I recently came by a 99 Buick LeSabre with the Series II 3800 V6. The oil filler cap says 10w-30. Right now my stash is comprised of 5w-30 oil. Will the engine not mind the change in the grade? I don't know anything about GM engines and their characteristics.
GM 3800's Tolerate 5w-30?
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Triple_Se7en
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That's one of the best engines GM ever produced. It will show good results on kerosene or malt liquor...lol
You should be fine using 5W-30. There's a chance it will prefer it.
You should be fine using 5W-30. There's a chance it will prefer it.
The only down side might be a little more oil usage at cold start.
Just use a good quality oil.
Just use a good quality oil.
My stash is Schaeffer's 7000. That ought to be good enough lol.
The 3.8 engines I've had never used oil (front drivers, anyway).
I've used 5W-30 in the winter, 10W-30 in the summer.
Newer 3.8s spec 5W-30 year round.
Engine is about bullet proof other wise.
Most of these engines can use the oversize filter PH 3980 or equivelant.
I've used 5W-30 in the winter, 10W-30 in the summer.
Newer 3.8s spec 5W-30 year round.
Engine is about bullet proof other wise.
Most of these engines can use the oversize filter PH 3980 or equivelant.
5w30 will serve you well
I have a 2000 3.8L SC and spec says 10W30. I was getting some clatter idling when engine hot and decided to try a mix of Amsoil 10W40 and Series 3000 5W30 for a slightly heavier viscosity. It worked, much quieter and same MPG and similar UOA. Uses about a quart in 7500 mile OCI
So, try the 5W30 and see if continues to run quiet if not go up
So, try the 5W30 and see if continues to run quiet if not go up
I run 5-30 all year long in my wifes 2000 Regal 3.8...60k miles on it..no oil usage what so ever...I do have a small intake gasket leak that's getting replaced tomorrow..600 bucks..thanks GM...
5-30 should be better, esp in cold weather.
Definitely should be better overall to use the 5w30.
My Mom's 99 Olds 88 has 5w-30 with one quart of 5w-20 in it for extra cold start protection. With 160K, there's practically no oil consumption and it runs super quiet and smooth.
I owned an 86 Cutlass Ciera with the 3.8 SFI. It always ran good and ran quiet, but leaked rather badly. Same with an ‘87 Olds Calais with the 3.0, except it didn’t leak. I believed I used 10W30 in both of those.
As I recall, the basic components of the Buick 3.8 (and 3.0) used in the 80s dated back at least a few decades prior to that. The newer varieties of the 3800 and 3300 may be different, but many from the 70s and 80s had issues with hot idle oil pressure (though I never noticed that with either of mine). Since the 5W30 oils available today shear much less than those from 20 years ago, today’s 5W30 oils would probably be fine in the later motors, and perhaps even the earlier ones.
As I recall, the basic components of the Buick 3.8 (and 3.0) used in the 80s dated back at least a few decades prior to that. The newer varieties of the 3800 and 3300 may be different, but many from the 70s and 80s had issues with hot idle oil pressure (though I never noticed that with either of mine). Since the 5W30 oils available today shear much less than those from 20 years ago, today’s 5W30 oils would probably be fine in the later motors, and perhaps even the earlier ones.
Shouldn't be a problem.
As Triple_Se7en said: the GM 3800 will give good results on anything that resembles motor oil.
I had a 1989 Olds. w/ 3800 and ran 10w-30 in the summer and 5w-30 in the winter, the car currently has 325,000 miles on it. There is no way I could run 10w-30 up here in the winter. I have heard cars start at -30 F with the rods knocking for the first minute or so, these cars probably had a 10w- in them.
As Triple_Se7en said: the GM 3800 will give good results on anything that resembles motor oil.
I had a 1989 Olds. w/ 3800 and ran 10w-30 in the summer and 5w-30 in the winter, the car currently has 325,000 miles on it. There is no way I could run 10w-30 up here in the winter. I have heard cars start at -30 F with the rods knocking for the first minute or so, these cars probably had a 10w- in them.
Absolutely you can use it. GM is now specing 5w30 for this engine in the newer model years. As others have previously stated, this engine is very reliable and easy on oil. A dino is all you will need.
Get a new 5w30 oil filler cap....or close your eyes when you pour it in......
I did oil changes for a friend of mine with a 3.8 powered Grand Prix. He ran Amsoil 5W-30 using 25,000 mile oci's, drove about 50,000 a year. His last change he had 27,000 on oil and EAo filter and he added 1.5 quarts of oil in that entire interval with just under 200,000 mi on the odometer. Only problems engine wise was with the world famous manifold gasket leak, but he got GM to go good for half, even at +/- 100k, IIRC.
Granted that was using synthetic but I think a dino would would be appropriate with the right oci , and especially the Schaeffer's.
Granted that was using synthetic but I think a dino would would be appropriate with the right oci , and especially the Schaeffer's.
I have this engine in my wife's 01 camaro. I put amsoil 0w-30 and Eao23 filter and change once a year, about 13000 for us.
This is the last formulation. Not the new sig. series.
This is the last formulation. Not the new sig. series.
Bump. Anybody else running 5W-30 in their 3800 ?
I never used 10w30 in any non modified Gen II 3800, always 5w30 even in the SC engine.
It works very well in these engines! If it doesn't use any oil on 10w30 it wont use any on 5w30.
It works very well in these engines! If it doesn't use any oil on 10w30 it wont use any on 5w30.
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Run the 10W30 year round in your 3800.
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