Call me an old fart, but I run straight 30 in the winter and 40 in the
summer, just like the owner's manual says (the owner's manual does recommend
multi-vis also).  Actually, the owner's manual only goes to 100 degrees, but
when running in 115 degree heat, I get real leery of multigrade oils.  A
mechanic buddy of mine swears that, even though multi-grade technology is
very good, there is a noticeable degradation of lubricating properties in
high temperature applications.

Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: "M Williams" <MWILL1993@aol.com>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2000 12:15 PM
Subject: Re: Oil Viscosity Recommendations

> I too have been given this line of bull about 10W40 being "the standard".
I
> put 2300 miles on my 89 Westy (132k) to the Grand Canyon North Rim and
back
> this summer with the last part being through 95 degree temps in TX and OK
> with the a/c on.  Everything ran perfectly throughout the trip.  The next
> morning, however, I pull it out of the driveway and it sounds like the
engine
> is coming apart.  I call my local VW mechanic (former dealer with 30 yrs
> working on air & water cooled VWs) and based on the characteristics, he
tells
> me to go ahead and drive down.  By the time I got there (5 miles), the
noise
> was gone, and the diagnosis was short and simple - a sticking lifter and
> cheap oil.  I got a tongue lashing about putting anything less than 20W50
in
> my van and rest assured, I never will.  His advice was the same as
Stuart's -
> insist on the better oil, bring your own, or go elsewhere.
>
> Mike
> 89 Westy
>
> In a message dated 7/19/00 13:58:14, macmillan@home.com writes:
>
> << 10w/40 is fine for a new or low mileage engine, but as the 2.1 ages you
> need a higher weight oil, I use 20w/50.  I have an oil pressure gauge,
> and I can see the pressure drop in direct proportion to the time driven
> in hot weather, and it is especially dramatic when climbing.  The main
> bearing saddles open up a bit and the oil thins with heat, and the
> higher the mileage the worse the problem will be.
>
> Bring your own oil if they don't have 20w/50.
>
> --
> Stuart MacMillan
> Seattle
>
> '84 Vanagon Westfalia (converted to 2.1)
> '65 MGB (Driven since 1969)
> '74 MGB GT (Restoring)
>
> Assisting on Restoration:
> '72 MGB GT (Daughter's)
> '64 MGB (Son's)
>
> Parts cars:
> '68 & '73 MGB, '67 MGB GT
>
>
> ----------------------- Headers --------------------------------
> I'm trying to resolve some discrepancies between various sources of
> information on recommended motor oil viscosities for different
> temperature operating ranges for my '91 Westy.
>
> According to the chart in my 91 Vanagon Volkswagon Owner's Manual
> (p. 98), the following are the temperature ranges recommended for
> various common single/multi-grade engine oils:
>
> SAE 30                                  32 - 82 F
> SAE 10W30 / 10W40               -5 - 60 F
> SAE 15W30 / 15W40                5 - 95 F
> SAE 20W30 / 20W40               15 - 95 F
>
> (Please forgive any interpolation errors;  it's a small chart and my eyes
> aren't what they used to be.)
>
> About 5 years ago however, my local VW Dealer/Service shop (Carter
> VW in Seattle) starting using SAE 10W40 as their standard oil for
> Vanagons.  When I challenged the appropriateness of this choice
> (average temps in this area, especially if you include Eastern
> Washington, much more closely correspond to the 5F-95F range of the
> 15W40 oil) they responded that VW of America had revised their
> recommended oil viscosity ranges and that 10W40 was now the
> preferred viscosity for "our area".  They have not been able to document
> this however in spite of repeated requests (vague references to a service
> bulletin that they never seem to be able to produce) and I'm getting a
> little suspicious that this is a bunch of baloney.
>
> So my question is:  Does anyone have any information on such a
> revised oil viscosity recommendation or know how I could contact
> VWoA directly to confirm or deny this?
>
> This issue recently came to a head while I was returning from an
> extended trip though the upper midwest.  While driving up a steep long
> pass in Montana, with ambient temps ranging to 103F, my oil pressure
> light and buzzer suddenly came on.  I pulled over immediately, shut-off
> the engine, and waited a few minutes before restarting the engine and
> continuing over and down the pass - now holding my speed to 50-60
> MPH.  I immediately suspected the cause was too light an oil for these
> driving conditions.  Fortunately, the oil pressure light did not come on
> again during the remainder of the trip (a few hundred miles more, with
> temps down into the 80's and low 90's and continued reduced driving
> speeds).
>
> If too light an oil was the cause, I intend to complain to the dealer,
since
> I had advised them during the last oil change, just prior to the trip,
that I
> would be driving under such extreme conditions.  While it appears no
> permanent damage was done, it really ticks me off that they would so
> peremptorily and recklessly use an oil that was way underated for the
> conditions.  If I can document that this VWoA revised recommendation
> for 10W-40 oil is bogus, I intend to rub the Dealer's nose in their nasty
> BS until they squirm and formally appologize.  I also intend to serve
> them notice of their potential liability for any damage that may have
> resulted from their malfeasence, FWIW (probably personal satisfaction
> only).
>
> I appreciate any advice, as always.
>
> -Wes
>
> Wes Neuenschwander
> Seattle, WA
> wesn@eskimo.com