So where do you get name brand oil for $.99?  Also, since Dino oil is
refined and somewhat unpure, it does break down and leave contaminants
behind immediately.  I use the synthetics, changing oil and filter every
7,500 miles as recommended in the manual. This schedule offsets the cost and
inconvenience of frequent oil changes. I have yet to do any low end engine
repairs on my cars with this schedule and I have had a 79 Scirocco go over
300k.  Was sold still running.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Sullivan <ksull@MBARI.ORG>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Thursday, March 25, 1999 12:25 PM
Subject: Synthetic oil not worth it

>Hallelujah!  Somebody finally said it.   (thanks, David)
>
> As my mechanic has told me for the last 5 or so years,
> changing the oil often in a gasoline engine is the single best
> thing you can do to clean and prolong the life of it. Synthetics
>are superior, but if you're changing it and the filter out every 3,000
>miles, the dino stuff will never have a chance to break down unless
>you're continually driving in extreme conditions.
>
>He also says buying any name brand $.99 / qt. that meets
>all of the guv'ment requirements will work just fine.
>
>Kevin
>
>
>From: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
>
>
>>Here is my $0.02 worth on the subject:
>>
>>I think synthetic oil is great stuff and it is superior to dinosaur oil.
>>But, a lot of the manufactures tell you that you do not have to change it
>>as frequently as it doesn't break down as fast as dino oil.  The fact is
>>that synthetic still gets as dirty as dino so you have to change it as
>>frequently as dino oil in my opinion.  Personally I do not run synthetic
in
>>any of my 5 VWs as it is just too expensive to justify the small amount of
>>extra protection that I will get.  Chances are very good that your
>>wasserboxer will die from a non-oil related problem anyhow.  In the winter
>>when it is anywhere from -10 to -40 I use 10w40 and in the summer I use
>>20w50.  I use Castrol oil as they sponsor Volkswagen and Audi drivers in
>>their racing efforts.  I change my oil every 5000km and change the filter
>>at the same time.  Another thing to remember is there is no true Dino oil
>>anymore, all of them have Synthetic additives for extra protection.
>>