On 7/24/05, Doug in Calif <vanagon@astound.net> wrote:
> I am still in the "dino" oil camp and have read and listened to what
> everybody says about the great things about syn oils.
> I like running 20-50 dino oils in my rigs here in hot Calif, and  I dont
> believe in not changing oil regularly.
> Couple things to consider.
> The vanagon was not designed with bearing clearances to run on light weight
> syn oils.

Agreed, the Vanagon was not designed for ANY lightweight oils.

> The oil filtering system is not designed with syn oils in mind as new cars
> are today.

Synthetic oils (of the appropreate weight) ARE approved for use in
Vanagons, see your owners manual.

> The main failures to vanagon waterboxers is not typically hot oil related,
> its head gasket related.
> I have rebuilt several vw motors over the years including waterboxers and
> IMHO the oil in the vanagon
> is not getting hot enough to warrant the higher temp capabilities of syn,
> It a non-issue in a vanagon.
> However the low vis of syns IS.
> 
> Doug

Synthetic oil in 20W-50 is no thinner than 20W-50 conventional oil,
but it does maintain that viscosity range longer than conventional
oils.

But as far as oils, tires and engine choices, everybody has their own
opinion.  I go my way, and everybody else can go theirs!  :-)  I use
synthetic oil, 15W-50 or 20W-50 year round, Mann/Mahle oil filters and
change them every 5,000 miles - but that's me...

-- 
Don in Reidsville, NC
1986 Kawasaki Concours
1988 Vanagon GL (Sylvia)
"Why do they call it a fixed income, if mine is always broke?"