Hi Ian.... Did you get to fly the "Long White Cloud"? A search for "VW Engines mineral or synthetic oils" will produce plenty of reading material!
I have always regarded mineral oils as being better for older design engines with larger bearing clearances. Also less prone to leaks. regards Rob Rob Thompson 0429 493 828 On Mon, Mar 25, 2024 at 8:34 AM Ian Williams <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi all, > Really interesting. My experience with a semi synthetic oil was not that > good. Have used mineral oil as per Limbach info. We then used a semi > synthetic after 300 hrs of mineral. Well not good as the synthetic oil > removed a lot of carbon etc deposits from the engine and turned black after > less than 5 hrs. So I figure that if u use synthetic right from the start > all ok but switching mid life I don’t think is a wise move. However > synthetic will handle significantly higher temps than mineral which is a > plus. > Have just got back from a long trip south in our Dimona. ( Auckland to > Christchurch, Christchurch , nelson and back to Auckland). … New Zealand > of course. > Very pleased re performance of the little Dimona and increasingly > impressed with Wolf’s masterpiece. > Oil catch can working real well. Much less oil splatter > > Best regards > Ian Williams > ZK-GCB > Sent from my iPad > > On 25/03/2024, at 09:01, Kurt Redinbaugh <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Thank you Michael > I thought you were in southern Nevada for the winter and when I saw NY I > was wondering... > I am careful to add 2.5l of oil but I am never sure if I have completely > drained the crank case due to the 3 point attitude, as you point out. > I will consider using semi-synthetic oil. As you know our > summer temperatures are brutal and do not reflect our winter conditions. > Margaret and I still have hopes of visiting our friends in Georgetown Lake > and Olney MT. Maybe next time I won't be hospitalized with pneumonia the > day before departure. Let's hope. > Enjoy your winter > Kurt > > On Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 12:32 PM Michael Stockhill <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Thanks, Kurt, >> >> We summer in Polson, MT, wintering in Mesquite, NV. Six and six. Can't >> take Montana winters and more, and couldn't take a summer here. >> >> We found with aircraft engines that sit idle for extended periods of time >> that full synthetic oils tend to have lower retention on camshafts and >> other components. For that reason, I prefer to use a semi-synthetic >> automobile oil. Later Limbach data does have a graph for recommended >> viscosities varying with temperature. If you are getting lots of oil on >> the belly, iI wonder about overfilling. I suggest that next oil change, >> you add 2.5 liters, then score a mark on your dipstick as the full mark and >> never fill over that mark. The standard VW dipstick full mark is not >> accurate, due to the resting angle in 3 point configuration. Also, assure >> that crankcase ventilation is not compromised. >> >> I will post photos of my lift mechanism after we get back north. >> >> Michael >> >> On Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 11:57 AM Kurt Redinbaugh <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Michael >>> Apologies for the late response but life happens, as I'm sure you know. >>> I am currently waiting for the shop to receive two new tires and tubes >>> and then install them. They always complain about what a pain in the >>> patoot the Dimona landing gear is to work on. They are greedy bastards when >>> they bill me though... >>> Where in NY do you winter? I'm originally from Buffalo, am wearing my >>> BILLS sweatshirt looking at the snow in Reno, and thankful that I no longer >>> winter in Buffalo or anywhere near there! >>> I am very interested in any pictures you might take of the mechanism you >>> use to lift the landing gear for tire change or other maintenance. >>> While I have your attentionI have yet another question: what motor oil >>> do you use? I use Chevron Delo 400. After every 2 hours I have a big mess >>> under the belly. Delo is a CD (diesel) rated oil so I don't know if that >>> enters into the situation or not. >>> Enjoy your winter in NY >>> Kurt >>> >>> On Sun, Mar 17, 2024 at 2:21 PM Michael Stockhill <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> I agree on buying good tires. Aircraft Spruce. >>>> >>>> I built a cradle that embeds the saddle bolts in pads so I can lift the >>>> whole front end. The cradle is lifted on a Harbor Freight motorcycle lift >>>> and it is very stable. I am at NY winter home until May. I will try to >>>> remember to send photos at that time. >>>> >>>> Michael Stockhill >>>> >>>> On Sun, Mar 17, 2024, 12:47 PM Kurt Redinbaugh <[email protected]> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> I suffered a flat tire yesterday while taxiing back to my tie down >>>>> at the Reno Stead airfield. >>>>> My tires and associated tubes are 25+ years old so, other than the >>>>> extreme pain in the butt to move the airplane off the taxiway I guess I >>>>> can't complain, especially since this may have happened on the runway or >>>>> out on a dry lake far from help. >>>>> That being said I think it is time for new tire/tube combinations and >>>>> I am asking what recommendations there are for cost effective tires and >>>>> tubes. Note that we are at 5050 feet elevation while sitting on the ramp >>>>> so >>>>> the UV exposure is quite high. >>>>> I can not find the specified size in any of the information I have on >>>>> the Dimona as well as instructions on how to jack the airplane up in order >>>>> to change the tires. >>>>> As Always your help is appreciated. >>>>> Best >>>>> Kurt >>>>> >>>>
