In a message dated 05/02/2007 6:07:40 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Is it  cold where you are?

Some may disagree, but I would only use 20-50 if I  were in a very warm
climate year-round.  The one time I used 20-50  here in Minnesota (in the
spring - cool temps), I got the oil pressure  alarm too, along with valve
noise. After warming up, things settled down.  Out came the 20-50 ; )::
10-30 seems to be the happy stuff for me. I store  the van in the winter.

Sorry to say that this is  mis-information your handing out.  All waterboxer
engines should be running  20w50 oil in all of North America.  Now I know some
of you get away running  10w30 in winter and are jut driving around town for
short drives but WHEN  you get out on the highway after a couple of hours
driving, the engine does not  know it's winter any longer.  The engine temperature
is kept about the same  year round by the THERMOSTAT.  So, the engine needs
to have 20w50 !   So, the problem becomes how to start the engine without doing
undue damage to  the bearings using 20w50 oil at cold start up in low
temperature  climates.  Well, there are a few solutions, block heater, heated garage,
 5w50 or 0w50 synthetic oil, start it up with your 10w30 then drain and put
in  the 20w50 before that long hard drive.    All other  scenarios are
prematurely wearing out your bearings.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains (_Collection
for  sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon  Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007