I agree completely. If you want to spend the money, who am I to tell you not to? But realize that you are doing it for your own personal satisfaction, not to help your engine.

But please, stop telling me that I am ruining my engine by using dino. You do not need to be defensive about your syn purchasing decision.

 

I always buy the cheapest oil I can find and run it till it's black change and repeat.
I don't really care about the next guy.
However, when I buy a used vehicle I try to buy with good service records.
I never keep a vehicle more than 5 years because they're wore out.

 

If there's a Karma it'll have you buying a used vehicle from someone whose maintenance schedule is exactly like yours.

 

If you get a bad one, just trade it in.

 

The trick is to buy synthetic oils at dino oil prices...

 

I bet you're the kind of guy who sneaks a cup of coffee out of the machine at work before it's done brewing!! /jk

 

Some people obsess over looking for sales & clearance items. Then stock up.

There's always waiting for sales, coupons, & rebates. Then buying enough to wait it out until the next round of sales, coupons, and rebates.

Randomly looking at oil online, and you could get lucky. I've gotten good prices on Amazon, when I didn't need the oil. Bought it, because I would need it sooner or later.


But some people have a favorite brand, whatever that may be, and price is not an issue. They prioritize motor oil over other things less important. Look at all of the boutique brands. People believe the advertising. Drink enough of the Kool Aid, and advertising becomes science.

 

How long do you want to keep your vehicle ?
Thats what you need to be asking yourself.
Risk vs Reward,if its worth the risk then do the oil once a year,you may make it to 500K
but when its a sludge fest under the valve cover you will say crap,I lost..

Or you can be diligent change the oil often and even then **** happens but at least
you gave it your best shot .

 

Just spent over $100 to have the oil in my wife's Beetle changed. So I am not afraid of spending money when it is necessary. I just do not like spending money when it is not necessary.

BTW- Why over $100?

1. Stupid Beetle is about 3" off the ground;
2. Stupid Beetle has a plastic belly pan held on with six (yes 6) bolts, an excellent example of German over-engineering, so a lift or pit is really necessary;
3. VW has its own spec for oil, which no generics meet and few name brands sell, so $$$$$;
4. VW specifies full synthetic oil, so $$$$$;
5. Stupid Beetle takes 6 quarts of oil!!!!!;
6. Last time I took it to the dealer, the "factory trained technician" put the belly pan back on incorrectly and left off several of the bolts;
7. So I take the car to a buddy of mine's shop, who charges $100/hr for labor. He is a buddy, but also runs a business, so I do not begrudge him the money.

 

You could figure out a work-around. Use the spare tire jack that came with the vehicle, just to get it a few inches up, then finish jacking with a floor jack. You may be able to use ramps. Or you could build a set of home-made ramps with stacked 2X4's.

That's almost common with new cars. A little protection. Better aerodynamics for fuel economy. But I think you can do it, if need be.

VW 508 00

A real pain in the neck to find that particular specification. And it's not cheap. But luckily, Mobil 1 bottles a formulation which does meet the spec. Mobil 1™ ESP x2 0W-20 is about $10 per quart.

When I was a kid, my dad taught me never to buy European cars. Everything cost more. I would stay with the specification, and not try to save a little money with less expensive oil.

 

Did your dad teach you the importance of keeping your wife happy?

 

Stop defending stupid designs. Yes more cars have a bottom plate in the name of aerodynamics (It doesn't protect ***** , it's thin plastic), however the good ones have a little access door for the the drain plugs. For instance Subaru. The access door opens easily (no tools ) needed and sits over the plug.
I've worked on a beetle in the past and I thought it was absolute garbage. Electrical issues up the wazoo. no thanks.