Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2015 00:30:42 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Flickering oil light on idle.
In-Reply-To: <CAFnDXk0w_bk=Pdp+qxjXieTtXUqc9wKJJGMmn92OtwbRQrS7JQ@mail.gmail.com>
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Unless you have done oil sampling-testing you don't know how well you oil is doing or what is happening to it. From testing experience the Waterboxer can actually be quite hard on oil. The high speed, high load operation makes for high piston-ring temperatures which cause the oil to oxidize. This shows up an nitration. This causes the oil to thicken and loses the ability to lubricate. Even using Mobil 1 this effect has shown up after ~7,500 miles. Engines running conventional oil has had this happen at around 3,000 miles. Since the Waterboxer does not seem to pick up road dirt or wear particles the synthetic should be good for the 7,500 mile change intervals. While Fun Bus now has a broken 4th gear (again) and I just haven’t had the time to fix it the engine is still going at 283K miles without even having the heads pulled. I has used Mobil 1 15w-50 or 0w-40 since new and except for the Alaska trip it gets 7,500 mile oil changes. Yes it has an oil cooling system That I believe helps a lot. The increased cost of the oil has been offset by reduced maintenance and the fact that this engine still runs.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Jim Felder
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2015 3:39 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Flickering oil light on idle.
You will probably be OK when you run the 20W50. I don't think I would run synthetic in a water boxer (covers head awaiting hail of greek fire, stones and arrows). Just Castrol or other good petroleum. The most mileage people have ever gotten out of them that I can recall have run petro. In any event, just put the correct weight in and then see if you should start saving. The money you save not buying synthetic should do it.
Jim
On Thu, Aug 13, 2015 at 2:25 PM Tyler Hardison <tyler@seraph-net.net> wrote:
> The consensus is to run 20 50. I'll idle her up a notch and take care
> of it when I return home next Wednesday.
>
> Also noted that I should start saving for an engine. Don't have to ask
> me twice!
>
>
> On Thursday, August 13, 2015, Tyler Hardison <tyler@seraph-net.net> wrote:
>
>> 10-40 full synthetic. 85 1.9l.
>>
>> Just changed the oil 800 miles ago. Mahle oil filter.
>>
>> On Thursday, August 13, 2015, Jim Felder <jim.felder@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> What weight oil are you running, and in what engine?
>>>
>>> Jim
>>>
>>> On Thu, Aug 13, 2015 at 2:03 PM Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> > Thicker oil...faster idle speed...black tape
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On Thu, Aug 13, 2015 at 2:42 PM, Tyler Hardison
>>> > <tyler@seraph-net.net>
>>> > wrote:
>>> >
>>> > > The owners manual says this is normal. But my OCD is in play and
>>> > > I
>>> can't
>>> > > leave it well alone. Has anyone come up with a way to alleviate this?
>>> > >
>>> > > -- t
>>> > >
>>> >
>>>
>>
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