Service Related Questions

Just getting round to servicing our 1979 2.0L Type 4 engine for the trips this spring.

Question 1 - Which Oil, JK & VWH have Morris SAE30, is this ok bearing in mind we have the cartridge filter as well as the strainer? As its my first service I am gonna have new filter and strainer element and of course new gaskets & seals.

Question 2 - Tappets, our van has Hydraulic Tappets ( I think), do I adjust (gap) these? My knowledge of more modern engines is that Hydraulic tappets do not need adjusting, appreciate views from the Guru's on here.

Many Thanks

 

Hydraulic lifters don't need adjusting
Please don't start the oil debate,, lol

 

Cheers on the lifters.

On the oil, just want a stock answer, no hi performance stuff, just standard oil for a standard engine that is 30 odd years young

 

the oil is fine old mineral oil as recommended change at 3000 miles it's what vw recomended then and it's fine plus cheaper i use it and i'm type 4 too, as for filter cartridge one change everytime, some change the gauze one some leave it, i got advised to leave it but it was too late i've took it off, the plate was full of gunge, change the seals and refit but do not tighten to far it can strip the thread.

 

Ok if we are starting the oil thing...
I use 10/40 semi synthetic. It has better cooling properties than mineral oil and it's cheap. No need to change every 2 mins as it doesn't turn into treacle like mineral does. I have never had a problem with it. A lot of the data referred to by owners was published when the vehicles were built. There weren't the options on oil and I really cant see how mineral is any good for anything except the t1 engine which has no filter and the thick gloopy oil actually holds the crud.
Every one has their own opinion and it will be down to personal choice

 

Many thanks guys, suppose i need to make the call, I reckon I will go mineral and change regularly, only reason behind that is the engine (one assumes) has always run on that, dont know beacuse its only been mine a year...every 3000 isnt onerous seeing as we do about that a year...

 

seriously oil convo's are a can of worms, i asked the same when i joined, i made the call i use mineral i've just dropped it after 1100 miles (since may) it was dirty but good, i say dirty because i find modern oils in modern petrol cars stay clean a while, the oil looked like it had come out of a diesel it was quite dark, i'm putting mineral back in though as i say it does the job.

 

That isn't dirt in the oil Ricky its the oil starting to degrade and thicken, hence the short service interval.

 

whs^....mineral oil is old style ......long live the semi synth

 

Yep, but then I am a garage manager, lol
Not had a problem in the 4 years I had the bus and I have done some long trips on hot days.
When I get to work tomorrow I will go on the auto data and get the latest oil specs for type4 with hydraulic and manual tappetts and post them up

 

Ahhhhhh not the oil debate LOL

For what it's worth, I put Halfords 1980's oil (green stuff) supposedly designed for older cars. The oil seems fine, and oil pressure remains steady when stopping from high speeds unlike the morris oil, which frankly became way too thin!

 

who lit the the blue touch paper or the oily rag

 

15/40 mineral is good for hydraulic tappet T4 engines.

 

You know the moment when you wished you had never asked the question....interetsing debate though and thanks for the advice and discussion...

 

Cheers mate,

Box just came from JK with filter, oil and measuring jug lol, will see how well the oil stands up, thanks and to all for the advice, lest hope I made the right decision in what appears to be a minefield...