Re: What's the correct viscosity for synthetic oil in a GLX

[Stewart MacLund <sundie@lunaticfringe.org>]

Question:  I've got just under 60000kilometres (37500 miles) on my '95 GLX.
It's been running normal oil since new.  I was wondering at going to synthetic,
but my VW dealer says there could be problems with a car that age.  My mechanic
(whos always treated me well) says that he doesn't think that's the case, and
that i should be able to go with something like the Mercedes authorized
synthetic oil with no problem.  (It's horribly expensive, but it's the only
synthetic okayed by Benz, which probably means it would be okay to use in my
lowly GLX :).

Anyway.  Wondering if anyone had yet another conflicting opinion...  Heh...


Sundie...

Dr Bob wrote:

> At 06:07 PM 11/3/98 -0500, you wrote:
> >I've been following every oil thread in the list for the past few months
> >and
> >have a few questions of my own ....
> >I own a Black GLX VR6 (all stock accept for the tinted lights and
> >headlight covers, which do make the car go faster !) and up here
> >in Canada you can expect the engine temperatures to run
> >205 - 240.   I've had one oil change already and had the dealer
> >put in the synthetic oil ... I've noticed a slight decrease in engine
> >temps, about 5 degrees.  I believe they used castrol 15w50 ... but
> >I'm wondering what would is the best synthetic oil viscosity for the
> >winter, can you run a 10w/30 synthetic oil in the winter, how long
> >should you (or can you) wait between oil changes .....
> >
> >Thanks ....
> >
> >Thomas Muller
> >Oakville, Ont - Canada
> >98' Black GLX VR6
> >No Mods
>
> Thomas,
>
> I have been using Castrol Syntex 5W-50 all year for the last 3 1/2 years in
> New York.
> This included 2 very cold winters a while back with no problems.  The upper
> cylinder head
> stays well lubed with Syntex. You really notice it in the winter when you
> get a lot of valve tap on cold winter mornings with regular oil, but not
> with the Syntex.
> I change filter and all every 3 months or 3500 miles. I know it can go
> longer on the Syntex
> but that's just the way I always treat my VW engines and in return I've
> gotten excellent
> performance and longivity with the engines.
>
> Bob