Date:         Thu, 21 Oct 1999 09:41:38 -0400
Reply-To:     Bob Donalds <bostneng@FCL-US.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bob Donalds <bostneng@FCL-US.NET>
Organization: Boston Engine Exchange
Subject:      Re: OIL, What do you use?
Comments: To: William Wedenoja <waw105f@MAIL.SMSU.EDU>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

William Wedenoja wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Andrew Dunn <AndrewD158@AOL.COM>
>
> > Just wondering about oil weight, brands and opinions
> > on the subject. Waterboxer motor.  Are synthetics worth
> > it?
>
> Basing my decision on comments on the list last May/June, I changed to
> synthetic (Syntec) in July, before heading off on a 6700 mile summer trip.
> Everything seems to be fine.  Didn't notice any difference, really (some
> claimed their rpm increased).  Then, a few weeks ago I brought my Saab in to
> an independent Saab-only garage for an oil change, and asked the owner about
> switching to synthetic.  He said something to the effect of "No Way!  You'll
> have leaks all over the place.  I warned one of my customers about this and
> sure enough he came back leaking like a seive.  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
I Dont use or recomend synthetic oil to my customers for two reasons

first motor oil gets contaminated over time with unburned fuel and
byproducts of combustion that the filter does not remove and synthetic
cost more so the average joe wants to leave it in longer

second the synthetic oil does not absorbe the heat from the heads the
way that petroleum based oils do and thats a problem for both the air
cooled and the water cooled engines
hotter heads make less power and degrade valves, guides and outer rubber
coolant gaskets on the waterboxer at a faster rate
Bob