Engine oil viscosity

lownslo Commited Dubber

64 posts · joined Aug 2007 · 2 Nov 2007, 9:36 am

#619262

So what weight oil do people recommended for an old 36hp coming into summer. I don't know what these things normally run as I've never dealt with beetles before.

cheers

57oval Officially Full-On Dubber

305 posts · joined Oct 2006 · 2 Nov 2007, 10:01 am

#619266

I use Castrol GTX 20w50 works well and cheap in my 36hp. It is even stated in the original owners manual.

lownslo Commited Dubber

64 posts · joined Aug 2007 · 2 Nov 2007, 10:05 am

#619267

Also How many liters are needed for the split case trans and the 36hp?

cheers

57oval Officially Full-On Dubber

305 posts · joined Oct 2006 · 2 Nov 2007, 10:23 am

#619271

2.5l in engine, approx 2-3l in split case gearbox normally, just fill untill it overflows out of side oil entry nutl

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 2 Nov 2007, 4:12 pm

#619316

yeah GTX or GTX2 in VWs is fine, change every 2000 miles with a filter screen clean and it'll be 'happy days' for ya

Pay your debts, CxxT

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 2 Nov 2007, 8:54 pm

#619371

Yes GTX or GTX2

but its better for your engine to change the oil more frequently...
1000 miles is much better as the oil gets very dirty..

and if you use GTX its not that expensive to change the oil..
make sure you take the drain plate OFF and clean the strainer inside..
Buy an oil change gasket kit for your engine
and replace the paper gaskets and the copper washers..
be careful doing the sump plate nuts up...

You need to check the tappets every second oil change too.. replace the gaskets in the covers too...
use grease on the tappet cover gaskets...

You will also need a manual or two on Your model..
the Australian manuals are on ebay all ther time..

cheers

Lee

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 2 Nov 2007, 10:03 pm

#619383

1000 miles is a bit 'keen' Lee, I do that in a week sometimes... just cruising!

Pay your debts, CxxT

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 3 Nov 2007, 2:15 pm

#619456

Well, originally, 3000 miles was recommended
and the oils are much better these days...
but with most of them being detergent oils so they do get very dirty very fast...

VW do Mexico recommended every 1000 kms with their beetles not so long ago...

Does anyone's engine oil NOT get dirty and black within a very short time???

I've just fixed My metric speedo for the 3rd time..
so I'll know just how many kms I do drive...
I have been guessing😂😂
when the speedo numbers stopped..

Lee

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- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 3 Nov 2007, 3:22 pm

#619462

Detergent oils means the engine stays cleaner - meaning the oil can stay in longer. The oil from my EFI Beetle is still kinda translucent at 2000 miles (3000+ km) and from my twin carb Beetle much the same so maybe Lee you need to look at your jetting etc as you might be running rich...?

edit: both the engines are spotless inside - the Cabrio's has 80,000+ miles on it

Pay your debts, CxxT

oval TOFU Bitte, ein Bit!

2,946 posts · joined Jul 2003 · 4 Nov 2007, 1:10 pm

#619543

If your oil looks dirty after a couple thousand kms, that means that the oil is doing it's job - it's cleaning out the engine's internals and suspending the crud in itself. If your oil is really clean after a few thousand kms, then there's probably more deposits on the internals, rather than the oil, which can be drained out. It also depends how good your piston's rings are. If you've got bad compression from the rings, the exhaust will contaminate the oil much quicker...

...and Robert's ya father's brother...