[Vwdiesel] RE: Vwdiesel Digest, Vol 6, Issue 31

[TexasTDI]

Of course a diesel engine will last 250k miles.  I've even seen diesel
engines last 500k miles with no rebuilds and using dino oil.

The main reason everyone should use synthetic oil is because it saves them
money.  It saves them money because it dramatically extends your oil drain
intervals.  And by extending your oil drain intervals, you will also reduce
the ever growing dependence on foreign oil.

60% of all the oil the U.S. used last year was foreign oil.

Christopher J. Thornton
1991 VW Jetta 2 Door 1.6 Diesel - 241k miles
2000 VW Golf 1.9 TDI (turbo diesel) - 99k miles
AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants Dealer #1098500
http://www.amsoil.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "greg rich" <greg4vwparts at hotmail.com>
To: <vwdiesel at vwfans.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2004 10:03 AM
Subject: [Vwdiesel] RE: Vwdiesel Digest, Vol 6, Issue 31


> I think one important point here that I can honestly comment on, any VW
> diesel would last too 200-250k miles with minimal maintenace and cheap
oil,
> but having an engine last too 500k miles without rebuilding is common with
> synthetics and careful monitoring.  I have owned about 12, many were
abused
> when I got them but still ran fine (all had over 200k). It is getting the
> engine to double that life that takes some special care and high quality
> lubes, especially when 5 months of the year have below freezing temps at
> night.
> My fathers 300 SD td Mercedes went 300k miles on regular oil with regular
> changes (5k intervals), then we fixed any leaks and went to synthetic, now
> we run 10k intervals with a filter inbetween, the car has never been
happier
> (now at 500k) and zero consumption/leaks. I have a harder time running my
> TDI that long cause the oil STINKS after 6-7k due to the EGR (and it is
shut
> down as much as the computer allows).
> I am not trying to stir up anyones anger, but I firmly believe if you want
> an engine to last (I mean LAST 500k+) you have to use the best (synthetic,
> group 4 diesel oil) especially in turbo applications and obviously take
good
> care of the car so the rest is still around as long as the engine!
> I would say most people are quite happy if their car passes 200k and then
no
> longer care about, it has paid for itself and is no longer reliable in
their
> view, I am the opposite, I find there is no reason a 500k VW is not
> reliable. I have never had any serious engine problems or failures in the
> ten years of VW diesels I have had, and over a million miles already
between
> the four drivers in the family and 12 cars. No headgaskets even.
> I have had to retire a couple due to rust (rusty when I got them, drove
them
> till the drivers seat fell out!) but I still used syn oil etc cause the
> engine lives on in another car... Now I kinda wished I had kept them, they
> are getting rare all of a sudden, no more cheap transportation!
> I do see Val's point about cost over lifetime, but what if the engine
never
> wore out? I also fo three times the distance he does between changes, much
> less oil use and it kinda pays for itself then (the syn price difference).
I
> have not installed any bypass oil filters yet, maybe this summer and then
I
> will really extend the drain intervals!
> Greg