You probably won't see any benefits to switching to a synthetic oil. The ticking noise is probably a stuck lifter, and goes away when the engine builds up sufficient oil pressure. Synthetic oils confer an advantage to engines which have closer tolerances and require uniform sizing of the oil molecules. The WBX is no such beast. Plus, if you've got oil leaking, the synthetic will almost certainly find that leak and run out faster than your previous oil.

If I were weathering a northern winter, I'd switch out the 20w50 for 10w30. Switch back out before summer next year. Brand doesn't matter so much, but I avoid the generics. When I had a WBX I usually used Castrol, but that's as much because that's what I could find in a 20w50 variety.

I definitely recommend starting and running (not just idling) the van regularly. Idling the van to operating temperature is better than nothing, but not nearly as good as driving it.

Jarrett Kupcinski

> On Oct 14, 2013, at 22:19, Eric Caron <ecaron1@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> 
> Hi Listers,
> 
>        I have about 140 K miles on my 1.9. Currently using Castrol 20/50.  I often don't start the van for weeks at a time and soon it will go into winter storage.  If I change the oil to Synthetic. Will that help with protecting the bus and perhaps prevent the engine ticking that happens when I don't start her for several weeks?
> 
> If I change is there a weight or brand I should use?  
> 
> Also, may be helpful to know that from June to October I added almost a quart of oil but only ran the bus for about 2,500 miles. She is not a daily driver.  Used for special trips from May to October and will run about 3,000 miles a year.
> 
> I live in Vermont so I may have to start her now and then in cold temperatures.
> 
> Suggestions greatly appreciated.
> 
> Eric Caron 
> 85 Westfalia GL Auto