Club 80-90 Forums

Just bought a matching tyre for my spare (nice white stripe) and now when closing the spare wheel thingy it is very tight. I have the wheel the right way round, it appears to be pushing on the curved rods, i have forced it shut and seems okay.

Is this a common problem an/or could i cut the rods off?

PS Whats the best oil for my 1600 type 4 a/c ?

My van is a Syncro one and maybe the spare wheel carrier is different, but it closes well with a 185R14... is your tyre bigger?

Macflai wrote:My van is a Syncro one and maybe the spare wheel carrier is different, but it closes well with a 185R14... is your tyre bigger?

195 r14 75 Nankang, white stripe etc.

I think you'll find it needs to be tight to stop it bouncing around in the cellar. Mine has a standard size tyre but it is fairly tight.

snraem wrote:
PS Whats the best oil for my 1600 type 4 a/c ?

Your 1600cc CT a/c engine is not a Type 4 engine - it was originally used in the Type 1 Beetle & Type 2 : T2 Bay.

The 2.0l CU a/c engine used in late T2s & early T25s is the Type 4 engine. (was also known as 'The Suitcase Engine').

The VW Type 4 was the 411/412 series with a 1700cc/1800cc a/c engine.
It was manufactured from 1968-1975.


I would use Morris's SAE 30 monograde oil. (or similar). If you must use multigrade oil then use a SAE 15W/40.

Bowton Lad wrote:

snraem wrote:
PS Whats the best oil for my 1600 type 4 a/c ?

Your 1600cc CT a/c engine is not a Type 4 engine - it was originally used in the Type 1 Beetle & Type 2 : T2 Bay.

The 2.0l CU a/c engine used in late T2s & early T25s is the Type 4 engine. (was also known as 'The Suitcase Engine').

The VW Type 4 was the 411/412 series with a 1700cc/1800cc a/c engine.
It was manufactured from 1968-1975.


I would use Morris's SAE 30 monograde oil. (or similar). If you must use multigrade oil then use a SAE 15W/40.

So if i dont have a type 4 engine, what do i have it looks like a type 4?

snraem wrote:

Bowton Lad wrote:
Your 1600cc CT a/c engine is not a Type 4 engine - it was originally used in the Type 1 Beetle & Type 2 : T2 Bay.

So if i dont have a type 4 engine, what do i have it looks like a type 4?

As above: a 1.6 CT a/c engine ie. a Type 1 Beetle engine. (Was used in the GT Beetle, 1302S & 1303S Super Beetle & the 1303LS Karmann Cabriolet.

The Type 4 engine was 1700cc/1800cc/2,000cc over the years. Approx 1968-1983.

Your 1600cc CT a/c engine is not a Type 4 engine - it was originally used in the Type 1 Beetle & Type 2 : T2 Bay.

AND The CT was also fited to the Type2 T3 (T25) from factory (God knows why!) so long as you get the spare wheel carrier closed and you have a good number of threads holding it up it should be fine. VW Do a deeper spare wheel carrier which is still available but for silly money.

Hacksawbob wrote:

Your 1600cc CT a/c engine is not a Type 4 engine - it was originally used in the Type 1 Beetle & Type 2 : T2 Bay.

AND The CT was also fited to the Type2 T3 (T25) from factory. (

The key phrase in my post was: ''originally used in''. (ie: before the T25)

We know that the CT engine was used in the T25 because snraem's got one in his van.