Esso XD-3 Problems?

[EloManga]

I just changed my oil and put this in. Last time I did this, about 2 weeks in, I started my car and it was screaming. I thought there was a problem with the engine, got it decarboned, and drained it out.
This time, my mech was saying that 0w30 is too thin and I would get valve train noise? The engine it's in is a 2.5L V6 Mazda.
I've put this oil, twice now in a 99' Altima with the 2.4L 4 cyl. and it hasn't had any problems. The engine runs at it's best with it in. My friend and I drove it to Florida, put 6000Km's, didn't lose a drop and it was still clean when we got back!
So, is it possible that it's just my engine or...? 5w30 is recommended for both engines, so I don't understand how 1 can use it and 1 experiences a problem.
From what I recall reading here on Bob, xd-3 was actually supposed to be thick for a 0w30?
Enlighten me, please!

 

[oilyriser]

screaming?

 

[jaj]

Originally Posted By: EloZE'PGT
I just changed my oil and put this in. Last time I did this, about 2 weeks in, I started my car and it was screaming. I thought there was a problem with the engine, got it decarboned, and drained it out.
This time, my mech was saying that 0w30 is too thin and I would get valve train noise? The engine it's in is a 2.5L V6 Mazda.
I've put this oil, twice now in a 99' Altima with the 2.4L 4 cyl. and it hasn't had any problems. The engine runs at it's best with it in. My friend and I drove it to Florida, put 6000Km's, didn't lose a drop and it was still clean when we got back!
So, is it possible that it's just my engine or...? 5w30 is recommended for both engines, so I don't understand how 1 can use it and 1 experiences a problem.
From what I recall reading here on Bob, xd-3 was actually supposed to be thick for a 0w30?
Enlighten me, please!


You can rely on your own experience driving to Florida with it. It sounds like it's working fine in your engine. As for the comments from your tech, the only number that counts is the "30" - don't worry about the "0w" - that just means its good for really cold starts like -20 Ontario degrees.

I don't get the "screaming" though - sounds like a slipping fan belt or something. Nothing to do with oil.

 

[Curious Kid]

Perhaps a little oil got on an accessory belt during the change/fill?

 

[Saab9-3]

been using XD3 0w30 in the winter for 2 years in my Saab 9-3 SE high output turbo, works great, and great UOA's. Like other have said, I would look at the belts.

 

[Max_Wander]

still don't know what you mean exactly by "screaming"

 

[Mokanic]

Originally Posted By: EloZE'PGT
I just changed my oil and put this in. Last time I did this, about 2 weeks in, I started my car and it was screaming. I thought there was a problem with the engine, got it decarboned, and drained it out.
This time, my mech was saying that 0w30 is too thin and I would get valve train noise? The engine it's in is a 2.5L V6 Mazda.
I've put this oil, twice now in a 99' Altima with the 2.4L 4 cyl. and it hasn't had any problems. The engine runs at it's best with it in. My friend and I drove it to Florida, put 6000Km's, didn't lose a drop and it was still clean when we got back!
So, is it possible that it's just my engine or...? 5w30 is recommended for both engines, so I don't understand how 1 can use it and 1 experiences a problem.
From what I recall reading here on Bob, xd-3 was actually supposed to be thick for a 0w30?
Enlighten me, please!


First, your mechanic is as most mechanics are:ignorant about how oil works. I was one of them for many years. Whatever the "screaming" noise was you can be sure that it wasn't the 0W30 that caused it. To me it sounds as if you have a bearing in an accessory drive belt tensioner or pulley thats acting up when cold. Sometimes a worn drive belt will scream when first started up. I think 0W30 is one of the best weight oils you can run in most cars&trucks that call for a 5W30 oil. Amsoil's 0W30,Casrtol's 0W30,as well as the XD-3 you used are all top-notch and have the UOAs to prove it.

 

[EloManga]

The "screaming" was definitely from the engine. It was like there wasn't any oil on the cams and the car was running (this is what it felt/sounded like). Definitely not a belt. My belts used to squeal on start up, but that was because they got worn in and didn't get re-tightened. They don't any more.
When I took my car to then get de-carboned, the tech had to warm up the car and he said the noise went away when it got warm. So, possibly when the oil is working as a 0 weight, it's too thin (for my engine anyway)?
Well, I hope that it was just a fluke thing and doesn't happen again, as from my experience with it in the Altima, we got almost 9000km's in the end with it. I'd like it to last for a while my self.

 

[Max_Wander]

It could have been your friction gears or your timing belt tensioner. Those make the KL sound pretty rough. Very lubricous oils tends to reduce the FRICTION that the friction gear needs to operate properly in taking up the backlash. Of course, "screaming" isn't really helpful to identify th enoise.

 

[Frank@Toronto]

Very Strange.

Sounds more like a defective oil filter.

 

[va3ux]

I can tell you this much : XD-3 0W30 is anything but thin ! It is way thicker than most 5W30 or 10W30 on the market when comparing the cst at 100 deg C (12.2 for XD-3 0W30). It's at the top end of 30 weight range, not too far from being a 40 weight at operating temp. Between about -15C and +40C, it's viscosity is *very* close to regular dino 5W30. So it is definitely NOT "too thin".

 

[paul246]

I'm using Esso XD-3 0W30 in my '99 Accord, 05 Echo and a '97 Escort with no problems. Have already had some very cold morning startups (without the block heaters plugged in) and they start just like it was summer (wish it was).

 

[allan5oh]

PGT, the "0" in the 0w30 doesn't mean it gets thin. It means that at cold temps, it doesn't thicken as much as a 5w30 or 10w30. However, it is still far too THICK! It just doesn't thicken as much as regular oil.

I suggest you read some AEHAAS writings, he knows his stuff and can explain it very well.