Is 10w40 is frowned on?

[The_Hamster]

I got a a bunch of 10w40 for cheap. ($2.25 liter) from a guy who is moving. It's 2012 manufacture qsad SN. I then recalled that 10w40 was frowned on at one point by at least GM due to shearing and break down. I was going to use it in my 5.3 Silverado. Option 2 is use it in small engines. Lawnmowers, some might not get changed out for several years at I put it in. Then I read Tecumseh specifically says no 10w40.

Is this all out of date information for a 2012 oil?

 

[nwjones18]

IMO you'd be fine to run it in your truck and mowers. May be a little heavy for Canada in the winter, but I doubt it will have any problems. My old F-150 loves it and I've used it in mowers when I had a lot of it to get rid of with no problems.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Nothing wrong with 10w40 except for the fact that it's somewhat heavy as far as oil weights go nowadays so very few cars call for it.

I assume your LS/LQ calls for 5w30, yes?

 

[old1]

I believe 10w-40 years ago was said to shear. BUT, I believe that was 20 or more years ago. As far as Tecumseh saying to NOT use it, again that was many years ago. I was to Tecumseh factory school, and they said that if it was used, that it would void the warranty, and they showed us how to determine that it had been used. But now I would not be afraid to use it as the oils are completely different than then.

 

[bullwinkle]

Old 10W40 was loaded with VIIs, which sheared & turned to sludge. If your 5.3 is out of warranty, & you don't push it too far (like 5000 miles/8000 KM or less), it shouldn't be a big deal, esp. in summer. I wouldn't use it in air cooled OPE due to the small sump & high oil temperatures would break it down faster.

 

[supton]

How many miles do you drive, and doing what?

I'd be tempted to use for the summer, particularly if I was doing towing or other "rough" stuff that might push me into short OCI's.

Is this one of the DI 5.3's or the older non-DI? Not sure it matters much.

 

[Noey]

Am I the only one who'd be queasy using oil from 2012?

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Originally Posted By: Noey
Am I the only one who'd be queasy using oil from 2012?

What would be wrong with it?

 

[Dyusik]

Yes

Originally Posted By: Noey
Am I the only one who'd be queasy using oil from 2012?

 

[The_Hamster]

5.3 is a 2005 gen III HO L33 engine. Yes calls for 5w30. It would be summer use. May-Sept or so. I think my olm usually gets to single digits about 8000kms anyway. I already put some in my Briggs and scrap 'em. It's not one season I'm worried about in a mower (mine) , it's those that might go several years with what I put in.

 

[FCD]

10w40 has a bad rep because of [censored] VII's that were used 40 years ago causing the oil to shear like crazy and cause sludge etc...

 

[4wheeldog]

Originally Posted By: Noey
Am I the only one who'd be queasy using oil from 2012?


Its elements are actually several million years old. Motor oil in a sealed container is a very stable substance.

Like Twinkies, the container is what would show deterioration, before the product inside.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: 4wheeldog
Originally Posted By: Noey
Am I the only one who'd be queasy using oil from 2012?


Its elements are actually several million years old. Motor oil in a sealed container is a very stable substance.

Like Twinkies, the container is what would show deterioration, before the product inside.


That's a logical fallacy. There are similar elements in other products that are not as shelf stable as motor oil. Modern motor oil is designed to be shelf stable-if you'd been around in the 1940s or 1950s you'd remember seeing motor oil that was a couple years old that had already started separating-oil that was made from the same "elements" as much of today's motor oil.

And on a side note, the shelf life of a Twinkie is about 45 days, and that's only because they're very highly processed and made up of chemicals and preservatives rather than real food. The idea that they actually last for years or decades in an edible (I use that term liberally in this case) form is just an urban legend.

 

[bullwinkle]

Originally Posted By: Noey
Am I the only one who'd be queasy using oil from 2012?
Shake it upside down real well, it'll be fine. I would use it (I still have green walls of Valvoline NextGen MaxLife in my garage, most of it is that age).

 

[Lolvoguy]

send it to me. I'll happily use it on my bike or BMW listed below

 

[mazdamonky]

I still use it in my cars that call for it and in cars that see more track time but originally called for 10w30.

 

[cptbarkey]

In canada its probably not very useful, but send it down here okay?

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
That's a logical fallacy. There are similar elements in other products that are not as shelf stable as motor oil. Modern motor oil is designed to be shelf stable-if you'd been around in the 1940s or 1950s you'd remember seeing motor oil that was a couple years old that had already started separating-oil that was made from the same "elements" as much of today's motor oil.

And on a side note, the shelf life of a Twinkie is about 45 days, and that's only because they're very highly processed and made up of chemicals and preservatives rather than real food. The idea that they actually last for years or decades in an edible (I use that term liberally in this case) form is just an urban legend.


Blackstone tested some ancient oils, and tested one in a paint shaker versus the same ancient oil unshaken...

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/Newsletters/Gas-Diesel/April-1-2012.php

Guess what ?

made no difference.

I'd still give the jug a couple of shakes, just force of habit.

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: The_Hamster
I got a a bunch of 10w40 for cheap. ($2.25 liter) from a guy who is moving. It's 2012 manufacture qsad SN. I then recalled that 10w40 was frowned on at one point by at least GM due to shearing and break down. I was going to use it in my 5.3 Silverado. Option 2 is use it in small engines. Lawnmowers, some might not get changed out for several years at I put it in. Then I read Tecumseh specifically says no 10w40.

Is this all out of date information for a 2012 oil?


OP,
10W40 used to be a (in some cases) rubbish grade, thus all the OEM statements against it.

For the reasons stated by others, and it turning to plastic in sumps.

It was basically the reason that HTHS was introduced into the viscosity classification, as it was a 40 by name, but scarecely as good as a 30...even then, the 10W40 had an HTHS minimum of 2.9, same as a 10W30.

That changed in the 2013 revision when it was raised to 3.5 reflecting better ingredients and practices.

I seriously doubt your 10W40 is 2.9, nor that it's made anything like the oils that caused the problem.

Use it, but regardless of cheapness, it's not a grade that I would buy unless I had an intentional reason to buy it....wouldn't buy it "because it was there"

 

[fdcg27]

I used the grade as a matter of choice for many years.
No issues of any kind.
I still use it in the old BMW, although the OM recommends thicker grades for hot summer conditions.
If I had some laying around and had no other use for it, it would find its way into various 5w30 applications for summer use.
In short, I'd not hesitate to use this oil in your Chevy pickup or your OPEs.
I've used this grade in 5w30 applications as well as in OPEs, including Tecumsehs, with no ill effects.