Date:         Wed, 26 Mar 2003 21:33:24 -0800
Reply-To:     Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Shawn Wright <swright@ZUIKO.SLS.BC.CA>
Subject:      Re: calling redline lube heads
In-Reply-To:  <3E826DCE.2040903@charter.net>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

On 26 Mar 2003 at 21:19, John Rodgers wrote:

> populuxe wrote:
>
> >bently manual says my 90 multivan 4speed manual trans will retain 1.5
> >liters of gear oil after i drain it.
> >
> >1)how do i convert to synthetic with all that mineral oil left over?
> >
> Not to worry. The Redline MT90 easily mixes with the Dino oil remaining
> without any harm done. It is not a problem. Change the oil again in
> about two years, and you will rid your tranny of most of the remaining
> diluted Dino oil. It is an easy do! ? Some people say you needn't do
> that but to me gears and oil wear just like other gears and oil. Things
> wear, fine particles float in the oil, and add to the wearing. So I
> change it. Works for me.

Go with the MT-90. I ran MTL for a few years in my '88 and ended up with a failed bearings,
followed shortly after by failed r&p. I'll never know for sure if the MTL had anything to do with it,
but will always wonder. The MT-90 is the 'right' substitute I've since learned. (I ended up using
Amsoil's best gear oil in my rebuilt tranny, probably equivalent to MT90).
My '85 Jetta has 480k on original trans, never opened up, with MTL used since around 200k. Still
shifts like a dream...

> >2) if i get mt-l(gl-4) instead of mt-90(gl-4) any problems or is it ok?
> >
> If you have a manual Tranny -- do yourself a favor - get the Redline MT 90.
> You are going to find that on this list there are some things that long
> experience has proven over time on these vans. Redline MT-90 for the
> tranny will elminate a lot of shifting problems, especially in cold
> weather. Using 20W50 oil will eliminate oil pressure and oil pressure
> light problems. Mann/Mahle oil filters(no exceptions)  in conjunction
> with the ocassional addition of a can of Marvels Mystery Oil to the
> crankcase will eliminate the classic Vanagon "Clattering Valve Lifter
> Syndrome" - which if you haven't yet had.......you will. It is not a
> matter of if, it is a matter of when. It's just  a matter of time.

I found Mobil 1 15w50 was pretty good at quieting lifters for up to 8-9 months or 10-15k kms, then
it went downhill. But the best I've found for quieting lifters is Amsoil 15w40 Diesel Oil - I just went a
little over 2 years and 20k km (parked a good part of the time) on a single oil change and there
was *no* lifter noise, even after sitting for months at a time. (finally changed the oil last week,
even though it still seemed fine - just can't get used to leaving it in that long...) Simply amazing, as
Mobil 1 would give me 10-30 seconds of noise if the van sat more than a few weeks. I do use
either Bosch or VW filters (bought a case years ago for cheap). Engine is a VW rebuilt 2.1L with
220k on it.

Shawn Wright, I.T. Manager
Shawnigan Lake School
swright@SLS.bc.ca
http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
http://www.sls.bc.ca