Oil Recommendation for a '74 VW

[Scooby214]

The old VW mechanics tell me I should run a straight 30 weight oil in my VW. I did so for years. I installed a full flow oil filter on the motor a few years ago, and decided to try out some Valvoline Synpower 10w30 in the motor. To me, the motor runs fine. Oil consumption hasn't changed, and my oil temp hasn't changed. I use Wix filters, and they seem to do well with this setup.

Am I okay running the 10w30, or should I use something else like 30 weight? This is in Oklahoma, and the car is driven less than 3,000 miles per year.

Thanks for any input!

Brian

 

[Chris142]

My dad put nearly 300k miles on 2 Beatles a 70 and a 74 running Pennzoil 10 W 40. We live in the desert and he commuted from the desert to Los Angeles weekly in those cars as well as summer vacation trips to Texas. He never did any work to them other than normal maintenance

 

[DB_Cooper]

10w30 should be fine. Really the better choice would be a HDEO with some strong ZDDP numbers. Try 15w40 this summer or better still 5w40. I use 5w40 Rotella T6 and it works well year round in a VW Vanagon and Porsche 911.

 

[sasilverbullet]

Originally Posted By: DB_Cooper
10w30 should be fine. Really the better choice would be a HDEO with some strong ZDDP numbers. Try 15w40 this summer or better still 5w40. I use 5w40 Rotella T6 and it works well year round in a VW Vanagon and Porsche 911.


+1

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: DB_Cooper
Really the better choice would be a HDEO with some strong ZDDP numbers.


Really how would that be better?

 

[RiceCake]

I see no issue running a quality 10W-30 in that engine. Most 10W-30's these days are rugged enough to even survive being tortured in air cooled lawnmowers calling for SAE30.

Just check for any consumption, thats about the worst that can happen. Diesel, HDEO, 10W-30 will have more zinc and other additives which may or may not be beneficial in an older engine like that; it depends on the type of lifters it has if it would need more ZDDP.

But 10W-30 vs SAE30? Go 10W-30.

 

[Scooby214]

Originally Posted By: DB_Cooper
10w30 should be fine. Really the better choice would be a HDEO with some strong ZDDP numbers. Try 15w40 this summer or better still 5w40. I use 5w40 Rotella T6 and it works well year round in a VW Vanagon and Porsche 911.

I actually considered going with T6 for my last change. I had the necessary 3 quarts of Synpower 10w30 on the shelf, so I decided to use them up first. Maybe I'll go for some T6 in my next change.

Is the T6 a better choice than the synthetic blend T5 for my car?

Brian

 

[Bandito440]

T6 for sure. Put it in everything.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: DB_Cooper
10w30 should be fine. Really the better choice would be a HDEO with some strong ZDDP numbers. Try 15w40 this summer or better still 5w40. I use 5w40 Rotella T6 and it works well year round in a VW Vanagon and Porsche 911.


Why?


Originally Posted By: dave1251

Really the better choice would be a HDEO with some strong ZDDP
Really how would that be better?


Exactly. Why does this small air cooled,basically low revving,soft springed lawn mower engine require elevated amounts of zddp?
Do tell. I learn something new here everyday and maybe this will add to what I've gleaned on bitog today.
Personally OP if it ain't broke don't fix it. Your engine has an ambient temp guide in the owners manual. I think in temp up to 0c 10w-30 is fine. Then as it gets warmer you work your way up to a straight grade 30. Then as temps break 75f you need to start looking at 10w-40 grades then in the neighbourhood of 90f you get into straight 40 grades and 20w-50 grades
These are just spitballing approximate temps. I suggest using google to find a vw manual to see for sure.
The 10w-30 you are using now is fine. Once ambient temps increase I would move up to an hdeo. I'm partial to rotella conventional 15w-40. It's cheap,durable,always stays in grade unless fuel dilution is just insane. If you hit 100f temps in the summer then it would be time to move to a 20w50.
But first and foremost find a manual online and see what vw recommends,then start making decisions.
I ride a Harley that happens to be 106 cubic inches,which is larger than yours if you have the 1600cc engine. Keeping this monster cool is quite an endeavour.
If you don't have an oil cooler I suggest either buying or building one from a small used radiator.
I have one on my Harley and I noticed immediately that top end noise was reduced because the oil would cool and thicken a bit,contributing to a slightly thicker oil film thereby reducing the top end chatter.
If you don't already have one an electric fan that you can switch on is handy in stop and go traffic when there is very little air moving to cool down the engine.
I've also found this stuff called MOS2. It can be found at napa. It's an oil supplement made by lubro-moly. In my Harley it contributed to lowering my engine temps by 20 degrees because of its friction reducing ability. I use it in every air compressor and generator we own,as well as every car,truck,van,lawn mower etc. anything that needs oil gets some mos2 in the sump. It helps fuel economy as well and with pay for itself in fuel savings alone in just a few tanks,as it always does for me.
I was just thinking big you installed an oil cooler,and an operator switchable fan in front of it to draw air through it you could effectively control oil temps and lessen the need for really thick oil and reap the benefits of using thinner oils such as better fuel economy and an engine that free revs easier.

Just spitballing here.

 

[donnyj08]

i would think a 10w40/15w40 HDEO would be best in the summer time. 10w30 in the winter. i got this info from doing a google search. it seems to be what other beetle guys are using