Motor Oil

[shane436]

Just out of curiosity, what type of motor oil do you guys run in your air cooled, currently my car is running 20-50 Mobil 1 synthetic, but I cannot find it anywhere, so next weekend is oil change time and im wondering what is the next best bet?

Thanks
Shane.


 

[KOOL-AID MAN]

I usually run 10/30 in the winter 20/50 in the summer. just regular penzoil

[GMB]

I used to use 20/50 all the time. I now usw 15/40 shel rotella due to the great additives and it's lower viscosity when hot. I found that 20/50 could be too viscous when hot and may be bypassing the cooler and making our engines run hotter than they should. I noticed when using the 15/40w that the temps ran 20deg cooler and remained more stable at higher cruising speeds. I know some members here that run even thinner viscosity oils with good results for me it's one step at a time.
    My 2 cents worth.
         Gary.

[Billyisgr8]

I also used shell rotella but had lots in storage from awhile back, I'm out of it, and now the formula is different, so I'm looking at Brad penn, which is one of the better oils out there, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg for.

Alan is the oil guy here, he will set us all straight.....

Kevin

Here is a good read from the samba

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic...ic.php?t=220755

[BUSDADDY]

Aeroshell 15W40, it's a semi synthetic designed for aircooled engines.

[silas]

i've ran pennzoil 10w30 in all my acvws for the past 18 years with no problems.

i just recently switched to pennzoil 5w30 and i like it even more. i like the wee bit of added insurance during these extra cold winters.

imho, 20w50 is way to thick and should never be used. even a 15w40 is a little much for me.

 

[Bruce]

I used to use 20/50 all the time.

I used to use 20W-50.  It gives you higher pressure, and more is better, right?  I think that's what most people must think.  
Now I use 10W-30 in the summer, and any 0W-xx I can find for the winter.  The problem with an ACVW is that you can't get the oil temps up in the winter.  180

[surgerypending]

Bruce, Hans, Gary, and myself had a pretty interesting conversation after the Great Canadian about engine oils....interesting

[AlanU]

If you really want to determine what the best viscosity  is for your enigne  you should pull out the oil pressure sender.  Get the mechanical oil pressure guage and see what kind of PSI you get at 1000 rpm, 2000 rpm etc etc.

Try to achieve the 10psi per 1000rpm rule and your set!!!!

Over the years I've heard people having success with \"X brand\", \"X brand\" and \"X brand\".  Even if you buy 3 different brands of the same viscosity you may find 1 to be noisier than the other.  Just keep in mind that viscosity is a range so one brand of oil maybe at one  end of the scale (thicker or thinner) but still be within the parameters of the viscosity you purchased. So theres such a thing as thicker or thinner viscosity at operating temperature even if 2 oils are rated the same viscosity.

Too thick/high pressure does no good to your engine. On the other hand having too little is probably an indication of a tired engine.

5w30, 10w30 is probably an excellent range for most engines that are in good condition.

As far as lifter bore wear or pitting lifters thats a tough question. If your running stiff valve springs the sideload is much higher in the lifter bore. Having a rampier cam just elevates the stress.

OIL alone is not gonna save you from wear. Components used is also part of the recipe.

[VW 144th]

Im with Gary on this one, Shell Rotella synthetic. 15w40 is the way forward for me...
....J

[Trevor P]

I used to run 20W50 Castrol all the time in the past but last year switched to 15W40 Rotella. I found it was OK on days under 25 degrees C, but when it was above that temp the oil temperature got too hot for my liking. I was hitting 220+ after a highway run and then driving around the city. With the 20W50 it never went above 200-210 degrees F. However the differance in oil pressure was minimal

[josh]

mmmmmmmmmmm 25 degrees C, I miss summer.  

[jim martin]

alan has the correct idea.oil pressure and bearing clearances and usage is the way to deside.
when you build a motor for a certain application you know what oil you want to use already.
eg: all out drag race motor, i would want to keep friction to a min so i would be heading to a 0w range.and most likely a synthetic lubricant.with this i would not be running flat style lifters so needing high shear strength from a heavy based zinc oil would not be needed.also because of the light weight oil clearances would need to be tighter in order to keep oil pressure up.in this situation a huge oil pump is only a bandaid to keeping oil pressure up with light weight motor oil and large clearances.hopefully it makes sence.
back on topic .with a avg of say .003\" rod and main bearing clearance with about .018 rod side clearance without a extra cooler and lines a 26 mm pump will work fine useing 10-30 or 10-40.
motor oils i like are cheveron dello 400 and castrol  

[ScreamnStroker]

It's funny this post came up, i was going to start my own thread.. but since we are on the topic, what would be a good oil for a offroad engine.
An engine that is always running at hi RPM's driving up sand hills?
Rotella 15w40?

[silas]

i've ran pennzoil 10w30 in all my acvws for the past 18 years with no problems.

i just recently switched to pennzoil 5w30 and i like it even more. i like the wee bit of added insurance during these extra cold winters.

imho, 20w50 is way to thick and should never be used. even a 15w40 is a little much for me.

i'm going to add to my post that all of the engines i've had in my acvws have been stock displacement motors. no hi-po demons like some of the guys on here.

also, i've never had an oil temp or oil psi gauge in any of my cars.....but i've also never had the green oil light come on or ever had to deal with a dipstick that has been too hot to touch (or dealt with siezed cranks, overheating, etc).

so in my application, the oils mentioned above have worked well for me!!

also...and most importantly....no matter what oil you use....check it often (smell, feel & level) and change it often!! B)  

[neil68]

My two cents: I've been using Castrol Syntec 10W30 for several years now (after many years of dino Castrol 0W30 winter and 20W50 summer).  I am very happy with the Syntec...cams and lifters have looked good at teardown checks.  I believe Syntec is very high in zinc among other additives and the European rally racers seem to love it

[shane436]

Thanks all... im not by any means a mechanic... i just want to be safe with the oil that does go into the motor... thanks again

Shane.