if you are going to use a full synth then go...castrol 5-50... and use it
ALL year... if semi synth... go 15-50 for spring summer fall..... I just
changed out some 15-50 and could not believe how this stuff STICKS to every
thing, once it coats a surface, it leaves a film that will not release from
the other oil molecules... as it drains out, it turns into a stream smaller
than a hair, maintaining a connection with the engine until it hits the
bucket, then it releases...quite the lesson in surface tension.

----- Original Message -----
From: Steve Macaulay <smacaulay@INFINTIUM.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 1999 4:38 PM
Subject: Summer oil recommendation

> In my pre-vanagon life I let my local jiffy lube take care of things like
> oil changes.  After getting a westy and subscribing to this list, I find
> myself wanting to do most of the routine maintenance like oil changes
> myself.  The few times I've done this in the past, I've always used 10w-30
> oil.  Should I still use this, or should I switch to an oil better suited
> for the hot mid-Atlantic summers that we have in Virginia?  If so, what's
a
> good weight oil to use (15w-50, 20w-50, etc.)?  I'll be using a full
> synthetic oil and I will probably change it back to 10w-30 for the winter.
> I know this stuff is in my owner's manual, but the van (and the manual) is
> in the body shop getting repaired (previous post - vanagon 1 toyota 0)
from
> a hit-and-run.
>
> Thanks for your advice,
>
> Steve
>
> 89 Westy
>