Is 10W-30 really obsolete?

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My 2010 John Deere lawn tractor recommends 10w30 as do many other engines. Maybe not the most recommended weight anymore but, certainly not obsolete.
 
If I were going out to buy oil it would be 5w30....but if I had some 10w30 in my stash (and I do), I wouldn't hesitate to use it in the warmer months.
A quality 10w30 will protect just as well as a 5w30 in warmer climates such as Florida, California, New York summer etc....IMO.

In other words, there is no reason to buy 10w30 over 5w30 today but if you have some 10w30...use it....
 
It might be a touch more shear resistant, but that was more true 20 years ago. Modern 5w30 has made 10w30 pretty much irrelevant.
 
Originally Posted By: lubedude13
Flow slower


Flow slower where ?

through a funnel under gravity at ambient temperature ?
 
Originally Posted By: exranger06
"Is 10w30 really obsolete?"

Answer: Yes.


Not really, the diesel world is switching over to 10w30 HDEO.
 
Originally Posted By: Eddie
My 2010 John Deere lawn tractor recommends 10w30 as do many other engines.

Sure, but would its longevity or performance be harmed by using a 0w-30, a 5w30, SAE 30, or a 15w40? Small engine manuals often haven't been updated for many, many, many years. Speaking of which, plenty call for SAE 30, which is obsolete.

To be fair, we're in the PCMO forum, and I think we're mainly addressing gasoline passenger vehicles, not garden tractors, diesels, or air compressors, all of which may call for a 10w30 of one sort or another.

One of the air compressors at one of my businesses calls for (at least on one page, another page contradicts it) M1 10w30, specifically. That's CATERHAM's favourite oil - a 10w30 synthetic.
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My portable generators call for 10w 30 for >32°f. So does my lawnmower but I add a few oz's of HD 30 to that since the oil seems to get a lot of fuel dilution.
 
I have 12 quarts of Maxlife Full Synthetic 10w30 on the shelf, when all my other oil is gone it will go in whatever I am driving. Even been thinking about mixing in a 1/2 qt. or so on the motorcycle which is using Maxlife 20w-50 blend, just to get it used up.
 
Well, I guess Merkava will have to clarify. I would have to say that there are few instances where you couldn't get away with something else. My air compressor has no business using a PCMO 10w30 (another page in the manual recommends a ND compressor oil). My lawn mower does fine with my 5w30 MaxLife leftovers, regardless of what the manual says. And 10w30 HDEO isn't the only lower viscosity HDEO option. There are 0w30 and 5w30 CJ-4 HDEOs.

In a diesel, though, the 10w30 (like a 15w40 conventional) likely would be the most economic option, as the 5w30 and 0w30 HDEOs are synthetics. For just about anything else, I wouldn't even bother with a 10w30.
 
I think 10w30 synthetic is obsolete.
10w30 dino isn't.
Haven't decided about 10w30 syn blends.
I run Valvoline VR1 10w30 in my '72 GMC and lawnmowers, and it works fine.
 
Originally Posted By: Garak
Well, I guess Merkava will have to clarify.


The 2000 Buick LeSabre owners manual specifies 10w30 above
0 degrees F, but 5w30 is okay for 61 degrees F and below.

The 2004 Buick LeSabre owners manual says 10w30 is okay
above 0 degrees F, but 5w30 is preferred for all temperatures.

Both cars have the same exact engine.
 
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