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Oil Grade Selection for An Aircooled Vanagon?
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jerryil
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PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2007 1:29 pm    Post subject: Oil Grade Selection for An Aircooled Vanagon? Reply with quote

Hi Friends,

So I have read Richard Atwells artice on distinguishing between oil grades several times http://www.ratwell.com/technical/OilSelection.html

Now.... I am still baffled. What type of oil do you run in your 2.0 aircooled Vanagon? I live on the California coast, but venture into the valley occasionally (So temps will range from 50 in the morning to 100 in the afternoon. It seems like 10W40 or 20W50 would be best. I just entered the aircooled world, and am curious who has had good luck in similar weather conditions with their grade.

Thank You All,

J
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mightyart
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PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2007 1:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I run 20w50 all year in Texas.
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M_atthewanderson
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PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2007 2:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I use single 30wt old dino style oil all year round in Washington. keeps my lifters quite and pumped
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Randy in Maine
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PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2007 3:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mobil 1 15-50 all year.
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RCB
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PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2007 5:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Does air cooled and water cooled use the same weight motor oil ??
Just curious
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jerryil
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PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

RCB wrote:
Does air cooled and water cooled use the same weight motor oil ??
Just curious



Typically, an aircooled motor is going to run hotter than a water cooled. This is especially true on a hot day. Therefore, an aircooled (at least theoretically) would benefit from a heavier oil in the heat to prevent breakdown. This is a highly debated topic, hence my question.
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Terry Kay
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PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2007 9:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

20/50 Castrol GTX will do your AC engine well.
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ChesterKV
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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2007 8:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dude....20w-50.........high mileage kind
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Cohiba
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PostPosted: Mon May 28, 2007 11:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

what about synthetic oil?
would the viscosity be the same (20w-50)
in My 81 westy
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Wildthings
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PostPosted: Mon May 28, 2007 1:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have been running Mobil 1 15W-50 synthetic for years in ACVW's, it seems to handle the heat very well. You don't get that dark blackish crud building up inside the valve covers you typically see on engines running dino.
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gears
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PostPosted: Mon May 28, 2007 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

worthwhile reading about engine oils:

http://www.lnengineering.com/oil.html
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msinabottle
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PostPosted: Mon May 28, 2007 9:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
worthwhile reading about engine oils:

http://www.lnengineering.com/oil.html


To summarize: Those of us who've been plugging Castrol GTX Dino have been doing a very good thing!

Best!
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gears
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PostPosted: Mon May 28, 2007 10:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

To further summarize, you gotta keep an eye on the oil suppliers. They may change their formulation without notice. Delo 400 and Castrol GTX remain OK for the time being...
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m4mke
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PostPosted: Tue May 29, 2007 11:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Randy in Maine wrote:
Mobil 1 15-50 all year.

ditto
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