Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2012 08:20:48 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Oil dilemma
In-Reply-To: <2B806A07-C032-4D4C-89D5-C270BDF650F1@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In many ways I agree with you. 5w-30 would not be my choice. However if you
look at the viscosity chart for our van it indicates that SAE 30 is suitable
for moderate temperatures. If you then look at the viscosity properties for
the oils you will see that at 100C the 5w-30 is the same viscosity as a
straight 30 at that temperature. Again as I stated for extended high speed
driving that oil may not do the job and oil pressure problems may result.
There are many Vanagons out there that get serviced at local shops or quick
lube places and many are OK with 5w-30 or 10w-30. There are also many that
are not.
Also for those of us that use our vans as daily drivers in winter heated
garages or using crankcase and coolant heaters is not practical. I can plug
in at home but not at work. So for those of us that commute and use our
vans we have to compromise. For my DD in winter I use the Mobil 1 0w-40. I
also use that in the rest of my vehicles all year. Only the Vanagons get the
15w-50.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Frank Condelli
Sent: Friday, November 23, 2012 5:13 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Oil dilemma
Sorry, but this is completely WRONG ! AND, I can't empathize this
WRONG enough. Once the engine is fully up to operating temperature the oil
MUST be 50w, read your specs in the owners manual. The engine does not know
it's cold outside EXCEPT when starting. That's were the dilemma is and
that's were the damage is done. Too thick an oil at cold start up will wear
life off of the bearings and other moving parts that do not get lubricated
until the oil get warm an starts to flow properly. You will not know this
until the engine wear's out prematurely and you then ask why ? That's why
there are block heaters and heated garages to start engines in cold
temperatures. So...what to do: using the recommended 20w50 dino oil, you
need a block heater or heated garage or move to a warmer climate. 0w50,
10w50,15w50 synthetic will work well without the use of the block heater or
heated garage but I myself and me would still like to have that block warmed
up before starting MY engine ! Prematurely worn engine = BIG BUCKS ! You'd
think this was the first winter for these antique Vans !
On 2012-11-22, at 3:12 PM, Automatic digest processor
<LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM> wrote:
> Heading into WinterWeatherConditions in Northern Michigan I =
> would not =20 be
>
> the least bit worried about leaving the 5w30 in there as long as you
> =20 are sure that
>
> your OilPressureSensor is in good working order so as to keep you =20
> properly informed.
>
> I am of the opinion that oil that is overly thick is harder on an =20
> engine than oil that is
>
> a bit on the thin side as the thick stuff might not be able to get =20
> into all areas that it
>
> is needed. I have a Subaru engine in my 90Westy now but back in 09 =20
> just before I
>
> did the swap I ran my 2.1H2OBoxr on 5w30 for 3000mi without any issues
> =20=
>
> during
>
> the hottest months of the year here in NM & for curiosity & =20
> PeaceOfMind I had the
>
> OilPressure professionally checked & it was just fine ~ my H2OBoxr did
> =20=
>
> have 120K
>
> fewer miles than yours though. I normally ran that engine on 10w40 &
> =20 would never
>
> run anything thicker than that unless I was experiencing low O'P' =20
> issues.
>
> ORR ~ DeanB
Cheers,
Frank Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 VW Westy, '00 Kawasaki 250 Sherpa, "98 Ducati 750 Monster & Lionel
Trains (Collection for sale) Frank Condelli & Associates - Vanagon/Vanagon
Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust
Systems BusFusion a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 06 ~ 09, 2013
| 
