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**UtNTEyODYxMEMxQjEy&emt=
> >>>> **de084a1a-1ea9-454d-8bff-**ac2049edb15b&slocale=en_US&**
> >>>> emailThumbnail=single<http://www.flipshare.com/login.aspx?nRecipient=N0I5MzFDMkItQzNGNy00RjVELUE4MDAtNjdFODNEOTREMjQy&nFrame=RDBBNUE5QkYtQTAwRS00N0Y3LThDNkMtM0UzNDU5OTZCOEQx&nMethod=ZW1haWw=&nMedia=ODkxRUM0NDYtQ0UyQi00ODk0LTkyNEUtNTEyODYxMEMxQjEy&emt=de084a1a-1ea9-454d-8bff-ac2049edb15b&slocale=en_US&emailThumbnail=single>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Todd
> >>>> '88 Westy
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>

--
David McNeely