[Vwdiesel] Cheap crap oil (fwd)

[Val Christian]

Forwarded message:
> > Cheap crap, shouldn't be in your diesel in the first place, oil will only add 
> > to the problem.
> 
> There is an interesting question here.  Has anyone seen peer reviewed 
> papers on the down side of store-brand or other "cheap crap" oil?
...
> -on an incremental dollar basis, spending an extra couple of dollars
> per oil change on a better filter, was better insurance than spent
> on an upgraded oil.
> 


Perhaps I should define my assumption of "cheap crap" oil.  In general,
oil sold at the lowest price per quart at a common store which is an outlet
for oil.  This could include: Advance Auto, Walmart, Kmart, Sears, Target,
and Autozone.  Typically, I find these oils at less than $1/quart US.

Usually these are storebranded oils.  Often they include Shell and Mobil
products, as well.  Shop the sales.  Buy by the case, and change often.

I've owned more than one high end engine without filters.  Generally
aircraft engines from the 60s and 70s came with screens for oil 
filtration.  An oil filter option cost more.  VW air cooled engines
seemed to also use screens.  

Oil filters help allot with sand, dirt and other contaminants.  Besides,
they do a better job at catching stuff to inpect at oil change time.

Cutting oil filters apart at change time is a good practice.  I've cut many
cans apart, and never seen a problem.  But if you do, you can act quickly.

Also the TDIs use cartridges, which don't need to be cut.

There's more on the TDI pages about alternate oil filtration  systems.
An even better thing, if you're running synthetics.  

Val