Recent content by SandCastle

One explanation is that engines designed for 0w-16 operate at lower OIL temperature compared to those designed for higher viscosity oil. For example, at 188F the viscosity of 0W-16 is about 10 cSt -- the optimum value for most engines. Whereas a XW-30 oil reaches that viscosity at 212F. So at...

The Castrol Edge 5W-40 A3/B4 Euro oil still lacks the API SP rating, as do several other competing Euro formulations. Two of the several improvements of the API SP rating over the SN predecessor are 1) a reformulation to help protect against low speed pre-ignition (LSPI), and 2) a test for...

Originally Posted by BurntMusic Quote The 1.8L engine holds 6.7 quarts of oil I think you mean 5.7. I hope so at least. It's 5.7 quarts or 5.5 Liters (I like 5.5 liters because it's easier to measure if you buy oil in liters). Good results though. I'm nearing 10000 miles on my OCI with...

Since this is the first time you used mineral oil in 7 changes, you haven't established a pattern. It may well be that your engine has a problem that is causing the oil to become contaminated early (internal coolant leak, perhaps), and a change with ANY oil would improve the smoothness. Report...

Changed the oil early in Dec. 2018 with Castrol Edge 0W-40 and drove 10,000 miles in 9 months. My driving consists of an ordinary mix of short-tripping (between home and gym), commuting (14 miles each way) and highway driving (3 day-long trips). VW recommends a 10K OCI with a VW502 spec oil. I...

These are just flimsy attempts to charge more money for essentially the same product as before. The main difference will be the flashy label to create the impression of "new and improved"!

Sounds like you are confusing brightness (lumens) with appearance (temperature). I find 2700K too yellow and 4000-6000K too blue -- similar to traditional "cool white" incandescent tube bulbs. 3000K temperature is about right -- mostly white with a hint of yellow. Instead of getting the 1400...

Originally Posted by BeerCan Costco will not rotate tires that have a tread difference between front and rear tires is more than 2/32nds of an inch. This is policy at sam's club as well. It is because if they move tires with less tread onto drive wheels, it is considered a safety issue. They...

...to separate a fool from his money.

Originally Posted by Kjmack Sandcastle how has your Jetta been for you so far ? About average, although I still like the car at 68K miles. Had three repairs under warranty: cracked radio knob, failed main valve in transmission, failed electrical cable to transmission. The other day the backup...

Originally Posted by Kjmack Originally Posted by TiGeo My VW 1.8T runs around 210-225...seems v. normal. Really. I have 2 1.8ts and both of them never get over 195 ever . Even in our recent 90 degree days . My 2015 Jetta 1.8T also stays in the range 190-195F, even with air conditioning on at...

In the wintertime it takes up to 30 minutes for oil to reach normal operating temperature, even if the coolant reaches normal temp long before. As the oil is warming up the 0W-XX grades provide a substantial reduction in viscosity over the 10W-XX grades. Thus the viscosity reducing benefits of...

The lobes on the camshaft are obscured by the center section. Doesn't that complicate setting the clearance? On earlier generation Civics the position of the lobes was in plain view so that it was easy to determine which valves could be adjusted in the current orientation.

With oil temperatures exceeding 230F on a regular basis, it makes sense why the manufacturer recommended 20W-50. At these temps the 50 weight will flow like a 30 weight at 190F, and a synthetic will have longer life than dino. Synthetic 5W-40 would be a good choice.

Beware! The seller is hiding behind the fact that the car needs a battery. How convenient, for he has an excuse to not know of its problems. If he were serious (and had the confidence that the car was in good running order) he would replace the battery and get the thing running again. Then he...