What engine oil do you recommend ?

jjwebb123 · 3 Feb 2010, 5:58 pm

Hey all.
Just about to put the engine back in and thought would do oil change while we are at it what type of oil do you recommend,
What make and Grade?
Cheers

colonel mustard · 3 Feb 2010, 6:01 pm

run in or just replacement?>

trickysimon · 3 Feb 2010, 6:11 pm

Valvoline, you know what I mean.
Our whole family has used it for years with no issues.
Depending on the age of you engine:
10w30 on a new engine
20w50 on an engine getting a bit long in the tooth

jjwebb123 · 3 Feb 2010, 6:32 pm

just replacement,getting the old original oil out and putting new stuff in.

ian.mezz · 3 Feb 2010, 7:04 pm

jjwebb123 wrote:just replacement,getting the old original oil out and putting new stuff in.

thats good you should do it about every 2000miles

vassy66T1 · 3 Feb 2010, 7:06 pm

I use Penrite HPR30 on a couple of mine. Seems okay.

1303Steve · 3 Feb 2010, 11:21 pm

Hi

I use Nulon 15W 40 in our bug, Prado & Corolla, Nulon is a sponsor of the VW Nationals and one of the big wigs there drives a bug and is a Club VeeDub member.

I've done a factory tour of their facility in Moorebank in South Western Sydney, very impressed and its all Aussie made.

Steve

jsheppard64 · 4 Feb 2010, 2:23 am

Valvoline 20 50 it was $9.99 once so dad bought a few when it was on sale at supercheap or autobarn

71-BEETLE-SEDAN · 4 Feb 2010, 6:35 am

I use penrite 15w 40 but after sat and seen dave and steve rub nulon i think im gunna get nulon next time.

1303Steve · 4 Feb 2010, 7:48 am

Hi

It all depends on personal preferences, I don't think any of us have the resources to properly compare motor oils, just don't use no name oils from supermarkets.

I personally had oil use issues with Valvoline XLD in an old Passat TS, went back to the usual Mobil super drop and oil use ceased, a friend with a low ks 4.9 VL dunnydore had the same issues.

A friend had foaming issues with GTX during a track day in a 2180 bug, lost oil pressure, pulled the dipstick to check oil level and the oil foamed out of the dipstick tube like whipped cream.

Steve

matberry · 4 Feb 2010, 8:10 am

It's a big can o worms.....
I use Ace in customer engines, it's Aust. made and designed specifically for air cooled. Some of my hipo engines/customers prefer Brad Penn from the states. It has ZDDP which has been removed from most oils due to pollution and vehicle manufacture constraints. It's also recommended by many early Porsche specialists. I found my wbxr loves it.

I am strongly against many popular brands, some mentioned above.

Joel · 4 Feb 2010, 9:19 am

i generally use castrol GTX in the older well used vws and GTX3 in all my modern cars and the subi but i run my 1776 on pennzoil 10/30w mainly cos its a fresh new engine and didnt like GTX/GTX2

i think alot of the oils are much of a muchness but i refuse to use shell oils now after having dramas with engines running on it with oil related problems

Phil74Camper · 4 Feb 2010, 11:20 am

The Haynes VW manual recommends Castrol oils and greases for VWs, with the recommended oil being normal Castrol 20W-50 (not the GTX oils, which are a different formula).

For more discussion on VW oils, read here: http://www.vw-resource.com/engine_oil.html

Gixer41960 · 10 Feb 2010, 11:21 pm

Has anyone tried ULX-110??? I'm thinking about getting that for my car next time.

68AutoBug · 11 Feb 2010, 12:38 am

jjwebb123 wrote:Hey all.
Just about to put the engine back in and thought would do oil change while we are at it what type of oil do you recommend,
What make and Grade?
Cheers

I've always used Castrol GTX2 in My beetle since it was rebuilt in 1997..

had no dramas..

change it every 1000kms...

I clean inside the tappet covers and inside the sump so the new oil stays nice & clean longer...

always use an oil change gasket kit..

LEE

PS: I read all the oil labels etc... and still go back to GTX2..
I don't like using 30 or 40 multigrade or mono grade oils in My beetle.. I like xx/50 grade GTX2 CASTROL..

Maybe I'll make a change one day...

always used Castrol Magnatec in My Lancers for years...

VWCOOL · 11 Feb 2010, 8:54 am

68auto, 1000km? That's silly with a modern detergent oil. Have you ever had an oil analysis done?

68AutoBug · 11 Feb 2010, 2:21 pm

VWCOOL wrote:68auto, 1000km? That's silly with a modern detergent oil. Have you ever had an oil analysis done?

that's the problem...
the detergent oils keep cleaning things and You end up with very dirty oil...

I have always changed my Oil in My Lancers etc at 5000kms...
and they have proper oil filters....
and recommended changes or 15,000kms..
I'll do the same with My Suzuki Swift...

VW Brasil and Mexico had recommended oil changes at 3000 kms from memory??.. in 2003 etc..

I know it was a lot sooner than most people change the oil in beetle engines... especially in the USA....
they like the oil to last over there..... lol

LEE

Uber Kafer · 11 Feb 2010, 2:51 pm

actually, VWCool, your question is important, but not the way you think.

Having worked in an industry that had access to oil sample analysis for rotating industrial machines, there was a pretty interesting story floating around about tests performed on engine oils - but fresh oil. It seems that one of the oils that is advertised very heavily, most heavily, across Australia at least, was one of the worst performers.

Just anecdotal I admit..... but the point is - do your research, and just because the product name is on the side of a race car doesnt mean they use that product in that car for racing.

jjwebb123 · 11 Feb 2010, 4:00 pm

i end up using penrite HPR30,Thanks for your help.

68AutoBug · 11 Feb 2010, 4:55 pm

You know what i mean..... lol valvo..

I just hope that if I pay a premium price I am getting a premium oil.....

and if the specs on the oil bottle are SM or SH it actually means something...

I notice that the no name branded oils at supermarkets always have the older specs... CC instead of CF etc...

so are these the same or similar specs to the original oil used in VWs???

probably NOT as now all oils are detergent oils...

[there may be the odd special NON detergent oil>???]

LEE

68AutoBug · 11 Feb 2010, 8:29 pm

You could tell me anything about any brand of Oil...
but I'll still be using GTX2...

its a pick and choose thing...

then stick to it....

LEE

matberry · 11 Feb 2010, 9:11 pm

I think you need to be open to the fact these brand oils all come from similiar if not the same oil stock and are blended to the manufacturers spec's. As time goes on and new engines and government restrictions take place, these blends become further from what our engines require. I have had a client doing some comparisons for me on an engine I built, a 2165 100 rwhp dual 40 IDF streeter and going from Castrol Professional Magnatec to ACE 30, he saw an improvement of 3-5 psi at 750 idle and 15 psi at 3300-3500 rpm (60 psi @ 85-90* oil temp).

Good enough for me 🙂

ACE 30 or 40, designed for Air Cooled Engines. 👍

chippy · 11 Feb 2010, 9:43 pm

where do u get ace mat? cheers todd

matberry · 11 Feb 2010, 10:08 pm

There is a list of stockists around the country in the VWMA magazine, in the ACE oil ad. I am a distributer on the sunshine coast and would be happy to send you some if you wish. Ace 30 (20W-40) for good condition engines and Ace 40 (25W-50) for older engines or very hot conditions.

tar76 · 2 Mar 2010, 5:38 pm

I've been told that with aircooled motors you should use engine oil with a high zinc? I think that ace oil might have this?

matberry · 2 Mar 2010, 6:14 pm

Here (hopefully) is the spec sheet of the ACE oils, as you can see the zinc is listed, the spec relates to 1100ppm.

matberry · 2 Mar 2010, 6:16 pm

OK, maybe one of you techo dudes can make it appear without being a doc to click on....you know what I mean 🙂.

Bizarre · 2 Mar 2010, 6:55 pm

matberry · 2 Mar 2010, 7:06 pm

Thanks Barry

tar76 · 2 Mar 2010, 9:33 pm

That stuff sounds the goods!

chippy · 2 Mar 2010, 10:23 pm

have u got a workshop up there matt or whats the story ???? if I ever head up that way ( I should be up sometime soon)I drop in and get some oil of ya, and maybe pick ur brain some more ... lol
cheers Todd 😀

68AutoBug · 2 Mar 2010, 10:26 pm

trickysimon wrote:Valvoline, you know what I mean.
Our whole family has used it for years with no issues.
Depending on the age of you engine:
10w30 on a new engine
20w50 on an engine getting a bit long in the tooth

Hi Simon

I know its all a personal choice

but I personally wouldn't use /30 grade oil in anything...
[no pun intended]

I believe its too thin for our climate...

Ford in the USA used it a few years ago to get their new Cars under the fuel Miles Per Gallon as per the USA regulations
as the thinner oil gave better economy...

Castrol Magnatec 10w/40 is the lowest I would use..

LEE

GTX2 in My beetle... engine only done about 10,000kms.. in 10 years... lol car has been on the road for 5 years..

matberry · 2 Mar 2010, 10:29 pm

Yeah Todd, couldn't fight the passion any longer, low key, big shed, lots of dub's....you know the drill.
Feel free to give me a call, be great to catch up.

68AutoBug · 2 Mar 2010, 10:33 pm

Just read the spec sheet on ACE oils...

I see now they have ace 40 & 50... etc

reads good for air cooled engines...

How expensive is it???

I change My oil frequently...

LEE

Joel · 3 Mar 2010, 9:28 am

68AutoBug wrote:but I personally wouldn't use /30 grade oil in anything...
[no pun intended]

I believe its too thin for our climate...

Ford in the USA used it a few years ago to get their new Cars under the fuel Miles Per Gallon as per the USA regulations
as the thinner oil gave better economy...

Castrol Magnatec 10w/40 is the lowest I would use..

LEE

depends on the engine
most vw motors out there would need 20/50w for good oil pressure yea but a new fresh motor doesnt always

i only run my 1776 on 10/30

i've tried 20/50 in it for about 60kms and quickly dropped it, as it ran too higher oil pressure which caused the releife valve to bypass the oil cooler which made it run high oil temps

switchng to 10/30 fixed this prob
even at ambient temps of 30c its back to 20psi at idle at 90c and 45psi at 3000rpm

with 20/50w it was hitting nearly 100psi when cold

lucky i didnt blow my oil filter seal out

but it is a new german case and only done 4500kms since i put it together which probably helps

matberry · 3 Mar 2010, 9:34 pm

68AutoBug wrote:Just read the spec sheet on ACE oils...

I see now they have ace 40 & 50... etc

reads good for air cooled engines...

How expensive is it???

I change My oil frequently...

LEE

Yep reads well Lee.

Price....well it's not expensive, I'm not sure about posting prices as the price does depend on location and individual stockists pricing policy. I have sent tou a PM Lee and anyone else interested feel free to PM or call and I would be happy to tell....I am actually trying to reduce freight costs atm to further reduce the price.

chippy · 3 Mar 2010, 10:30 pm

swing me a PM matt ... Im curious to know what its worth ... cheers Todd😀