Date: Mon, 2 May 2005 18:50:42 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: california smog issues and synthetic oil
In-Reply-To: <9a0e70c553c1.42760152@ou.edu>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
VW recommended 7,500 mile oil and filter changes using conventional oils
back in the 80's. Using synthetic should only make things better. Most
of the crud that the filter has to remove is from the oil itself
breaking down and leaving deposits, both carbon and sludge or that tar
like stuff. Eliminate the oil breakdown and you eliminate the dirt. If
the engine is healthy, soot and wear particles are minimal.
The reality is that most of the actual wear producing particles are too
small for most filters to trap. That is why we still need to change the
oil. If you really want filtration, you need a bypass filter that can
filter down to a few microns. Go to this web site,
http://www.fs2500.com/ if you really want clean oil I just installed on
of these on my Cat powered motor home. Watch the Diesel soot get
removed. Ask to speak to Chris Williams. This set up is expensive
though.
The oil analysis does look for wear particles, dirt, etc. Particular
attention is paid to silicates which come from dust and dirt. Keep that
air filter clean.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: wlail@ou.edu [mailto:wlail@ou.edu]
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 11:31 AM
To: dhaynes@optonline.net
Cc: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: california smog issues and synthetic oil
Dennis Haynes wrote:
>>I don't think synthetic oil will be all that helpful for passing
emissions but there is no doubt that it has benefits. I have been doing
oil testing on my vehicles now for about a year and there is no reason
not to go 7,500 miles between changes with a good synthetic so unless
you are using a lot of oil that alone offsets the cost. Mobil now
has"Extended Performance" oil they guarantee for 15,000 miles or 1 year.
I think that is pushing things. I did go 13,500 (1 year) in my Fox. My
wife's Audi reports indicate about 12k is the limit for that engine
which now has 179k on it. 2 weeks ago there where 4 Vanagons here with
over 200k on the original engines, (including mine). What did they have
in common? Mobil 1 15w-50. Fun Bus even has the original head gaskets.
Dennis<<
Dennis,
I run Mobil 1 15-50 in my 88 Westy, but I change it every 3500 miles. I
know that theoretically I can run it longer, but my concern is not oil
breakdown, it is that the filter will be overwhelmed. I have been told
that oil filters reach their capacity under normal conditions at around
3500 miles. During the summer I drive on dusty roads quite a bit and
that also would put more strain on the filter, I think. Have you taken
filter life into account in your oil testing?
I run Mahle filters.
Thanks.
Warren Lail
88 Westy "Billy Bones"
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