Re: synthetic oil

[T Berk <tberk@mindspring.com>]

Brian C Barrows wrote:
> 
> I am considering switching to synthetic oil for my Scirocco and 944.
> Most people say the switch is definately worth it, but every now and then
> I hear someone say that it isn't good to put synthetic in an engine that
> has been run along time with conventional oil because the synthetic can
> cause caked up grime that is stuck in the engine to come loose and clog
> stuff up.

OK, lets try this; You have been replacing the oil regular like? New oil
these days has detergents in it, you should not have all that much three
dimensional gunk in there. Some will be dislocated but what will get
plugged up? 


> The Scirocco has about 250K miles on it, and the oil has been changed
> very regularily for the past 100K that I have owned it, and the 944 has
> 85K and has been changed regularily, too.
> 
> Any thoughts?  And while we're at it, is it even putting the synthetic in
> such a high milage VW engine?
> 
> Thanks,
> B.

The conventional wisdom says: Don't put synth in an old engine because
it will dissolve old gunk and cause seals to leak. Well, time for new
seals I say. 

>From my own experience I put semi synth in a 84 GTI engine for a few
thousand miles before switching over to Mobil One 15-50  full synthetic.
Other than the valve cover (which leaked before during and after) I
haven't had any  problems. I'm at 145K and counting And am about to go
in to do clutch work and replace some of those seals just because things
are apart.

Go for it.

TBerk
btw- you can do a search in the VW water-cooled newsgroup for synthetic.
There is always a thread running.

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