Engine Oil

[slow-lane-Matt]

I hope someone can help... I realise there is no definitive answer - but could someone point me in the right direction.
(I guess this subject has been covered before - did a search on the forum and there are 1000's of posts about oil - so hard to find the right one).

Reading in my VW book it says ask the previous owner what oil they used - this is not an option for me

It also says you must not put detergent oil after non-detergent oil, but you can put non-detergent after detergent oil..
(Is there any way to test for detergent oil...?) - He recommends using detergent oil.

It also talks about synthetic oil, and advises against it as whatever oil used needs to be changed so often, so you pay more but don't get the longer life benefits....

He recommends "Mono-grade heavy duty api service Se-cc Military standard - 30sae" but I suspect if I ask for that at CAF they will laugh...

Is the answer to drain, flush install magnetic drain plug (I like the sound of them!), fill with good quality oil 30SAE non-synth/detergent oil - run a few miles, repeat..., I guess that would work - but is there an easier way. Are magnet sump plugs a standard part or is there a special bus one...

At the end of the day does it really make a difference ...!

Any advice gratefully received...(book used How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive), the official VW Manual is not much help as I guess oil has advanced over the last 40 years...

Also a bit off topic - where's the best place to buy points, plugs, fan belts - can standard modern parts be used from any supply shop - or are these all
specialised parts only available from the specialist mail order suppliers...

Thanks

...from http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/aug68bus.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[beef]

I can't help you with an answer, but what I can say is that the reason there are so many posts about oil is because nobody can ever agree. Good luck.

 

[Trikky2]

As technology moves on things change.

Improvements are made.

Old information becomes obsolete.

Cars and handbooks are not an exception.

 

[sjc]

in a stock engine i've always just gone for something cheap normallly supermarket own brand.
Its in there for such a short period of time i wouldn't waste a lot of money on posh oil. Sticking to regular oil changes is more important than putting the most recent gtitecmagnetflushmarketingployflashmakeyoufaster oil in.

 

[sparkywig]

Any oil is better than none.

 

[slow-lane-Matt]

Thanks for the suggestions - do I have to worry about replacing like for like, or can I just drain and replace with any SAE30...?

 

[sparkywig]

Any one you like, although personally I'd go with 10W-40W.

 

[K@rlos]

Any oil is better than none.

I agree! I had to fill a Volvo truck diff up once with 5w30 synthetic to get it back to the yard :lol:

 

[simo]

Was originally sae30, i use 20/50 but id make sure its a mineral oil, not a modern multi!
I think that it is what they were designed to use and its better for the cooling!

This is just my opinion - and i am no way responsible for any incoming flack :mrgreen:

 

[toffo24]

Hi I use 20 W 50 from Halfords in our 1776 , it’s been ok. Although in the winter although looking at some of my start up oil pressures which have been a little on the high side I would suggest it’s probably better to run a lighter oil something like 15W50.

Just make sure its mineral... not synthetic or semi synthetic as Air-cooled engines relies on the oil for cooling. Modern oils don’t cool the engine they just clean off the deposits.

I found this out when I first got our bus, filled it with Semi, it lasted on 15 mile trip before emptying its self over the back of the bus
Not good.

 

[r73]

Synthetic oil works fine. It will run up to about 180 degrees according to manufacturers. I wouldnt worry about it too much. What you want is an oil that maintains pressure when hot.

 

[toffo24]

Full Synthetic ....really.. That a 1st for me in a standard engine...wot are you running?

 

[r73]

Full Synthetic ....really.. That a 1st for me in a standard engine...wot are you running?

Semi in a 1600.

 

[Jimbly]

I started with SAE30 but the pressure dropped too much when it got hot so I switched to Halfords Classic 20W50 on a mate's recommendation and it's been spot on.

 

[Ryanmck1984]

20w 50 halfords oil is what I use and it's perfect.

 

[gman4175]

Any one you like, although personally I'd go with 10W-40W.

WHS. i run the same in mine & got no problems apart from keeping it in the engine.

 

[K@rlos]

I run SAE 30 in stock engines, in my new hi-po 2110 I'll use 10w40.

Karl

 

[Bay pride]

Just had the same issues as found the bus I bought had F-all oil in. :?
Was recommended sae30 from JK but wanted to use the thing and not wait for a delivery!
Read that 20/50 should be ok and Plumped for halfords 20/50 (comes in a posh can) and reading this thread I'm so glad I did!
It hasn't blown up yet either which is a bonus!!
Did quite a bit of research and everything said different, so I figure it doesn't matter as much as you might think. :?:

 

[jonboylaw]

Halfords classic 20W/50 is fine for stock. For my 1955cc stroker I am using 10W/40 as I run full flow filter and external cooler.




Sent from my GX64 SatCom phone using Tapatalk

 

[BARKING MARK]

I use morris sae 30 in my bus....for best results follow the makers instructions.....ive found that goes for most things in life