Volks,

Let's see if I can ease out of the shadows and get a friendly debate going
about the "Best Oil" to use in our WaterBoxer Engines.

Yesterday I had a very interesting discussion with Ken Morgan / Euro Cars.

The shop installing the 2.2L engine in the RoadHaus.

Ken is pretty rigid on this subject.

There are three types of Oils (Ash, Distilled & Synthetic)

Of course you also get combinations or blends like Distilled & Synthetic.

Ash is oil that is removed from the refining process very early.

As we all know ... not a good choice, bad chemicals and such.

So that leaves us with Distilled & Synthetic.

Both fine while the engine is running ... great lubrication properties etc.

But when the engine is shut down and left standing for a couple of days ....
like being parked in a camp ground, there is a problem.

STICTION.

Simply put ...... whether the oil sticks to the parts it was lubricating or
whether it drains off.

Synthetics don't have good stiction properties.

With Synthetic Oils many of the parts are dry when you fire her up, after
sitting for a while.

Bada Bing .... FRICTION / WEAR.

With Distilled oils ....... a good deal of oil stays adhered to the internal
engine parts.

Thus when you fire her up, even after sitting a while ..... plenty of
lubrication.

Now to the million dollar question ..... Brands of Distilled Oil.

Presumable there are only two brands out there.

One small company .. that I don't remember ....but was recently bought out
by Castrol to settle the Caterpillar Law Suit (Engines Blew Up after using
Castrol Synthetic) has already been mention on this forum. Apparently
Castrol has not put much effort in getting this product in the distribution
channel. Thus not a viable solution.

The other brand ..... Kendal Gold Racing Oil.

Thus ... that is the only oil he uses in his engine rebuilds. At least while
they are in the shop and under warranty.

OK, I'm going to duct now.

Let the Debate begin.

Chase

Where: The Great North American Tour
When:  01.02.03
How: RoadHaus - 1990 VW Westfalia Syncro
From: Mesa,  AZ