Dennis, I agree with you that when it comes to things automotive, most of what circulates among the general public is just folklore. In this case, the owners of a small garage--but one that sees thousands of VWs each year--passed along their observations or something that appeared in a tech bulletin or they heard from a service rep. I don't know, I was just passing it along myself. Not that it should be blindly followed, but since it comes from a better source than, say, the guy behind the counter at a FLAPS, or should be considered. 

Best,

Jim

On Dec 3, 2011, at 7:52 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> My point was this. There are many things posted about what oils to use and
> why but there is very little actual proof to back any of it up. Much common
> knowledge can be wrong. Have they ever seen an engine fail or even wear out
> from synthetic or any other oil fail to do its job? Was this confirmed by
> some type of laboratory analysis? Especially with current oil technologies.
> The oil failures I have seen are usually the oil was not there or used so
> long the oil sludge or carbon blocked the pump inlet screen and bearing
> passages. 
> 
> Dennis
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Jim Felder
> Sent: Friday, December 02, 2011 10:42 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Vanagon engine noise - collapsed lifter?
> 
> Dennis,
> 
> The shop where I came by that information (though not the only place, I
> thought it was common knowledge having read the same thing online from time
> to time when the discussion came up) has worked on thousands of VWs over the
> years.
> 
> Their 25 year experience with every type of VW, then, would be the basis,
> knowledge and understanding.
> 
> Jim
> 
> On Fri, Dec 2, 2011 at 1:24 AM, Dennis Haynes
> <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:
> 
>> By what basis, knowledge, understanding, whatever do they make that 
>> recommendation? Somehow with 254K on FUN BUS without even pulling the 
>> heads I think the Mobil 1 is proven along with 9 other customers over 
>> 200K with motors still running. Oil analysis has also shown no need to 
>> change more often than 7,500 miles.
>> 
>> Dennis
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On 
>> Behalf Of Jim Felder
>> Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2011 10:58 AM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Vanagon engine noise - collapsed lifter?
>> 
>> John and others FYI--
>> 
>> My local VW gurus recommend against synthetics in a Vanagon. Castrol 
>> 20W50 is recommended. In my experience, you are asking for a buzzer 
>> moment with anything thinner.
>> 
>> Jim
>> 
>> On Wed, Nov 30, 2011 at 9:04 PM, John Rodgers <inua@charter.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> Collapsed lifter syndrome. Not to worry. Drive it a bit and it will 
>>> pump up. A few that help to keep it from happening - Mann Oil 
>>> Filter, hi-grade synthetic oil like Mobil One in 15W50 wt. Add a 
>>> dash of Marvel's Mystery Oil. These steps will extend the time 
>>> between periods of lifter flatness. But - it will run great, no no 
>>> probs - until you park it wrong and then  it will go flat. Just 
>>> drive it, and it will pump up.  You will need to run it every two or 
>>> three days to keep them
>> pumped.
>>> 
>>> On an aside, good maintenance on your AC if you have it, is to run 
>>> it once a week, winter and summer - to keep the seals lubricated so 
>>> they don't dry out and lose the refrigerant.
>>> 
>>> John
>>> 
>>> John Rodgers
>>> Clayartist and Moldmaker
>>> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
>>> Chelsea, AL
>>> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 11/30/2011 12:22 PM, Todd Last wrote:
>>> 
>>>> My Vanagon has been sitting for awhile and upon starting, is making 
>>>> a noise and puffing out a fair amount of smoke.
>>>> Is this a collapsed lifter?
>>>> 
>>>> I made a short video here:
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> <http://www.flipshare.com/**login.aspx?nRecipient=**
>>>> N0I5MzFDMkItQzNGNy00RjVELUE4MD**AtNjdFODNEOTREMjQy&nFrame=**
>>>> RDBBNUE5QkYtQTAwRS00N0Y3LThDNk**MtM0UzNDU5OTZCOEQx&nMethod=**
>>>> ZW1haWw=&nMedia=**ODkxRUM0NDYtQ0UyQi00ODk0LTkyNE**UtNTEyODYxMEMxQjE
>>>> y&
>>>> emt=
>>>> **de084a1a-1ea9-454d-8bff-**ac2049edb15b&slocale=en_US&**
>>>> emailThumbnail=single<http://www.flipshare.com/login.aspx?nRecipien
>>>> t= 
>>>> N0I5MzFDMkItQzNGNy00RjVELUE4MDAtNjdFODNEOTREMjQy&nFrame=RDBBNUE5QkY
>>>> tQ 
>>>> TAwRS00N0Y3LThDNkMtM0UzNDU5OTZCOEQx&nMethod=ZW1haWw=&nMedia=ODkxRUM
>>>> 0N 
>>>> DYtQ0UyQi00ODk0LTkyNEUtNTEyODYxMEMxQjEy&emt=de084a1a-1ea9-454d-8bff
>>>> -a c2049edb15b&slocale=en_US&emailThumbnail=single>
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Todd
>>>> '88 Westy
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>> 
>> 
>