Dumb oil question

[MotoMike]

Did a search and failed. What weight oil should I run in my 25 hp?

[Danwvw]

Back in the day of those cars we only had straight weight oils so then it probably would be 20 weight and maybe 30 weight in the summer. We always liked the Pennsylvania oil then for the VW air cooled.
Now days everyone is running Brad Penn or valvoline. I would probably break it in with a cheap 5W30 dyno oil then switch to a quality synthetic for the engine. I would add some ZDDP to the oil if it did not have 1200 PPM zinc already.
Porsche 356 Oils.
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

[MotoMike]

This is a new resto and new engine. The oil light would flash or stay on for a bit but go out. I picked it up as a running car. I just now pulled the plate without removing the drain plug and almost no oil drains through the screen, it's a trickle at best. There are maybe 50 miles on car so far. Seems to me it should run through the screen easier than that

[Danwvw]

I would think so if it was hot. Yeah, must have been 30 weight! I would take a look at the screen. Any debris in it? I hope it had oil in it.
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1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!

[MotoMike]

Had oil, pulled the drain plug and 3 qts came out. To be honest I didn't pull the screen. Don't have a new one and didn't want to destroy the only one I have. Just wanted to get the break in oil out of it. I will get all the correct screen and oil and quit trying to half ass it

[motofly196]

With a new engine, pulling the screen is a must. Depending on what the builder used for cam lube plus assembly lube, and packing the oil pump with assembly lube....this could all lead to a thick oil. I would pull that screen and inspect is very well for any metal particles from machine work being done. If the case halves were put together with too much bonding material, that could also be in the screen.
The first few oil changes are critical for a happy new engine. Did you get any information on who built the engine? Probably wouldn't hurt to try and see what they recommend for their engines too.

[Snort]

The official answer is to read through this gigantic oil topic.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=220755

Then put in 10-30 and don't worry, be happy.

[andk5591]

LOL - Yeah oil....Heres the thing on your engine - you said it was a fresh rebuild. Did they replace the oil cooler?

Here's my 2 cents. On cars that come into the shop, I use the same or similar oil to what they have always been running. IF I am doing a bit of a rebuild (not splitting the case, but installing a new oil cooler) I will run conventional 10W-30 with a zinc additive and motor flush. After the flush has been run for the required time, drain and replace with Amsoil Z-rod 10W-30 (high zinc, etc).

The oil cooler is a concern since its a nice place for stuff to collect and I wont switch a car over to synthetic unless I replace that. This is my opinion based one what I feel is good logic.

Any forum (VW and non-VW) you look at will have 1000 opinions on motor oil....just sayin'
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[MotoMike]

I hear you on the 1000 opinions on oils. This is my first experience with a 25 hp, or oval car. I probably have no business owning something this nice. Full confession, I decided to change the oil and I was going to pull the screen and inspect and clean it. I pulled the plate 1st because I didn't know it had a separate drain plug. Like I said, full rookie.

I have gotten into the habit of draining the oil cold as well. Maybe it's a stupid idea, but my theory is all the contaminants and junk in the oil have settled to the bottom of the sump. You start the motor to warm up the oil and now you have run all that stuff back through the engine.

So when I saw it wouldn't drain through the screen, figured out the drain plug deal and drained the engine. Then I briefly tried to remove the screen and promptly stopped when it looked like it wasn't coming off easy, I didn't want to damage it.

I also hear you on the oil cooler, I always put a new one on anything I do. I do not know if this one was new but I will inquire.

[Glenn]

[EverettB]

It sounds like you are set on information and are pulling the screen too and cleaning it so you should be good to go.

Yes, let's keep the oil discussion to the dedicated thread above.

If you have any other engine or vehicle questions that are not what type of oil feel free to start another thread.
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