<VV> Synthetic oil, hot starter and DOT 5

[hallgrenn at aol.com]

I have used only synthetic oil for at least 20 years now.  I also heard the leaky seals warning, but as a Corvair owner I knew all about leaky seals when my first Corvair passed the 50K mark.  My reasoning was that it was always best to protect the engine wear surfaces no matter how much seals leaked.  After I replaced my first set of push rod "O" rings with Viton ones I was never worried about leaky seals again.  For our older water pumpers and my Corvairs I have been using Mobil 1 "High Mileage" with its higher levels of zinc compound for years (and some Valvoline).  I just check the specs on line to see if the zinc compound level has dropped.  
In reference to hot starters I've learned to check the area around a slow starter to see if a leaky heater hose and/or engine shroud is cooking it.  The worn parts Chuck and Frank listed are even more likely to be a problem if engine hot air is blowing on them.
As far as DOT 5 brake fluid is concerned I have been using it for decades and I have only had a problem one time when I paid a Corvair shop to do brake work.  The pedal was spongy when I got it back, but after I bled it again myself being careful not to shake the bottle--air bubbles seem to take longer to disappear with DOT 5--I had a firm peddle.  If you don't drive frequently it's the only brake fluid I'd recommend.
Bob Hall
Message: 2Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2020 20:35:05 -0400
From: "Charles Sadek" <Chsadek at comcast.net>
To: "'Paul Fox'" <paulvair at yahoo.com>, <hugo at aruncoaches.co.uk>,
    <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Subject: Re: <VV> I'm thinking maybe the starter motor...
Message-ID: <011a01d66c52$9a6d49e0$cf47dda0$@net>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="UTF-8"

Add internal worn contacts in solenoid.. with heat, not as good a marginal contact.. They get a coating and worn areas - recall for those of you who used to rebuild them. Increased resistance, poor connectors external and internal. Poor connectivity.. 
Chuck S
Message: 4
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2020 22:08:50 -0400
From: FrankDuVal <corvairduval at cox.net>
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re: <VV> I'm thinking maybe the starter motor...
Message-ID: <31eb23cb-4244-6259-b2fa-a377597b594e at cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

Hugo:"But why - and indeed how - would a winding 'fail' when hot?"

Response: It is not a winding, but the bushings that change dimension 
when hot. They wore while cold, now the worn bushing is changing shape 
due to heat, and capturing the armature shaft at a different place than 
when new. Replace the bushings. And the brushes while you are in there.

Now, it could be a bad connection that increases resistance with heat 
also....? aka Chuck's solenoid contacts idea, but any connection in the 
starter might be the culprit. Heating of the connection should be 
obvious when it is taken apart.

Frank DuVal


Message: 5
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2020 22:20:20 -0400
From: FrankDuVal <corvairduval at cox.net>
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re: <VV> Old Oil
Message-ID: <f1c14ff9-3470-4db4-fbf1-64cdea25222c at cox.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

Mostly an "old wives tale".

Just like all new things, someone has an issue and blames it on the new 
product. Tells all his friends, due to the 9/1 complaint rule.* See 
issues with DOT 5 in vehicles. Usually just operator error in filling 
the fluid full of air bubbles from improper bleeding techniques. Or, 
"Don't use detergent oil in an old engine that ran non-detergent all its 
life". Usually an engine that was already worn out and now that it 
failed after detergent oil was put in it, must have been the oil's 
problem, not the already worn out parts!

Just use the same viscosity synthetic that you used in dino oil. If you 
use 0-20 in a worn engine, I would expect it to leak more....

The synthetics for tighter clearances are the 0-20, 0-30 etc oils.

*If you have great service form a company, you might tell one person. If 
you have a bad experience, you might tell 9 people!

Frank DuVal