Hi, suggest you read this :- http://www.mobil.com/Australia-English/LCW/Audiences/Synthetic_V_Mineral.asp
It contains a good desription of various oil types. Modern oils, especially synthetic oils, can run much hotter than the oils that were originally around when the 1600/1800 beetle engines entered production, so I would not be worried if the oil was running 10 or even 20 degrees hot - as long as that is a stable condition. There is certainly nothing magical about the 200 degree mark. BTW most UK converted VW engines do not have oil coolers, and my oil temp on my old 1600 was a steady 180 without a cooler. Pete > This may not be right but I belive that single grade oils don't break > down, onl multi-grades. > There's nothing in single grades to break down. > Steve Bray
