Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 19:42:01 -0500
Reply-To: Holm <vholm@WEREWOLF.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Holm <vholm@WEREWOLF.NET>
Subject: Re: OIL, What do you use?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Yes, but the wizard from Standard Oil forgot to mention (or likely,
he didn't have a clue about) the fact that synthetic oil does not thicken
as much in cold weather as does dino oil.
This is important for a number of reasons: First and foremost, oil
will flow through the galleys more readily, thereby lubing your engine
during the most critical wear time -- start up. Secondly, your engine will
turn over much easier thereby starting more readily and saving
considerable wear on the starter (and patience!).
Also, since the engine starts more readily there is less raw gas washed
past the rings into the block.
VH
84 Westy
Fridgid, Wisconsin
-----Original Message-----
From: Brent Christensen <bpchristensen1@HOME.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, October 20, 1999 7:16 PM
Subject: Re: OIL, What do you use?
>Yes - I have had problems with synthetics "weeping" past seals and gaskets.
>Supposed to be due to the gasket materials originally being designed to
>absorb a certain amount of dino oil and "swell".
>
>The biggest issue I have with Synthetics is from a conversation I had a
>couple of years ago with a gentleman in his late 60's who holds a PhD. in
>petroleum and chemical engineering, and had worked a 25 career for Standard
>Oil/Chevron. He basically told me that Synthetic oils were a huge waste of
>money for 99.995% of consumers. He mentioned that the only real benefit to
>Synthetics was their molecular strength in high shear situations, but that
>they "load up" with unburned hydrocarbons, soot, etc. just as much as dino
>oils, and this is the real reason you change the oil in the first place
>(that and the particulate matter that ends up acting as an abrasive when
>suspended in the oil)
>
>Prior to that dinner conversation, I had been spending hundreds of dollars
a
>year on Synth oils for all of my cars!
>
>Brent Christensen
>'89 GL Syncro Westy "Klaus"
>Santa Barbara, CA
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
>Of Bob Berkemer
>Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 1999 5:20 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: OIL, What do you use?
>
>
>> And I wouldn't use it in
>> your vanagon either." Well, I'm not leaking. Is he FOS or is this a
real
>> problem with synthetic?
>>
>> Bill
>
>Bill,
>
>My understanding is that there is a tendency for leaks of synthetics when
>installed in older (as in used) engines with tired seals. In this case the
>synthetics are supposed to leak more than dino oils......
>
>Bob
>
>84 westy
>Menomonie WI
>
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