[Vwdiesel] Oil Light/Buzzer

[TexasTDI]

You're reading too much into my posts.  I'm well aware of the benefits of
multi-grade oils.  But, IMO, Xw-50 (be it 5w-50, 10w-50, 15w-50, or 20w-50)
is too thick for extreme cold temps.  I'd run a 5w-30, 0w-40 or 5w-40 year
round up there.

Chris Thornton
1991 VW Jetta GL 2 Door 1.6D - 234k miles
2000 VW Golf GLS 1.9TDI 130hp/229ftlbs - 76k miles
Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants Dealer #1098500
http://www.amsoil.com
http://texastdi.com/6/ubb.x

----- Original Message -----
From: "Drew MacPherson" <drew at scirocco.cs.uoguelph.ca>
To: "TexasTDI" <TexasVWdriver at hotmail.com>
Cc: <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 2:00 PM
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Oil Light/Buzzer


>
> I sincerely doubt that the buzzer is coming on when the engine is at
> operating temps in the wintertime because the oil is too thick - which
> seems to me what you were suggesting in your original response to Sandy's
> post.
>
> And although I'm not an expert on oils - I do understand the high
> viscosity number (the 50 in this case) defines how the oil flows at
> operating temp (100C I believe?) and the low number (5 in this case)
> defines how the oil flows at low temps (not sure the temp - is it 10C or
> 0C?)  This flow flexibility comes from polymers in the oil which react to
> the temperature of the oil (cold=short, hot=long.)
>
> The ambient temperature (extreme cold in this case) has little or no
> meaning as far as the HIGH number is concerned, because until the
> operating temperature is reached (or at least the temp. the rating is
> achieved at,) the oil will be performing at a lower viscosity - and
> where's the harm in that?  That's why you want a multi-weight oil in the
> first place.
>
> If an owners manual specifies 5W30 for cold weather operation and 20W50
> for hot weather operation, then what's wrong with running a 5W50 year
> round?  You get the cold viscocity to start the thing in the winter, and
> the hot viscocity you need to pump those hydraulic lifters, lubricate the
> turbo, and keep oil on all the bearing surfaces at operating temperature.
>
> Once upon a time we were discouraged from running conventional oils
> with extreme viscocity ranges (like 10W40 for example) because the
> polymers were very long and prone to breakdown.  I expect that the
> miracles of modern chemistry have changed all that with the myriad of
> wonderful synthetic and synthetic blended oils we have on the market
> today.
>
> Drew
>
> On Fri, 14 Feb 2003, TexasTDI wrote:
>
> > I read the post and I know my oils.  The "5" part means nothing when the
oil
> > reaches operating temps.  The "50" part is way too thick for extreme
cold
> > winters.
> >
> > Chris Thornton
> > 1991 VW Jetta GL 2 Door 1.6D - 234k miles
> > 2000 VW Golf GLS 1.9TDI 130hp/229ftlbs - 76k miles
> > Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants Dealer #1098500
> > http://www.amsoil.com
> > http://texastdi.com/6/ubb.x
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Drew MacPherson" <drew at scirocco.cs.uoguelph.ca>
> > To: "TexasTDI" <TexasVWdriver at hotmail.com>
> > Cc: "Sandy Cameron" <scameron at compmore.net>; <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
> > Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 8:08 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] Oil Light/Buzzer
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > If you re-read the post Sandy mentions he's running a multi-weight
5W50
> > > synthetic, which is a far cry from 50 weight (which would be axle
grease
> > > at the temps we've been seeing lately.)
> > >
> > > Sandy's pressure problems are likely stemming from the fact that the
5W
> > > oil is getting too thin at higher oil temp, resulting in a drop of oil
> > > pressure.
> > >
> > > Drew
> >
>