VW diesel (again)

[Tony Kimmell]

Hi all, it's me again...

It's time to change the oil in my diesel Rabbit, and I went with "Mobil Delvac 1300 Super" oil since it was the cheapest on the shelf at Wal-Mart (5.88 for a 4 qt. jug). Any comments on the quality of this oil?

How many miles should I go between chenges with this thing? This is the first time I've changed the oil, as I just bought the car a week ago.

Also, any input as to people's favorite brands of diesel oil would also be appreciated. I was looking at Castrol-RX diesel oil after I'd bought the delvac. How good is this stuff? I use Castrol GTX in my gas engines, and it has been very good.

Car is a 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit, 1.6L diesel, 134,000 miles.

Thanks for any info!

Tony Kimmell
Towanda, IL

 

[Bio-T]

Tony,
The Delvac 1300S is a top OTC oil. I think you made a good choice. Also Delo 400 and Pennzoil 15W40 are super OTC oils. I have seen the Delvac 1300 S as high as $12 in some Flying J's, so the Wal Mart price is super. Stick with this oil and don't look back, your engine is being fully protected by your choice of oils.

[ August 04, 2003, 05:02 PM: Message edited by: 59 Vetteman ]

 

[FowVay]

I also believe that you made a excellent choice. I personally use the Pennzoil Long life 15w40 in my Rabbit but I think the Delvac is a fantastic choice. If you read the labels of the Delvac and the Castrol RX you'll see that the Delvac meets the most modern standards (CI-4) where as the Castrol doesn't (CH-4).

As for drain intervals, I change my oil at 5,000 miles just to be on the safe side. My engine isn't the cleanest burning after 22 years so I thinks it's better to be safe than sorry with regard to drain interbal. I use a rather inexpensive STP filter (S-3569) from Autozone so the oil change is usually less than $10.

 

[Tony Kimmell]

Thanks fo the info. I went to Bumper To Bumper to get a Wix filter for it, but apparently that filter is not very common, so they had to order it... it also costs $8.00!!

I bought it anyway, because I use nothing but Wix on my stuff (I've cut open a few different brands and after seeing a Fram and an AC-Delco, I switched right away).

I use this car to deliver newspapers, which is alot of stop and go driving. I think 5,000 sounds good just to be safe, since it IS 19 years old, too...

Thanks,
Tony

 

[Sin City]

Tony, I think you made a good choice. If you don't know how often the previous owner changed the oil than I would not go more than 3,000 miles until your next oil change. For future oil changes you should be able go about 5,000 miles or up to six months between changes. This oil may be a little thick for winter use and it may be worth the trouble to see if you can find 10w30 Mobil Delvac in the Winter time. Also if you have not already done so I would suggest putting a new fuel filter on unless you are sure the filter on there now is OK.

 

[Tony Kimmell]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sin City:
Tony, I think you made a good choice. If you don't know how often the previous owner changed the oil than I would not go more than 3,000 miles until your next oil change. For future oil changes you should be able go about 5,000 miles or up to six months between changes. This oil may be a little thick for winter use and it may be worth the trouble to see if you can find 10w30 Mobil Delvac in the Winter time. Also if you have not already done so I would suggest putting a new fuel filter on unless you are sure the filter on there now is OK.

---

Yeah, I did manage to find a Wix fuel filter at Bumper To Bumper, so I installed that last night. I can notice a little increase in power, as the old one looked pretty well used.

The guy I got it from changed the oil regularly every 3000-4000 miles, as shown by the load of receipts left in the glove box. It did sit for about 3 months before I bought it, though. He said it died on him one day and he never could get it to start again. Must have been air or water in the fuel, because all I did was put a battery in it and it fired up after a little bit of cranking. There was alot of water and crud in the bottom of the old filter/separator when I took it off, so I'm guessing that was the cause...

I never have seen any diesel oil around here that was anything but 15w40. Other than the Mystik brand oil at Farm and Fleet, which comes in about any weight you could want. Any info, good/bad on Mystik oil?

Tony

 

[cryptokid]

hey running delvac oil is probably good enough. that oil is probably many times better than what your engine was designed for back in the day, so you should be fine