What kind of oil do I use?

1086 Views 11 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Nathan98, Nov 25, 2001

Nathan98

Discussion Starter · Nov 23, 2001

I just bought a 1990 Cabriolet for my girlfriend but it has no manual. What weight of oil do they use? 10w30?
Any help would be greatly apppreciated...
Thanks!
-Nathan

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Re: What kind of oil do I use? (Nathan98)

in uk we get a very good deal from main agents on "quantum silver" semi-synthetic
try your agents for a price , you could be surprised !!!!
"vw standard 500-00 and 505-00" should be on container of any oil you use .
buy the best you can afford .
dipstick min to max is 1litre , so also buy a 1 litre container to store in the trunk for top-ups .

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WackyWabbitRacer

· #3 · Nov 24, 2001

Re: What kind of oil do I use? (ian c - U.K.)

I use SAE 20W-50 year round in the southeast in my street Wabbit. If your climate is colder in the winter (ie 40 F to 0 F), then SAE 10W-30 would be fine. I personally like 20W-50 as it offers a little more protection for spirited driving.
With a filter change, your car should take 4.7 US quarts of oil. Hope this helps, WWR.

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Lunitixx

· #4 · Nov 24, 2001

Re: What kind of oil do I use? (Nathan98)

I run 20-50 also.(year round)
I've heard that, if you own an older car, don't switch to synth oil because it will leak like a sieve. If you go through and replace all the seals and gaskets you should be fine with it. That's just what I've heard not personal experiance.

[Modified by Lunitixx, 8:07 PM 11-23-2001]

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scirocco16v

· #5 · Nov 24, 2001

Re: What kind of oil do I use? (Lunitixx)

from my reading and experience 15W40 is the one to get! Doesn't have to climb all the way to and floes better than 20W50. If you're too poor to get the 15W40 then get 10W40.

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blackflygti

· #6 · Nov 24, 2001

Re: What kind of oil do I use? (Nathan98)

I run Mobil 1 15w50 synthetic year round. If i'm using regular oil then it's 20w50 during the summer and 10w30 in the winter. I've never had a problem switching back and forth between regular and synthetic oil in the same engine.

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Nathan98

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 24, 2001

Re: What kind of oil do I use? (Lunitixx)

Thanks guys!

Also, I noticed the red LED light under the temp. guage starts flashing about 30 seconds after I start the car up... what does that mean? I've driven it aways with it flashing like that(I was already on my way before it started flashing) and the temp. needle stays within a normal range(not over half way). It hasn't always done this... I've driven it several hundred miles and the temp. guage light hasn't come on. It happened just recently.
I checked the oil and it has enough. Could this be due to the wrong oil? I do not know what kind is in there now. It gets down into the 40s(F) here in the morning and evenings sometimes. Cold engine and wrong oil = temp. guage goes wacky? Other ideas...? I really have no clue.
Thanks again guys!
-Nathan

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davela72

· #8 · Nov 24, 2001

Re: What kind of oil do I use? (Nathan98)

make sure you stick w/ VW or Mann oil filters. Don't be using that Fram crap.....

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Nathan98

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 24, 2001

Re: What kind of oil do I use? (Nathan98)

Hmm... I went out and started it up again. The temp. guage LED light starts flashing about 15-30 seconds after it's started... I left it running for about 15 minutes then looked under the hood. I noticed the anti-freeze level was below the min. marker... would that set off the flashing LED light under the thermostat?
What kind of anti-freeze do I add to a 1990 VW Cabriolet? I heard you are supposed to mix it with 1/2 anti-freeze and 1/2 water... is this true?
Thanks a ton!
-Nathan

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WackyWabbitRacer

· #10 · Nov 25, 2001

Re: What kind of oil do I use? (Nathan98)

If the temperature gauge is reading normal and the coolant light is flashing, it means that the coolant is low in the expansion tank.
The coolant temperature sender can also turn on the coolant light if the coolant in the engine exceeds a certain temp. However, in this case, the temp gauge will (or should) show a high reading.
VW recommends a coolant that is a mixture of water and phosphate-free anti-freeze containing ethylene glycol. The ration of water to anti-freeze mixture depends on the climate where you live. Normally on back of the anti-freeze jug, a table will be shown, giving the proper ratio of mixture for your winter conditions. Normally a mixture of 50/50 is good but the best advice is to look at the table on the jug or anti-freeze container and mix the ratio accordingly to the table.
Hope this helps, WWR. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

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mob my audi

· #11 · Nov 25, 2001

Re: What kind of oil do I use? (WackyWabbitRacer)

How am I supposed to know what kind of oil you use???
random act of gaining posts!

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Nathan98

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 25, 2001

Re: What kind of oil do I use? (WackyWabbitRacer)

Thanks! Yea after going out and looking at it I figured that it was probably the low coolant level setting off the light because the temp. guage was normal. I will probably have to go get it flushed and new put in... it looked brownish through the container. I couldn't get the cap off

Thanks a lot WWR!

-Nathan

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