Frank,
Your point is why I recommend the products that go to a 40 upper weight. This will carry those warm days and extended highway travels. During cold weather, the coolant and oil will generally stay at slightly lower temperatures. The 5w and 10w -30 can be a problem as the weather warms and extended high speed trips are made.

Dennis

----- Original Message -----
From: Frank Condelli
Date: Tuesday, February 6, 2007 6:47 am
Subject: Re: Oil Pressure Light and Alarm after oil change
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM

> 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
> (_Collectionfor sale_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
> Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
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>