Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2003 08:28:05 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Oil change frequency?
In-Reply-To: <200307220341.h6M3fRH23809@mail.oanet.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Don,
Do yourself a favor, change the oil now, in the beginning, and get it
right the first time!! Now what do I mean by that??
Well, related to oil, and the hydraulic valve lifters, the Vanagon has a
"Syndrome". One day you are going to start the engine and you are going
to hear this awful clattering, clacking sound that seemed to just
suddenly start. It is terrifying to the first time owner because the
first thing you think of is "Oh no, I have a rod knocking and my engine
is going to fail" or something similarly expensive to fix. It is
inevitable.
Well, relax, it is only "The Vanagon Lifter Syndrome". It just occurs at
random, there is no permanent fix but it can be minimized.
What I am about to explain here is from my own experience and from the
accumulated operating experience of the many members of the Vanagon
List. Much is anecdotal, but it repeats itself over and over and over,
so even though some people have had variations in the experience, there
is still a core of truth in it. So here goes.
The lifters in the WBX engine tend to leak down their oil when the
valve train has pressure exerted on the system in a certain way when the
engine is shut down. Next time you start, the engine clatters like crazy
until it has run a while and the lifters have pumped back up. It is
related to having the right viscosity oil and an oil filter which has
the correct internal relief valve spring pressure.
To reduce the occurrence of the syndrome, you need a bottle of Marvels
Mystery Oil (MMO), a Mahle or Mann Oil filter (I prefer the Mahle - get
Mahle or Mann from our list vendors), and 20W50 wt Dino oil, or 15W50
Mobil 1 Synthetic. You also need to change oil on schedule religiously.
I change mine at 3000 miles.
The Mann or Mahle filters have the correct relief valve spring pressure.
With the engine off, the higher spring pressure holds the oil in the oil
galleries of the engine longer and thus keeps the lifters pumped longer.
However, even they will leak down eventually, if the engine is not run.
How long that is, nobody knows, but an engine should be run and warmed
thoroughly at least once a week to ensure everything keeps a coat of
oil on it for protection if for no other reason.
Oils - dinosaur oil in the 20W50 Wt or synthetics like Mobil 1 15W50 Wt
variety seems to work best for WBX. This seems to be the cumulative
experience of The List. Certainly for me. The exceptions to that come
from our esteemed membership living in colder climates, and is usually
related to winter operations in those colder climates. When the outside
temperature is Zero or below, you certainly want to consider another
weight oil. However, I will say this, engines have an operating
temperature range, summer or winter, and it is the effects of oils at
startup in cold conditions that you want to consider. Once the engine is
warm it's needs the protection of the right oil for the clearances
involved regardless of outside temperatures. So an oil pre-heater may be
more in order than a change to a lower viscosity oil. As for me, until
recently I have always run the 20W50wt Dino oil year round. With 40,000
miles now on a completely overhauled engine, I recently switched to
Mobil 1 15W50 Synthetic. My observation is that my oil consumption had
dropped and the engine seems to run a bit cooler in this Southern summer
heat.
Marvel Mystery Oil: (the additive) This is truly Marvelous (pun
intended) stuff. It has been around a long time, and is a must for the
Vanagon owner. It is a cleaner, and is a good fuel additive to keep the
fuel system and injectors free of any build ups and when added to the
oil helps keep the lifters spotlessly clean and free of any buildups or
debris that could cause those little precision machined components in
the lifters to stick or plug up and contribute to the lifter syndrome.
MMO added to the oil 200-300 miles in advance of an oil change helps
give the oil system a good cleaning.
As far as Marvels is concerned, there is also Marvels Mystery Oil that
is a penetrating oil. I keep a bottle of that in my vehicle in my tool
kit. I learned about it years ago from some old time aircraft mechanics
that swore by it. Now I do to. When something is stuck, a screw, a nut,
or what have you, an overnight soak in Marvels Penetrating oil will
nearly always loosen it up when nothing else will.
You might want to consider changing your own oil in the future. With the
proper tools, it takes 15 minutes. If you are using a Mahle filter, the
end is shaped like a big nut. Walmart sells a filter tool wrench that is
like a humongous socket that fits right on that filter nut shape. The
Walmart tool takes a 3/8" drive. That, plus a flat pan that looks like a
big plastic jug that has been flattened a bit on the side (Walmart, also
in the oil section) makes oil changing a snap. That drain pan has two
holes with plugs on the upper side for the oil to drain into. No more
having to fish the filter or the drain plug out of the oil drain pan.
When the oil is drained, put the plugs in, haul it to the nearest oil
dump and discharge from the container. Simple as that. To change our
own oil or for any one else to do it, you MUST use copper crush gaskets
under the head of the drain plug. If you don't, or the Quickie Oil
Change folk don't (and most don't because they don't have the right size
- Vanagons are so odd and non-standard) trying to tighten the plug to
prevent leakage will ultimately strip the threads out of the engine
case. THAT is a very severe PITA to fix and get right. Get the gaskets
from the list vendors - when you order your filters.
BTW, when you buy filters, I suggest you get at least 4 at a time. Oil
changes are an ongoing thing, and they will always be needed, and on
hand when you need them.
Enjoy your new vehicle!!
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Don Spence wrote:
>As you can probably tell I'm a new owner with lots of newby questions....
>so, How often should you change the oil in the 1.9 wbx?
>
>Seems also that everyone lists there car "collection" as part of the
>signature line so... here's my list.
>
>65 Jaguar 3.8 'S' Type (for sale)
>67 Triumph TR4A
>72 Triumph TR-6
>83 Vanagon-L Westphalia
>84 Peugeot 505 STI
>99 Plymouth Grand Voyager
>
>
>
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