[Vwdiesel] Oil Light/Buzzer

[Val Christian]

>     You still need oil heavy enough to provide lube when it gets heated up, and,
> after all, the engine is going to be every bit as hot in January at -20F as it
> is in July at 100F -- once it's up to operating temp, or at least if you've got
> the proper thermostat.

Actually, there IS a difference.  And it can be quite a bit.  Aircooled
engines may have an oil temp guage...but my VW diesels have not had one,
except as an aftermarket item.  At -20F, going 40 MPH, a typical temp
might be 100F or so, even AFTER warm up.  On that 100F day (we don't have
many here), a typical temp might be more like 300F or 350F.  More blowby
and other factors will change things.

Oil pans in the slipstream are good radiators, and contribute to cooler
oil temperatures.  From what I've noticed on temp guages, 400F appears to
be considered a redline on several engines.

Val