Date:         Mon, 17 Sep 2001 17:56:18 -1000
Reply-To:     Mick Kalber <hotlava@INTERPAC.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mick Kalber <hotlava@INTERPAC.NET>
Subject:      Re: Synthetic Oil
Comments: cc: Jon B Kanas <kanas@QUALITY.QADAS.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> For those of you using Mobil1 or other synthetic oil, how long are you
running between oil
> changes? <


I started using synthetic in my 89 syncro westy immedately upon purchase a
little over a year ago.  She had only 38,500 miles on her at that time.  Ran
beautifully and changed the oil at 5K.  They say you can run til 7,500, but
it makes me a little nervous, so Ido it earlier.

Only problems with the synthetic is the size of the molecules... I guess
that's what makes for less friction and allows the engine to run more
smoothly and efficiently.  But that also means the oil can find its way out
of the engine more easily.  In my case "Daddeo" did not leak, but simply
used more oil than I thought appropriate... about a quart every 1,000 miles
or so.  She does not smoke or anything, and my mech says the oil is so thin
it's just slipping by the pistons (make sense?).

Anyway, compression is excellent... van runs perfectly.  So I've switched to
a synthetic blend in the hopes of getting the synthetic benefit without
using quite so much oil.  That stuff is expensive you know!  Still plan on
changing at 5K though.

Aloha...

Mick Kalber
89 Syncro Westy "Daddeo"
Tropical Visions Video, Inc.
62 Halaulani Place
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
808-935-5557
808-935-0066 (fax)
hotlava@interpac.net
www.volcanoscapes.com