Nox is due to a bad Cat, over advanced ignition timing, or excessive
combustion temps or pressures.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of gary hradek
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 3:32 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: california smog issues and synthetic oil

The reason I think that synthetic oil might help on
passing smog is the same reason for doing an oil
change before testing.   My vanagon has a bit of blow
by as in blowing past the rings into the combustion
chamber.  On the passat I clearly notice that the
synthetic has less odor than the dino oil.   I think
the burn point and the vapor pressure might somehow
affect the smog reading at least in the hydocarbon
count.   My real problem was with nox.  I am not sure
that synthetic oil would help with nox?
      gary
Date:    Mon, 2 May 2005 11:19:29 -0400
From:    tabe johnson <xtabe@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Interesting Synthetic Oil Study

There's no question this guy's car is different
from ours, but the trends are interesting.  If you
doubt the quality of synth oil, have a read.

http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/oil-life.html

--tabe

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Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca

------------------------------

Date:    Mon, 2 May 2005 10:30:42 -0500
From:    Warren Lail <wlail@OU.EDU>
Subject: Re: california smog issues and synthetic oil

Dennis Haynes wrote:

>>I don't think synthetic oil will be all that helpful
for passing
emissions but there is no doubt that it has benefits.
I have been doing
oil testing on my vehicles now for about a year and
there is no reason
not to go 7,500 miles between changes with a good
synthetic so unless
you are using a lot of oil that alone offsets the
cost. Mobil now
has"Extended Performance" oil they guarantee for
15,000 miles or 1
year.
I think that is pushing things. I did go 13,500 (1
year) in my Fox. My
wife's Audi reports indicate about 12k is the limit
for that engine
which now has 179k on it. 2 weeks ago there where 4
Vanagons here with
over 200k on the original engines, (including mine).
What did they have
in common? Mobil 1 15w-50. Fun Bus even has the
original head gaskets.

Dennis<<

Dennis,

I run Mobil 1 15-50 in my 88 Westy, but I change it
every 3500 miles.
I know that theoretically I can run it longer, but my
concern is not
oil breakdown, it is that the filter will be
overwhelmed.  I have been
told that oil filters reach their capacity under
normal conditions at
around 3500 miles.  During the summer I drive on dusty
roads quite a bit
and that also would put more strain on the filter, I
think.  Have you
taken filter life into account in your oil testing?

I run Mahle filters.

Thanks.

Warren Lail
88 Westy "Billy Bones"

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