OILS

Out of interest, how many of you guys use a fully synthetic oil in your Beetles. We had the Mobil Engineer at work with us for the day testing or oil after some Dyno runs of this seasons race engines. During our lunch break I got talking to him about the Beetle engine and Oil.

He said it is a must to use a fully synthetic oil in the VW air cooled engines due to the temp. He said mineral oils no matter what additives are added cannot handle temps around 130 or above. He stated that really any oil temp over 130 would need a synthetic. I know Mobil 1 can handle 150-180 as we have put an engine through 2 hrs of dyno work with oil in that range and the oil tested ok after.

Yes hes Mobil but he gets nothing out of selling me Mobil 1 as they give it too us in 200 lt drums for free.

I've been using Mobil 1 in my race car (Beetle) engine for a couple of years without any problems. Oil temp. has been lower with this oil, although pressure is down a bit.

What would be really good would be one of those free 200 litre drums full of Mobil 1!!!!!!!

Cheers, Greg

I'll be using Mobil 1 fully synthetic in the notch but will run the engine in on "dyno" oil. That's dinosaur for short to describe mineral oils. 🥷 Apparently that is the best way to do it. Perhaps ACE 30 would be a good choice for initial break-in.
Synthetic definitely has a higher temperature rating before it starts to break down and lose lubricating properties, but if you have even one dodgy gasket then it will leak :-p

Hmmmmmm did they have fully synthetic oil in beetles back in 1950, 1960???? etc❓

id personally be worried about 130 degree oil temps....
ive never been over 115 and thats in a modified bug

1970? 1980? Umm...1990 maybe. If you were real keen

Vw Aust rallied these little buggers successfully for quite a few years and this was prior to the advent of fully synthetic oils,we use a semi synthetic oil successfully in our VW's and most other vehicles.The later vehicles are as per manufacturers specs.

I used to race on Mobil 1 (0W-40) with good results, but for a street engine I prefer a semi synthetic or mineral even. Mobil 1 is definately down on oil pressure and can leak like the proverbial.😠

ian.mezz wrote:Hmmmmmm did they have fully synthetic oil in beetles back in 1950, 1960???? etc❓

NO NO NO....

I remember when MOBIL ONE first came out years ago...

was after the 80's I think...

oil back then was usually just mineral oil...

they bought out detergent oil about 1963 ish...

before that oil stayed clean for a long time...

detergent oil wrecked a lot of old engines... cleaned them out ... no gum etc..

and deisel oil was a NO NO for petrol engines for a long time..
now they are all detergent oils...



LEE

I used to use Mobil 1in my first bugs. Obviously older formulations, but you could tell the immediate difference when you swapped from another oil. The engine just ran better. The only reason I don't use it at the moment is cost. One of thes days when I build a new engine, it will have Mobil 1 coursing through its veins.

Now, if i could get hold of one of those 200l drums for free, there would be no question, I'd fill all my cars with the stuff!

Nothing better in my opinion.

68AutoBug wrote:

ian.mezz wrote:Hmmmmmm did they have fully synthetic oil in beetles back in 1950, 1960???? etc❓

NO NO NO....

I remember when MOBIL ONE first came out years ago...

was after the 80's I think...

oil back then was usually just mineral oil...

they bought out detergent oil about 1963 ish...

before that oil stayed clean for a long time...

detergent oil wrecked a lot of old engines... cleaned them out ... no gum etc..

and deisel oil was a NO NO for petrol engines for a long time..
now they are all detergent oils...



LEE

When I raced a Vee - around 40 years ago - I used Shell Rotella SAE 20, a diesel engine oil. Had virtually no oil pressure below 2000 RPM, however the engine went for almost 2 years without a problem.Before it is suggested otherwise, the car was driven hard - mostly near the front of the field, with a lap record or two.

The oil was changed after practice, and after the races. It was always very black!

Cheers, Greg