Using heavier weight oil to decrease oil consumption?
I am getting a bit more oil consumption than I like. There are no leaks, no smoke fromthe exhaust, no wet spots on the bottom of the engine. It seems that it's less than 1L for every 1000kms (I think that's a quart per 600 miles).
From what I've read that's sort of normal consumption that some folks are getting. The car is a 2.5L V6 with 185,000kms (115,000 miles).
My mechanic recommended that I try to switch to a heavier grade oil for the summer to see if that improves (decreases) the oil consumption. So, I'm going to try 10W30 at the next oil change.
Did anyone else try to run 10w30 instead of the recommended 5w30?
What was/is your experience?
I am currently using 20W50 for 4 years now and it helps alot in the summer. Makes my engine sound quieter and with the heat, the heavy weight oil is perfect.
10w30 is what I've used for a long time in the summer, and it works much better than the 5w30. See how you make out with 10w30, that certainly will not hurt anything in the summer months (I would be tempted to switch back to 5w30 in winter depending on where you live, your engine will let you know on start if it's getting too cold!). Keep in mind with any heavier grade oil it will take longer to circulate around the engine on startup so if you use a super heavy grade or it gets too cold for 10w30 you'll be wearing out piston rings and the like and potentially making the oil problem worse (I seem to recall hearing that 90% of engine wear occurs on startup, particularly in winter when the oil takes a while to make its way around).
there's no difference between 5w30 and 10w30 at summer temps.
the W means "winter" viscosity... ie: the way the oil behaves at lower temps
they are both a 30 weight oil at operating temps.. so changing to 10w30 from 5w30 won't accomplish a damn thing, unless you're only burning oil at startup.
you can safely step up to a 40 or 50 weight oil for the warmer months.
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But I thought that 5w oils have some chemicals to make it easier to flow at startup. So, If oil is 10w, wouldn't it have less of those thinning chemicals and therefore have more weight?
Should I try 10w40 then? With my driving mileage that would almost take me to November for my next oil change - basically, just in time to switch to 5w30 for the winter.
the relation to 5w flowing easier at start up is because like goat said that is the number that applies to Winter= cold temp. likewise your engine is colder at start than at operating temp.
After your engine warms up the number before the W doenst mean anything.
yes 10w would have more 'weight' at cold temps only
Last edited by dibbles : 7-2-09 at 17:13.
Reason: typo
Yeah, 20W50 is the way to go. I am currently using 20W50 and it works perfectly fine with good fuel economy. 650 avg from a tank. And it should last you until november ish. I change my oil twice a year, 20W50 in the summer, 5W30 in the winter months.
Get some 10W-40 or 15W-40. Hell I used 20W-50 in my ZE when it was blowing smoke. Didn't hurt it one bit and it still got good fuel economy.
I agree
At my shop we use bulk 10w30, unless its diesel or synthetic. If your going to use a heavier grade use something like 15w40.
I don't know how you guys feel about oil stablizers but, we use them at work usually upon customer request.. mixed opinions on those I'm sure, alot of them are useless.
If i took my car to your shop and you put 10W30 in but all the books recommend something else... I'd slap you silly. As a shop you do it by the book or you will get burned with a huge repair bill or bad reputation.
Oil weights are recommended based on manufactures research to properly maintain an oil film thickness based on the clearances and oil pump.
Do to your own car as you see fit, don't do things wrong on other peoples cars with out them knowing.
Oil weight wont affect fuel economy much but it can wear out your bearings prematurely.
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If i took my car to your shop and you put 10W30 in but all the books recommend something else... I'd slap you silly. As a shop you do it by the book or you will get burned with a huge repair bill or bad reputation.
Oil weights are recommended based on manufactures research to properly maintain an oil film thickness based on the clearances and oil pump.
Do to your own car as you see fit, don't do things wrong on other peoples cars with out them knowing.
Oil weight wont affect fuel economy much but it can wear out your bearings prematurely.
We only use 5x30 on request, if you were to try to slap me silly, you can ask our lead mechanic if theres enuff differance between 5w30 and 10x30 to cause engine damage, he would most definitly say no.
Personally I would use recomended because I have acsess to all the oils, but i wouldnt agree, unless its the heart of the winter bro.
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