Date:         Wed, 2 Jun 2004 10:59:46 -0400
Reply-To:     David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Subject:      Re: Synthetic oils in the vanagon
Comments: To: tmiller <tmiller@VCMAILS.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <40BD06EC.8050600@vcmails.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Tue, 1 Jun 2004, tmiller wrote:

> Why do you think synthetic oils are ONLY used in jet engines?  Dino
> doesn't cut the mustard.

I kind of cringe every time I see analogies like this.  Jet engines are a
totally different environment than piston engines.  For that matter,
piston aircraft engines, car engines, and motorcycle engines all call for
different oil formulations, as do diesel and gasoline engines.

I'm not disagreeing with your stand, just with this particular argument.

> Many manual transmissions and differentials use synthetic gear lubes
> "filled for life", like my 96 VW Cabrio automatic.  It came rom Germany
> with their synthetic ATF.  There isn't a drain plug on the
> transmission!!

I hope they're actually right about it this time.  Previous "filled for
life" transmissions have often turned out to have fairly short lives. ;)
Fortunately on an automatic you can often change the fluid anyway via the
trans cooler lines.

Personally I hope that dino ATF sticks around for a while...my Volvo's
manual transmission calls for Type F ATF, and I've heard using synthetic
causes problems for the overdrive unit.


David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'86 Volvo 240DL wagon
'82 VW Vanagon Westfalia Diesel