Oil

[lennyhope]

Which Grade Motor Oil for 4 Cyl are you using? By default I have used 15w 40 Castrol GTX.

[Bruce M]

Did a quick google but I couldn't find a recent source to confirm the zinc content of GTX. Older links suggested 600ppm which isn't enough for that engine.

Look for an oil with 1200+ ppm of zddp.

[lennyhope]

Over my head....Doh!

[mycar]

Valvoline VR1 Racing has a decent zinc content and is a popular option here on DDk.

[Mr Pharmacist]

Have you tried some of that slightly brown looking slippy liquid stuff?

Sorry - thats the extent of my oil knowledge

[moggy]

Zinc is needed in oil to help hi-stress (for the oil) areas of the engine like the lubrication of the surface between the lifters and the cam. Most modern oils don't have Zinc in anymore, as I understand it this is to reduce polutants and the fact that cars don't have these high impact/friction surfaces like lifters anymore.

More reading here.

http://www.drivenracingoil.com/news/dro ... motor-oil/

So for us old-school guys with cams & lifters we should really put oil in our cars which has zinc in (like in da old days). I've used this in my race engines for many years

http://www.drivenracingoil.com/dro/dt50 ... w-112html/

and it has performed perfectly. A few years back my old race engine (that's now in the bug) I took the opportunity to strip it and check it out before I put it in the bug. After 5 years hard graft I thought it would be a good idea. The lifter and cam surfaces looked as good as new. It's a good oil that's proven it's worth to me that's for sure, I wouldn't put anything else in my motors

[lennyhope]

Have you tried some of that slightly brown looking slippy liquid stuff?

Sorry - thats the extent of my oil knowledge

Me too....for real. Can anyone direct me to what I'd buy from Halfords or Wigan Motor Factors etc?

[eitnurg]

Shell Rotella was recommended in years past for VWs, it's better at dealing with the extremes of temperature in aircooled engines. It has a high zinc content but apparently cats don't like it.

[jwhillracer]

Shell Rotella was recommended in years past for VWs, it's better at dealing with the extremes of temperature in aircooled engines. It has a high zinc content but apparently cats don't like it.

+1 - I have always used old-fashioned (but what was recommended in the day) HD30 oil in all of our air cooled engines, and never yet had a problem that was oil related.

JW

[karmann]

Been using the Valvoline VR1 for years, good quality oil with the right additives for these engine, not that expensive from Euro Car Parts.

[lennyhope]

So is Castrol GTX 15/40 no good...

[John_F]

Hi Lenny,

I ran my standard 2.0 engine on Castrol GTX with no problems. She was a bit smoky on the over-run when I first got her (she had been in storage for 10 years) & initially used a bit. However, this improved very quickly with use & in my last year of ownership, when I did about 1500 miles, I only had to top up by about 0.5 of a litre before the next oil change. When I sold it last year compression measurements were fine. Hope this helps. Also ran my '73 Beetle with a 1600 cc engine on GTX with no problems.