General Service time and Oil

[ryana89]

I feel like I may be asking obvious questions but Id rather get a 2nd (or 3rd!) opinion.

If your unaware, I recently purchased a 1992 VW GOLF MK2 imported from Africa to Australia brand new with a 2ltr engine. Currently has done 280,000k's

1. How often do you service your MK2's? I was told to service every 10,000km's by the previous owner of my car but I've been raised in a family that changes oil/oil filter religously every 5000km's. Every 10,000 just seems like a long time for an older engine, or am I underestimating VW reliability?

2. What is your choice of oil? The oil in the car atm is Magnatec 10W40 but I noticed the manual suggests around 15W50. The engine has had the head recon'd and uses no oil but I cant help but wonder if I should use somthing thicker. What brand of oil would you reccomend? Im leaning towards maybe Penrite (HPR 15?). I work at Supercheap so Im not to concerned about price if the oil can be sourced there, but I don't mind paying more to get the best possible oil elsewhere.

3. What brand oil filter do you prefer? Ryco will do the job but Id imagine some may prefer other brands (Mahle perhaps).

Any input welcome,
Im just trying to get and idea of what my car wants and when

Thanks

[VwJunkie]

Hi mate,

My manual also says you can use 20W50 whichy would be more suited to engines that have a bit more k's on the clock. In your case i would just stick with the 5,000km oil change and filter as this will keep your lifters quiet and since ive had mine and done it ever 5,000km it runs alot smoother!

Ive been using the magnatec and the mobil semi synthetic 10W40's, both very good oils although the magnatec tends to burn away a little faster...

Ive been using the ryco ones from supercheap, good enough if you gonna change them every 5,000km's...
Make sure you get a new sump plug washer too everytime as reusing the copper ones will make them leak...

Good luck mate

[ryana89]

Thanks mate

I can completly agree with you with the lifters statment as we once failed to change oil in a 626 for 7500km's (roadtrip) and one hydraulic lifter from then on was prone to always being 'tappety' on start up or when the engine was getting close to needing an oil change. Id deffinantly don't want that to happen.

Thanks

[Jarred]

Do not use ryco filters. Cheap filters, cheap results. Use an OEM filter. Mahle, hengst etc etc are all quality OEM filters. They wont set you back that much more than a ryco.

With the technology with todays oils, you really dont need to change them every 5000kms,( infact it's often a bit of a waste on newer engines.) Unless you're flogging the living day lights out of your engine (inc track work, racing, constant high rev use etc) there's no need to change it every ,5000km. With a quality oil and filter, 10Kkms won't be an issue. Also on the flip side, if you use your car for very short distances often, not giving the car a chance to warm up a bit, then you may want to change it earlier, but still, 10Kkms would be fine. If you can afford it, $50 for a new filter and oil is cheap insurance.

Previously I've used Mobil superHP 20w50 in older engines, with acceptable results, i've also used Penrite HPR will good results. Any quality will work. At that age of the engine, I'd look at using a 20w50.

Anyways, that's just how I do it.

re lifters: They're cheap and relatively easy to replace. If you car has a fully recondition head recently, these should have been replaced, and you shouldn't need to worry about them.

[ryana89]

Just did a few calculations on how far I drive the car
Most of my trips will be under 10 km
I will go hunting around for an oil and quality oil filter tomorrow.

Thanks