Reccomended Oil for engine and lumpy running

[SYNCRO]

On my last Major service the oil was replaced by 10W iso the recommended 15W or20W

The engine on start up now has a 1-2 sec top end rattle until the pressure comes to normal. I assume this is because 10W is thinner and it falls back to the sump quicker without holding onto various engine bits.

My question is will it have done any long term damage if I change it soonest??

Also its running lumpy on idle and seems to be hunting on cruising between 30-60mph. Its the first Major its had for about 6 years due to limited mileage from previous owner and had all filters and plugs replaced, although looking at the bill the points weren't touched.

Thanks in advance

Kev

[GTXTRA]

I stick with Synta tbh Kevin - and add this once a year to each of the cars - http://reviews.halfords.com/4028/268607/reviews.htm to get rid of any sticky hyraulic tappet noise on start up.

there is a non hydraulic tappet version too for anyone wondering re the pre 86 cars cars.

[ianaudia4]

Get Synta Silver from the dealers, it is what VW recommend for your car. Costs about £15 for 5 litres.

[Nate]

many garages bulk buy 10/40 semi synth, as it is what a large percentage of cars take. we've got a 7500 litre tank of it in our workshop! if you look in your handbook, it gives you a list of alternative oil grades, and what climates they can be used in, and i'm sure 10/30 or 10/40 is one of them. it just needs to meet vw spec 500.01 (i think, you'd better check in the handbook though) and as long as it does meet this, then it'll be fine.

asda and tesco seem to be having a bit of a price war on oils at the moment, and i've seen castrol magnatec in 10/40 semi synth for £6 for 4 litres, and the crazy longlife s!&t that her indoors' focus takes at £12 for 4 litres. even a motor factor or main agent trade account can't compete on price

[MikeH]

I've taken to buying Chevron 10/40 from Costco in a 20l drum - works out about £10 a gallon - for the cooking engines at least. If I'm buying Synta Silver I normally get it from vwspares.co.uk If you buy two or three cans at once it still counts as one carriage charge for the courier, so keeps the cost down.

http://www.vwspares.co.uk/quantum_oils.php

[SYNCRO]

Lumpy running traced to ignition system age related faults.

New Plugs (last replaced in 96)
New Plug Leads
New Distributor Cap
New Rotor arm

Runs like new again!!

[ianaudia4]

Glad to hear it is sorted and with no dramas.

[mark1gls]

New Plugs (last replaced in 96)

1996 I think they was due a change, I bet it feels like a differnet car! The Haynes manual does state change spark plugs every 12000 miles or 12 months which I think is possible a little to often, 24000 miles or 2 years is when I do mine and about the same for HT leads, rotor arm and dissy cap, on my daily drive Golf.

[Nate]

i'd have left them plugs in for another 3 years. "still running fine on 20 year old plugs" sounds good. or silly. not sure which