[Biturbos4] Mervel Mystery Oil

[Grant]

OK, while we're on everyone's favourite "beat the dead horse topic", 
I'll ask:

What's the opinion on the new Castrol Syntech with the structure that 
claims it coats the bearings so they are protected at startup?

Any comments on Syntech in general?

I've always run 5W-30 in my S4.  For the record, one of Audi's regional 
training techs does believe that the lighter weight oil protects faster 
at startup, and, if you dont plan to run it hot and hard (e.g.: most 
day to day driving), is better.  For the track, he suggests 10W30 or 
15W50.  The dump it if the weather's less than roasting.

Grant
On Dec 10, 2004, at 3:25 PM, John wrote:

> Keman wrote:
>> Let me be the first to say not to even put it into the trunk in the 
>> bag
>> from the store which you purchased it from.
>> I've certainly worked on cars enough over the years to be familiar 
>> with
>> crazy attempts to get more detergents into oil, ie: using ATF instead 
>> of
>> oil to break down all the varnish etc (Done that!) ... but at this 
>> point
>> what I've seen from the dudes at Mobil or Redline or Amsoil, there is 
>> no
>> need and at best it might cause problems.
>> Just my .02 ... if you want to spend more money on oil, use redline.
>> As far as the viscosity... since I know this topic will come up again,
>> 5W-30 in the winter, 10W-30 in the summer .. pure synthetic.
>> 15W-50 under very hard use / high heat conditions in any season.
>> I know Audi recommends 0W-30, I know some people put in 0W-40 and 
>> swear by
>> it. Myself, I've determined that is only for mileage. Not longevity.
>> Over the last 6 years the engine bearing tolorances have not changed 
>> one
>> bit, yet a late 90's 1.8T owners manual says in big bolt print "Use 
>> 5W-30
>> if all other grades are not available and do not drive the engine at 
>> high
>> speeds on this oil" ... they recommend 15W-50 for all temps down to 0
>> degrees F. Flip forward a couple of years and poof.. wow.. what's 
>> this.
>> 0W-30. No warning about using 5W-30 at all.
> 	[snip]
>
> As with any "snake oil", you have to ask what you are trying to fix... 
> ;-) 40 years ago when detergent oils and fuel additives were rare, 
> Marvel Mystery oil probably made sense. Today, if you are using qulity 
> oil and gasolines, they probably have plenty of cleaning additives. I 
> use Marvel Mystery oil for air tool lubricant and have on occasion 
> used it in the fuel tank to supplement oil mix on a *rotary* engine. I 
> would never get it anywhere near the fuel or oil system of my Audi.
>
> I agree with Keman on the alarming trend in oil viscosity. For example 
> a 1981 SAE oil chart listed the upper operating limit of 5W-30 at ~35° 
> F and 10W-30 at less than 90° F. 0W anything was unheard of.
>
> Our '01 A6 came with 0W-30 factory fill. What exactly is 0W? Does that 
> mean at cold start it's like having no oil at all? 8-0 Personally I 
> run 10W-30 Mobil 1 (instead of dino oil), partly because of Audi's 10K 
> mile oil change interval and that Mobil1 meets ACEA (Redline does 
> not). Fortunately our warranty services have been coming up on time, 
> not milage...
>
> Just to add to the confusion, :-/  from the Mobil1 site: "10W-30 5° F 
> to 59° F", but when you look at the spec, it says: "Mobil 1 10W-30 is 
> recommended for all types of modern vehicles, including 
> high-performance turbo-charged...exceeding the needs of 2001 & newer 
> gasoline cars". Who knows anymore... IMHO, modern oil specs are driven 
> more by the politics of things like CAFE specs, the factories could 
> care less if your engine goes more miles than the warranty.
>
> John
> _______________________________________________
> Biturbos4 mailing list
> Biturbos4 at www.audifans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/biturbos4
>