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Date:         Thu, 6 Aug 2009 12:19:26 -0500
Reply-To:     Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: 20W50 Castorl Engine Oil
Comments: To: Brenton Tait <BTait@INVESTEC.CO.ZA>
In-Reply-To:  <40A5FC3A5C961746B2760AC234EABA1901867CC9@mbzajhb06.za.corp.investec.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The right answer is synthetic gear oil, not engine oil. Synthetic gear oil won't thicken up as much with cold temperatures.

Just like Mike said, engine oils don't have the right additive package. Also, engine oil will be too thin when hot and the viscosity won't be there to protect the transmission parts. Your mechanic may not have any returns but this does not mean much. If switching to engine oil causes increased wear, the owner may not see the symptoms for 20K or more miles. By then he won't associate the failure with the fluid change!

BTW, You also can't use engine oil in a Mercedes manual transmission, which was designed for and uses ATF. But tolerances are different in a Mercedes transmission.

Thanks, Tom Hargrave Our Web Sites: www.kegkits.com http://www.kegkits.com/JABF/ www.stir-plate.com www.andyshotsauce.com 256-656-1924

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of Brenton Tait Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 11:57 AM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: 20W50 Castorl Engine Oil

Just that I recently, with the cold weather we been experiencing, had some shifting problems.....and after the oil warms up...no problem...so I went over to my mechanic and he suggested it...said he did one or two vans and no come backs.....I was going to opt for a GL5 oil, but he suggested since the 20w50 is cheaper ...why not.....just thought Id ask ...

Regards B C Tait Btait@investec.co.za Group Risk, Risk IT Investec Limited Telephone: +27 11 291 3194 Fax: +27 11 286 7599 Cell: +27 82 410 3030 100 Grayston Drive, Sandown, Sandton, 2196, South Africa PO Box 785700, Sandton, 2146, South Africa www.investec.com

-----Original Message----- From: Mike S [mailto:mikes@flatsurface.com] Sent: 06 August 2009 18:44 To: Brenton Tait Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: 20W50 Castorl Engine Oil

At 12:25 PM 8/6/2009, Brenton Tait wrote... >This might sound a bit stupid...but what are the chances of using a >mineral 20w50 engine oil in my gearbox? DO I run the risk of damaging >it?

Engine oils do not have the high pressure additives required for gearbox use. Why are you even considering it? Proper gear oil is easy to find.

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