I run 15W-40 year-round in our fairly moderate climate with no flickering or
valve clatter.  Seems to keep all the motors happy.

On 10/4/07, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Conventional 20w-50 is good to the mid 20's. The Mobil 1 15w-50 or most
> equivalent synthetics will take you down to ~0. While it may be common for
> some to see the oil light flicker at idle, it is not good.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> jon
> Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 5:49 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Thoughts on running Mobil-1 Synthetic oil
>
> It's not uncommon to have a flickering oil light on idle, especially after
> a long, hot freeway run.
>
> Also, I'm not surprised Mobil 1 caused it. It really is not a problem if
> it only happens occasionally.
>
> I don't use Mobil 1 very ofter, but I was using some major brand
> non-synthetic 10-30W in my wife's 2.1 Westy during the beginning of
> summer. The light would flicker.
>
> I upped the viscosity by using a 20W-50 (or something close to that).
> Again, a major name brand dino oil. The light stopped flickering.
>
> So, I use heavier oils in the warm season, and lighter oils when it's
> cool.
>
> Jon
>
>
> On Tue, 2 Oct 2007, Joel Cort wrote:
>
> > Hi,
>
> I am running Mobil 1 15W50 full synthetic in my 2.1 89 Syncro Westy.
>
> I have  a VDO pressure gauge and monitor the damn thing all the time.
> I also have a recent Boston Bob rebuilt with about 8K miles on it.
>
> Occasionally even when it is in the 70s outside and the engine oil is not
> particularly hot (I have a VDO temp gauge as well) I will get that oil
> light to flicker at idle (1000RPM).  I know that the electric VDO sender
> is semi accurate but still.
>
> Before switching to Mobil-1 I ran Valvoline and Quacker 20W50 full
> Synthetic. I did not have any flickering issues.
>
> I will return to running Valvoline or Quacker synthetic.  I do not like
> the Mobil 1 because of the symptoms at low pressure idle regardless of the
> Zinc content.
>
> And yes I am running the MANN filter.  I also trust that the engine does
> not have bad bearings or bad oil pump or relief spring or any other faulty
> components.
>
> Cheers,
> Heading for Watkins Glen to race my van on the track.....
>
> Joel
> Empire State VW Camping Club.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Wesley Pegden <wes@CS.UCHICAGO.EDU>
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: Tuesday, October 2, 2007 7:06:50 PM
> Subject: (UPDATE) Re: Mobil 1 and SM rating...
>
>
> Just wanted to follow up on this:
> I just got off the phone with Mobil 1.  The technician I spoke with said
> that the 15w50 still had high levels of Zinc and Phosphorus, even with
> the SM rating.  So unless anybody hear knows otherwise, I'm going to
> assume it's okay...
>
> -Wes
>
>
>
> Wesley Pegden wrote:
> > I know the SM discussion was just had recently.  However, reading
> > through that discussion, it seems nobody mentioned this:
> >
> > The "reintroduced" 15w-50 Mobil 1 oil is SM rated.  It is not clear to
> > me whether it has enough of the anti-wear additives, after reading lots
> > of pages online of various tests of the oil.  Mobil-1's site has
> > generally cryptic answers, which I don't generally trust.
> >
> > I know there is plenty of dino oil with 20w50 or equivalent with no SM
> > rating and presumably the correct levels of Zinc, etc.  What about
> > synthetics?  Are there equivalent synthetics with known good levels of
> > additives?  (Castrol?)  Or does anyone have a good reason to think that
> > the Mobil 1 is still a good choice?
> >
> >
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________________________________
> __________
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>

--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/