In a message dated 97-11-08 15:37:29 EST, scruggs@mbay.net writes: << My understanding is that in Germany synthetics _must_ be used for all oil changes. >> Not true. Dino and synthetic are both available and there is no compulsory use of synthetic. Some manufacturers (Porsche comes to mind) factory-fill with synthetic, so a Porsche owner may fell "compelled" to continue using it.