Date:         Thu, 6 Aug 1998 22:46:22 -0700
Reply-To:     Todd Last <rubatoguy@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Todd Last <rubatoguy@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject:      Re: Synthetic vs. Regular lubricants
Comments: To: SyncroHead@AOL.COM
Comments: cc: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I agree with SyncroHead. I've run synthetics in all my cars with no problems
whatsoever.

I think this comes from the observation that regular oils will cause seals to
swell more than synthetics will. So, if you have a very old, high mileage engine
that you switch from regular to synthetic, you may see some seeping if the swollen
seals shrink a bit. I have seen a few people experience this problem when
switching to synthetics - but only for very high mileage vehicles.

Todd Last
'88 westfalia

SyncroHead@AOL.COM wrote:

> In a message dated 98-08-05 20:30:36 EDT, ray.wei@US.PWCGLOBAL.COM writes:
>
> > I read an article from Popular Mechanics recently.  They said by using the
> >  synthetic oil, they "suspect" the engine will develop early leaks on rubber
> >  seals.  They said they have seen so many cases that the engine has
> >  crankshaft seal leaks, which uses the synthetic oil.  Especially if you
> >  alternate the regular and synthetic between oil changes which makes the
> >  rubber seal "dry-out" even faster...
>
> They're full of it!  I've run 100% synthetic oil in all my cars since 1983.
> Let's see..
> 70k  84 GTI
> 80k  86 GLI
> 60k  82 Rabbit P/U  (60k-120k)
> 115k 87 Syncro  (45k-160k)
> 130k 88 Wolfsburg
> ------
> 455,000 miles without an oil leak!!
>
> Also "alternate the regular and synthetic".  Who would do such a thing?
> Nonesense!
>
> Regards,
> Jim Davis
>