very bad news -was cambelt/lifter noise

[<isham-research.freeserve.co.uk@pop.pol.net.uk>]

>> He also thinks that the oil I used could have played a big part
>> saying that the warranty on a 400bhp ford turbo engine costing over
>> GBP4000 was void if mobil 1 was used. This engine knock occurred only
>> several days after filling up with the coma synthetic 5w 40. Another
>> thing I noticed is that the oil was very thick and very black when I
>> drained it yesterday after only several hundred miles.

> There's nothing wrong with Comma oils - they're made by one of the major
> names and they're quite reputable.  They have a fairly high detergent
> content, so it's not surprising that the first change to them would
> bring out some crap.

On the subject of oils (and especially Mobil 1) I've written a piece
for the UK Newsletter:

          With a major engine rebuild or even a turbo
          swap running up into the GBP1000s, regular
          oil and filter changes are important.  The
          Technical Toolbox recommends an oil change
          every 5,000 miles or twelve months -
          whichever comes first.  But which oil?
          Mobil 1 seems to have become a fashion
          issue rather than a technical one - and
          many owners are actually driving around
          with the wrong oil in their cars.  Mobil 1
          is not just Mobil 1.

          On their web site you will find the following:

          Mobil 1 Series meet or surpass the
          following specifications:
           ...
          VW 501.01, 505.00 (Mobil 1 SAE 5W-50,
          15W-50)

          VW 500.00, 505.00 (Mobil 1 SAE 5W-30,
          5W-40)
          ...
          The 'VW' grades are referred to in your
          Audi Instruction Manual.  Note that Mobil 1
          0W30 and 0W40 are not listed.  We'll wait
          while you check the can in the garage!  In
          fact, finding Mobil 1 in the UK in a grade
          listed above can be difficult - the common
          variants here are thin oils designed for
          fuel economy in fleet cars.  Good oils, but
          not recommended by Mobil for VW 500.00 and
          505.00 applications.

          Just like designer clothes, fashionable
          oils have high prices.  The price is even
          higher if the can only contains four
          litres, not five.  Bizarrely, the Audi
          solution is the cheapest and best - VAG
          Synta Gold, a 5W-40 oil meeting VW 500.00.

          And you wouldn't believe who makes it.

--
 Phil Payne
 UK Audi quattro Owners Club
 Phone +44 7785 302803  Fax +44 870 0883933