Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2013 00:36:21 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: '87 Westy - Oil Change, out of hibernation
In-Reply-To: <3F9A4D48-AD28-43E1-BF2C-F4228ED7B796@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
0w-30 and 0w-40 are going to give noticeably different oil pressure results
when warm so to warn against all mobil1 products based on the one experience
with possibly the wrong viscosity choice is not good advice. Also you can’t
compare the viscosity requirements of the water boxer to the Subaru engines.
As for the factory recommendations with straight weight oils the limitations
actually become start up and warm up operation. A straight 40 will be too
thick to adequately flow and lubricate at low temperatures. Working on VW's
when multi-weight oils were just becoming available I recall many a blown
oil cooler on my parents bug or bus. When you look at those SAE ratings for
multi weight oils the lower number refers to the viscosity at 40C and the
upper is at 100C. So at operating temperature a *w-50 will have higher
viscosity then a straight 40. While *w-40 oil will normally work fine for
the water boxer, when the day comes that extended high speed or load pushes
oil temps above normal limits you will get a wakeup call from that oil
pressure warning buzzer even on a healthy engine. The *w-50 gives that
viscosity edge the water boxer needs. As for the Subaru engines they are
designed to run with thinner oils. Many newer cars now call for 5w-20 or
0w-20. As for ZDDP discussion Mobil 1, 15w-50 is higher ZDDP formulation.
Look at the product details on their web site. I run the Mobil 1, 0w-40
European formulae on my VW's, Audi A8, 600SEL. The Water boxers get the
15w-50 except for daily driver use in Winter where I go down to the 0w-40.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
OlRivrRat
Sent: Monday, March 11, 2013 5:52 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: '87 Westy - Oil Change, out of hibernation
Jeremy
Just to add some options or confusion to the answer to your
questions ~ this is from a couple of posts I made back in Nov'12 ~
I just reread the LubricationSpecs in the OwnersManuals of both my
83.5 & 90 Westys & in fact in the SingleWeight columns SAE50 is not even
mentioned ~ SAE40 is the recommended Oil for Temps from 70º on up off the
end of the chart. SAE **w-50 is indicated in the MultiGrade columns but
shares the Temp'Range with SAE **w-40. SAE10, 5w-30 &
5w-20 are even recommended under certain conditions. Certainly in an
OldEngine there might be a need to run SAE50 under some Temp'
conditions but I would let my OilPressure be my guide not necessarily a
manual that was written 22 - 29yrs ago. I would run nothing but 0w40 in my
H2OBoxr if Valvoline made it but the thinest they go is 5w40 so that works
for me. I know that Mobil1 comes in 0w40 but I just did an unscientific
3000mi test of Mob1 0w30 in my 90Westys EJ25 & experienced some goofy O'P's
so I won't ever use or recommend Mobil1 again.
In your research you should put Valvoline on your list ( I don't work
for them ~ Just like their stuff )
2 main points
1. Longer-Lasting Zinc/Phosphorus: Valvoline uses an advanced zinc/
phosphorus additive that keeps higher levels of phosphorus in the motor oil
where it protects the engine instead of poisoning the catalytic converter.
Valvoline is the only brand offering this unique additive across its entire
line of passenger car motor oils including SynPower -- the only synthetic
oil that offers this additive.
2. The anti-wear additive simply referred to as zinc by most car enthusiasts
is actually short for Zinc DialkylDithiophosphates or ZDDP. Its primary role
is to prevent metal-to-metal contact between engine parts by forming a
protective film. Despite being referred to as zinc, this additive actually
contains zinc and phosphorus, with phosphorus performing the anti-wear
function in the motor oil with zinc.
Links to & excerpts from
http://www.valvoline.com/faqs/motor-oil/full-synthetic-motor-oil/
15. How does Valvoline's SynPower formula protect against wear?
SynPower full synthetic motor oil is formulated with a balance of high
quality ingredients such as detergents, dispersants, antioxidants, friction
modifiers, anti-wear additives and premium base oils that work together to
provide exceptional protection against engine stress and wear.
Valvoline's proprietary formulation includes special anti-wear chemistry.
Valvoline's low impact ZDDP allows phosphorus in the anti- wear additive to
stay in the oil longer than other leading synthetic motor oils. Phosphorous
bonds to metal parts in the engine to form a "sacrificial" layer that helps
protect against friction and metal wear in the engine.
SynPower uses premium detergents and dispersants that protect against
deposits and sludge to keep engines clean. SynPower's premium full synthetic
base oils and additives hold up to extreme temperatures to provide increased
protection for your engine.
http://www.valvoline.com/faqs/motor-oil/racing-oil/
2. What is motor oil with zinc?
The anti-wear additive simply referred to as zinc by most car enthusiasts is
actually short for Zinc DialkylDithiophosphates or ZDDP. Its primary role is
to prevent metal-to-metal contact between engine parts by forming a
protective film. Despite being referred to as zinc, this additive actually
contains zinc and phosphorus, with phosphorus performing the anti-wear
function in the motor oil with zinc.
3. Why is it important to have the zinc/phosphorus levels in
motor oil
changed?
With ever increasing limits on emissions, automobile manufacturers have
tightened emission control systems on newer vehicles. This is one of several
factors considered when the American Petroleum Institute
(API) sets standards for motor oil with zinc. The current API standard is SM
which replaced the previous SL classification. Because phosphorus can poison
a vehicle's emission system, the level of zinc is lower for current motor
oil.
4. What is the controversy surrounding the amount of zinc in
motor oil?
Many hands-on car enthusiasts and engine experts believe the lower levels of
zinc in SM motor oil is causing excessive wear in older style push-rod and
flat-tappet engines. This is despite the fact that all new motor oil
classifications are intended to be backward compatible. This has resulted in
the widely accepted belief that modern motor oil is not adequate to protect
older engines.
5. What solutions does Valvoline offer to the zinc issue?
Valvoline offers two solutions to the zinc issue:
1. Valvoline VR1 Racing Oil: Contains 75% higher zinc than SM motor oil with
a balanced additive package designed to work in both racing and street-legal
applications. This product will protect older style push-rod and flat tappet
engines. Valvoline provides this product in both multi and mono viscosity
grades: 20w50, straight 50, 10w30, straight 30, straight 40, and straight
60.
2. Longer-Lasting Zinc/Phosphorus: Valvoline uses an advanced zinc/
phosphorus additive that keeps higher levels of phosphorus in the motor oil
where it protects the engine instead of poisoning the catalytic converter.
Valvoline is the only brand offering this unique additive across its entire
line of passenger car motor oils including SynPower -- the only synthetic
oil that offers this additive.
6. Which oil has more zinc/ZDDP: VR1 or "Not Street Legal" racing
oil?
Valvoline VR1 Racing Oil contains .13 percent of zinc and .12 percent of
phosphorus compared to the Valvoline "Not Street Legal" Racing Oil which
contains .14 percent of zinc and .13 percent of phosphorus.
ORR ~ DeanB
PS ~ as far as filters go ~ I use Wix ~ claimed by a lot of folks to be the
best ~ I get them from NAPA in the form of NAPA Gold ~ have used them on all
my cars for a lot of years with no complaints ~ there have been some times
that I have used the higher end Frams & have never had a problem with them
either.
On 11 Mar , 2013, at 2:17 PM, Jeremy Stovin wrote:
> Thanks again for the insight.
>
> You listed a variety of filters, but I did not get which one you
> personally like.
>
> Jeremy
>
