Agreed,
synthetics do hold a higher temp than dino oil.
and the Air / Oil cooled engines can run higher oil temps.
180 is optimum temp for oil in most vehicles like my Porsche.
That is where the factory designed the temp.
260 is hot but not outside the range of most dino oils capability.
The waterboxer has an oil cooler that runs the oil no hotter than the water temp.
Thereby allowing the radiator to cool the oil.

Doug

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David Brodbeck 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 5:48 AM
  Subject: Re: Mobil 1 oil change interval

  On Tue, 1 Jun 2004, TJ Hannink wrote:

  > > What exactly does a vanagon engine pushing around a 4000lb vehicle
  > > with the AC on 95% of the time run with respect to oil temp in
  > > degrees?
  >
  > Don't know, Vanagons didn't come with oil temperature gauges.

  I saw it get over 260F in my '75 aircooled bus, once.  (At which point I
  got scared and slowed down.)  I could see an argument for synthetic oil in
  an aircooled engine, especially when you consider the oil is running
  through those 350F cylinder heads.

  David Brodbeck, N8SRE
  '86 Volvo 240DL wagon
  '82 VW Vanagon Westfalia Diesel