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snowleopard
Samba Member
Joined: May 29, 2007
Posts: 90
Location: San Fernando Valley, CA
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 Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:14 am Post subject: simple question: oil and coolant in SoCal |
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I'm wondering a simple thing: what oil and coolant do the Westy owners in So Cal prefer to use? Back to basics...
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85 Westy: The Green Machine
PCT Hiker: Mexico to Oregon on Foot
(It was faster than a Westy going up an incline) |
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ChesterKV
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2005
Posts: 1725
Location: El Cerrito, CA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 12:52 am Post subject: Re: simple question: oil and coolant in SoCal |
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| snowleopard wrote: |
| I'm wondering a simple thing: what oil and coolant do the Westy owners in So Cal prefer to use? Back to basics... |
Dude....20w-50 year-round. Coolant......lot's o' choices
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1984 Wolfsburg 7-passenger stock sunroof
1992 Subaru Legacy EJ22 boxer motor installed.... van is now sold.... currently playing with a 1987 Toyota MR2 with 1.6 liter twin-cam motor. Better than the Subaru boxers....... I'm impressed. Well, okay, in an "apples and oranges" kind of way.  |
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bucko
Samba Member
Joined: December 09, 2004
Posts: 2617
Location: Coppell, Texas
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| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:38 am Post subject: |
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Your climate is simular to mine here in Florida; I run 20-50W in the warmer season, and if your temps dip down into the low 30's during the the winter, change to 10-40W during the cooler times. Otherwise run 20-50W year round.
As to coolant, use a 'non-phosphorous' coolant, and mix it 50-50 with distilled water. This keeps the heads from pitting, the major cause of the dreaded head seal coolant leaks. Flush the coolant every 2 years.
The vanagons get an unfair bad rap for having leak problems. This is due mainly from previous owners (and current) that use phosphorous based coolant. This will cause pitting in the heads, a major reason for the seals to leak. Also, Vanagons have lots of hoses, and plenty of length to the radiator. After 20 plus years of service, they will need attention.
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Current VW drives: 1984 Westfalia
Past VW drives: 1967 Beetle, 1973 Beetle, 1977 Bus, 1971 Military Type 181 |
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74Standard
Samba Member
Joined: March 25, 2005
Posts: 317
Location: San Antonio
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| Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:31 am Post subject: |
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| bucko wrote: |
| As to coolant, use a 'non-phosphorous' coolant, and mix it 50-50 with distilled water. This keeps the heads from pitting, the major cause of the dreaded head seal coolant leaks. Flush the coolant every 2 years. |
If you are going back too basics - take note of the distilled water comment. I wonder how many cars (not just WBX) would not have head gasket problems (just one of many other cooling problems) if this one detail was not overlooked or deamed as "no biggie".
Tap water is nasty - for your cooling system. |
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