Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 22:01:16 -0500
Reply-To: Bradley Flubacher <flubach@HOME.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bradley Flubacher <flubach@HOME.COM>
Subject: Re: winter oil
In-Reply-To: <001501c0485e$fe109840$9e0c52d1@activate.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
The first number is a metric for the fluidity at cold temperatures.
(Typically 0 degrees F, but my understanding is that different oil
manufacturers sometimes measure at different temps). Anyhow, as I
understand it, you want an oil that isn't too heavy when it's cold (so it
can flow quickly at start up), but doesn't thin too much when it's at
operating temperature.
As per my understanding, it is unclear to me why VW would recommend a 10W-30
for cold applications. My only guess is to achieve the higher fluidity at
colder temperatures at the sacrifice for thinning at operating temps. I
suppose only so much polymer addition is a good thing.. My understanding is
that polymers are added to achieve the "spread" of viscosities, and that
they can cause deposits in your engine if there is too much. To the best of
my knowledge, this is one reason why synthetics are better. They require
less addition of polymers to gain an acceptable spread of viscosity..
Brad
-----Original Message-----
From: 1980 VW Westfalia "Pokey" [mailto:pokey@vanagon.org]
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2000 9:04 PM
To: Bradley Flubacher; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: winter oil
So If I'm following you what you want is a 5w-50? If the second number is
viscocity at operating temperature what is the first number for?
Thanks,
Chris Gronski
Toronto, Ontario,
'80 Westy "Pokey" - SLOPOKEY
'87 Chevrolet Sprint - Ice Racer
'91 Pontiac Firefly - Convertible
www.vanagon.org
www.gronski.com
www.nineeleven.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bradley Flubacher" <flubach@HOME.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, November 06, 2000 8:22 PM
Subject: winter oil
> I see no reason to switch to anything less than a 40 or 50 weight... what
> you're after is better cold starts? Note that the second number is the
> viscosity rating once the oil is up to operating temperature. I suspect
you
> don't want to run a lighter weight oil at operating temp than you have to.
>
> I think I saw a 15W-50 mobile 1 product. That sound pretty ideal to me..
> I'm running 15W-40 amsoil at the moment. Next year I intend to try to
20W-50
> year round. For whatever reason, I'm sold on amsoil. We'll see how it
> behaves though.
>
> From my understanding, you never want to run a w-30 oil ever. And 40
isn't
> as desirable as 50 for these beasts. I suppose it's the viscosity spread
> that you're concerned with?
>
> Brad
>
