends. Prior to the change I used standard dino oil 20w50 and oil consumption was quite low. After the change to the Redline synthetic it increased dramatically, I would say 1 quart for 500 miles. Any ideas why this is happening? I have not read any posts of Vanagon owners switching to synthetic and having such a dramatic increase in consumption. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50337
|
| Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2020 10:46 pm Post subject: Re: Synthetic oil or natural oil? |
|
|
| Never known an engine that required 60wt oil unless it was bum f*ck worn out. I would think that oil flow would be severely hampered using something that thick as the pressure would tend to be high causing thus more oil to be dumped by the relief valve so overall less oil would be reaching the bearings. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
