hi..
where are you getting information that says a conventional non-synthetic
engine oil is only good to 85 degrees F ambient ?

that makes zero sense..
as it's well over 85 F a LOT all over the US in the summer.

if you want to talk about 'oil temp' ..yes....
that's a limitation for sure ,
and synthetic oils stay healthy at higher temps than non-synthetics.
And a non-synthetic driven intelligently can be ok.

to be really on top of it , an oil temp gauge is a nice thing to have on
your rig.

personally ...
I probably would not put a full synthetic in an engine with that many miles
on it ..if it's the original engine, or bottom end at least.

in 83 it could be an air-cooled vanagon,
or it could be a 5 speed diesel vanagon  ..
and you probably have an 83   1.9 waterboxer.

Scott

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Torrella" <ttorrella4@COMCAST.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, December 03, 2011 10:16 AM
Subject: Synthetic Oil selection?

Questions: Is it ok to switch to synthetic oils in my 83 vanagon with
193,800 miles?  The multi-grade is only good to outside temps of 85*F, will
that be a problem to use in hotter climates?

On Dec 3, 2011, at 9:03 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

> While the Vanagon has flat tappets the concern really does not apply here.
> Compared to American V8s and especially racing engines our lifter faces
> and cam lobes are huge, the rockers are near 1 to 1 ratios and out valve
> springs are soft, with low lifts. We do not run at 9,000 rpm and out cams
> are almost submerged in the oil. In other words we do not generate the
> pressures while sliding the lobe across the lifter that these other
> engines do. Also, these additives can accumulate over time. Racing engines
> don’t have that concern since they are frequently torn down. Racing oil
> are not designed for long engine life, just maximum protection for a race
> period. I doubt there are many 250,000 mile race engines out there.
>
> BTW the Mobil 1, 15w-50 is a high ZDDP oil although nowhere near the Joe
> Gibbs product. They have also announced they will be bringing it back in 5
> quart jugs for Wal-Mart in response to customer demand.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Dave Mcneely
> Sent: Friday, December 02, 2011 10:41 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Vanagon engine noise - collapsed lifter?
>
> Scott, I know you have recommended high zinc oils before, but the
> recommendation confuses me.  The Vanagon has a catalytic converter.
> Modern  API oils are supposed to be backward compatible, so, we are up to
> what, grade M or N now?  But it is supposed to provide protection for any
> vehicle requiring earlier grades.  Is this manufacturer's mumbo-jumbo, or
> is it accurate?  If your recommendation really should be followed, then we
> are being told incorrectly by the manufacturers.  I would think that if a
> shop uses a high zinc oil and poisons a converter, then the shop is liable
> for replacement and may be subject to a fine for damaging pollution
> control systems.  But, what do I know?  Not much, maybe.   BTW, in the
> past you have recommended Shell Rotatella.  Is the Joe Gibbs oil better?
> In what way?  mcneely
>
> ---- Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> wrote:
>> I recommend Joe Gibbs Racing High Zinc Formulation 15W50 "Hot Rod' oil..
>> specifically formulated for flat tappet older type engines..
>> and with extra corrosion inhibitors for less modern type cars that sit
>> some between uses.
>>
>> For oil weight I go by how new/old the engine is ..
>> and time of year and ambient temps.
>>
>> I don't think that the brand itself is that big a factor ..
>> some, but not a major factor as long as you are getting a quality
>> product.
>>
>> modern API oils have less zinc to help protect catalytic converters on
>> more modern cars.
>> Many modern cars have roller cam followers for just that reason ..
>> for example the 99 Subaru SOHC 2.2 has roller cam followers, where
>> they had flat tappet type cam followers before that ...
>> Modern API oils are not the same oil formulation we used to get say 20
>> yrs ago.
>> But you can still get high zinc formulation oils like the one above.
>>
>> Joe Gibbs Racing ..
>> the site tells about it.
>>
>> Scott
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
>> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> Sent: Thursday, December 01, 2011 8:49 AM
>> Subject: Re: Vanagon engine noise - collapsed lifter?
>>
>>
>>> Interesting. My local VW Guru says the Mobil One synthetic in a
>>> 15W50 is the way to go. That is why I have used it for the last
>>> 10-12 years. He recommends the Castrol 20W50 if the Mobil One in 15W50
>>> is not available.
>>> And I confess - it has gotten difficult to find the Mobil One 15W50
>>> There is plenty of the other grades of Mobil One, but not the 15W50.
>>> Ironically - having three vans - I'm running three different oils.
>>> But my daily driver - which got a new engine in 2000 - after
>>> break-in has been running the Mobil One pretty much ever since. The
>>> other two - which don't see the heavy use of daily driving - use the
>>> brands that were being used when I got them. So - #1 van -'ol Red -
>>> '88GL runs Mobil One,
>>> #2 van - Gus - '88GL runs Kendall GT, and #3 van - a '91 Carat -
>>> runs who knows what. It's a project van and while it runs, it's
>>> parked as work progresses. Never have changed the oil. It was clean
>>> and clear when I got it. No idea what oil it is however. I did find
>>> some empty Castrol bottles in it though, when I got it.
>>>
>>> Just saying.
>>>
>>> John
>>>
>>> John Rodgers
>>> Clayartist and Moldmaker
>>> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
>>> Chelsea, AL
>>> Http://www.moldhaus.com
>>>
>>>
>>> On 12/1/2011 9:58 AM, Jim Felder wrote:
>>>> 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**UtNTEyODYxMEMxQ
>>>>>> jEy&emt=
>>>>>> **de084a1a-1ea9-454d-8bff-**ac2049edb15b&slocale=en_US&**
>>>>>> emailThumbnail=single<http://www.flipshare.com/login.aspx?nRecipi
>>>>>> ent=N0I5MzFDMkItQzNGNy00RjVELUE4MDAtNjdFODNEOTREMjQy&nFrame=RDBBN
>>>>>> UE5QkYtQTAwRS00N0Y3LThDNkMtM0UzNDU5OTZCOEQx&nMethod=ZW1haWw=&nMed
>>>>>> ia=ODkxRUM0NDYtQ0UyQi00ODk0LTkyNEUtNTEyODYxMEMxQjEy&emt=de084a1a-
>>>>>> 1ea9-454d-8bff-ac2049edb15b&slocale=en_US&emailThumbnail=single>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Todd
>>>>>> '88 Westy
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>
>
> --
> David McNeely