Jonce:
I'm a big believer in straight weight 40w oil (Shell, in my case). Unlike
multi vis oil which starts out as 10 weight and then has VI improver added,
straight weigh oil is that weight and the polymers won't break down over
time to becom a thinner oil. (That's how I understand it anyway!)
Synthetic is a somewhat different ballgame.
I usually run the 40w oil 9 months a year. Until the thing won't start in
the winter.. then pour in some MMO to thin it down, drive it to the shop and
change it. I've never seen a problem with this plan in the last 6 years. I
drive this thing spiritedly to say the least The speedo needle WILL reach
100. (but it has 195/75-14 tires, so it is only 90+!
I guarantee that at 500 miles what i drain out is very much more viscous
than 20-50!
Starting routine makes me drive slowly for about 1 mile, so that helps warm
up the oil.
Al Brase
87gl
82 diesel
80 westy
69 double cab
56 pickup

On Mon, 29 Aug 2005 08:10:00 -0400, Jonce Fancher <streetbugs@WHISPLLC.COM>
wrote:

>Hi all
>i need to change the oil in my 85 westi. ive run Marvel oil for while to
loosen up everything (ie lifters,valves mainly) so now it is time to adjust
the valves and put
>in fresh oil and filter. the oil i usually use is 20-50 but have heard of
sae 40. the motor is not new and the oil light did come on after freeway
flying before i put in
>Marvel oil. i would like to use a heavier/ thicker oil since i will have a
little marvel oil still in the case during the oil change. can anyone tell
me if a thicker oil is out
>there?? maybe used in diesels? i know hyploid oil 80-90 is thicker (Just
kidding). by the way the van is running on all cylinders has a little
hesitation when
>stepping on the gas and is a bit sluggish but i also know it was fully
loaded with camp gear and a family of 4 so im not supprised. thanks Jonce
>if there is an archive on this let me know and i will check it out.
>
>Jonce Fancher
>
>57 Single Cab
>66 Sunroof Bug
>66 Variant Squareback
>71 Sunroof Bus
>75 911S Sunroof
>84 Vanagon "Godfried"
>85 Vanagon Westi
>2003 10 Passenger Sprinter
>
>Fancher's Upholstery Inc. -  www.fanchers.com
>Not-A-VW Club- http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jaransont3/notavwclub/