Oil change and de-gunk

[sparks03]

 Having run my Mk2 Gti valver for a couple of weeks now i'm absolutely amazed how tight a twenty year old motor feels.

 However having gone through all of the old documents that came with the vehicle, I've noticed that its done a total of 5,000 miles in the last four years and has a total of 80k on the clock. With that in mind I was considering draining the oil and flushing the engine through to get rid of any gunk build up in the bottom of the engine. However after researching the best means of doing so i've found plenty of opinions that recommend against using any formula to clean out the block and instead to opt for hi-clean oil such as Mobil 1 instead. Was considering high mileage Mobil 1 0-40w in any case but that would have gone into a cleaned out block.

 Anyone else heard of scare stories of flushing the engine out? Any recommendations for replacement oil?

[tony_ack]

Mobil 1 is fantastic stuff if the engine is using it at the moment and doesn't leak/burn oil. If you're going to Mobil 1 from a higher viscosity oil there's the risk that it may expose leaks that the usual 10w40 was to big to be pushed through. There's also the risk that some of the gunk may be preventing the leaks in the first place!

I had an 8v GTI on 180k which had been run on Mobil 1 and it felt like a new engine, but it had been run on it for 9 years. It's definitely worth the price, but it all comes down to the confidence that you have in the engine when you put it in for the first time (and how well you are equipped to fix any leaks that may occur!). Given the low mileage, I wouldn't expect any oil to seep through the valve seats or piston rings, but it's impossible to predict.

[sparks03]

Hi Tony

 thanks for the advice- just moved into a new-build and the Golf is the only car we have that can fit into the garage. Not a speck of any sort of fluid where its being parked so have pretty high confidence in the state of the seals on her. She's had a lot of recent engine mods carried out as the car was in the hands of a VW specialist until two years ago and engine-wise it looks pretty darn tidy in there (except for the lead from the battery to the alt!  )

 I intend to use the car frequently, including for runs down to my parent's in Cornwall so the mileage will start to build. Mobil looks like it may get the nod, don't think its too pricey at all considering the benefits it could bring.

[rob.043]

If this turns into a long thread, you may end up with a different opinion for every post when it comes to oil and flushing.... Heres mine;

I just use a cheap oil that meets the required quality standards, and change it regularly. No flush. If the engine is used propoerlly, ie not idling in traffic lots, and get run up through the revs often enough it should keep itself clean with clean oil in it (97 ron fuel may help too). Using a less expensive oil of the correct grarde means I can chage it twice as often for the same cost as an expensive oil. After all, its not a high output race engine, so it dosent need a super duper oil. The extra viscosity of the standard spec oil will be more and more benificial as the milage goes up too... If it aint broke (rag it till it is).

[Wayne]

Vw synta silver or gold is also a good choice.

[sparks03]

Thanks for the advice folks, i've done some reading up on the Sytna oils and think i'll probably opt for one of those purely because family, work etc means I don't have mega amounts of time to spend on the maintainance. I bought my GTi for the long term (that doesn't exclude some enthusiastic driving and the occasional 'press on'!)

 Looking forward to many long and happy years with the beast 

[Cory]

i use the cheap/change more often aproach. and mine runs good as gold