While you may not drive in the tropics, I am sure you drive in
temperatures over 70. At that point, add some extended high speed
operation and the 10w-40 may not be sufficient. With conventional oil, the
10w-40 also represents a wide range, relying on viscosity improvers to get
the rating often making for an un stable product. Back in the 80's GM and
Chrysler warned not to use it and would deny warranty claims for engine
failures caused by the breakdown of this stuff. Really not an issue today.

My opinion: The Vanagon engine needs higher viscosity oils due to it loose
tolerances; expanding cases and oil pump design. Under some conditions
there can also be a thermal run away of oil temperature so higher
viscosity is also a just in case benefit.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
David Kao
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 8:54 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: DOn't use SM rated oils Re: Flickering Oil Light 84 auto

--- VW Doka <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> VW has done all the research for you:
>
> http://www.vanagonparts.com/images/oil.jpg
>
>
> Everything else is unfounded opinion...
>
> Feel free to drive your Vanagon at 70mph with 5W-30 in it.  Boston Bob
would
> love the extra business...
>

Did I say I use 5W-30 anywhere in my posts? Unfounded opinion?

Yes VW has done the research. It recommends from 5W-20 all the way up to
20W-50
to cover from arctic to tropical climate regions. I figure I am not in the
arctic
nor in the tropical area so I choose 10W-40 right in the middle of VW
recommendations.
Why is this unfounded opinion?

Each time I go shopping for oil there is always plenty of 20W-50 left oil
in the shop.
Probably nobody but Vanagon owners buy them. The funny thing is there
aren't many
Vanagons around any more. Maybe the oil weight doesn't matter. They all
died.

David

David

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