Is 5W 30 only for newer engines?

[G_lo]

I am considering switching from 10W 30 to 5W 30 beacause my car has recently started to make a loud rasping noise for a few minutes when started cold. I heard 5w30 warms faster, but a guy at N*pa auto parts told me it should only be used for the first 3 years of an engines life. Since once my car is hot it runs smooth and quiet I figured I should just get it there faster with 5W. Its a 4 cyl '92 Camry with 131k. It's always had 10W 30. Is this switch to 5W30 a good idea? Or is the Parts store guy right?

 

[mechtech2]

5-30 doesn't warm up faster. It lubricates and flows much better when very cold then 10-30.
Remember that it is a LOT thicker when cold than hot. If the 30 is OK hot , the 5 would have to be OK cold.
I would use it in cold weather in your car. Summer won't make much difference, but I'd keep it in there even then.

 

[G_lo]

Thanks!

 

[G_lo]

I'd appreciate as much info as users would like to share. This is a learnig process for me! So, Keep em coming!

 

[dave1251]

There is also some other things you should consider. What are your average trips? Do you have an engine with its own quirks and it likes X oil better than Y oil. You would be able to tell us after you tried a couple of grades and brands what is best for your car.

 

[Trav]

I would have no reservations switching to a 5w30,but what about this noise?Did it Begin shortly after an oil change?has the timing belt been changed,water pump etc.I think this Engine uses a side mounted oil filter,the adbv could be bad or possibly the belt tensioner/water pump bearings.If i recall correctly this engine is a flat tappet engine using shims for lash adjustment,i would avoid SM oils in favor of SL because of the zinc content which is beneficial to this type of tappet.personally i would look at Amsoil S2000 0w30 or GC which it seems may not be with us much longer if the information someone posted in the GC section is correct.

 

[Rickey]

Hmmmm:"loud rasping noise for a few minutes when started cold."
This could have nothing to do with oil. Belt tensioner, alternator, belt(s),water pump,timing belt or chain, and likely other things are possible causes. I'd look for a noisey belt tensioner first if it has one. Also low fluid level in the power steering pump may cause noises.
Good luck

Rickey.

 

[TimVipond]

G-lo,

Is this your car 1992 TOYOTA CAMRY 2.2L 4-cyl Engine Code 5S-FE or is it the 2.0L?

Since it is a 1992 with 131,000 miles, you may want to try an engine flush to clean your engine. You might get an idea of how clean you engine currently is by looking for a discoloration on your dipstick or by shining a light through the oil fill cap. I think the easiest way to help clean your engine is with a product like http://www.amsoil.com/StoreFront/aef.aspx . Then you might try a different brand oil filter than you are currently using such as Oil Filter........ EAO09 which you can read about at http://www.amsoil.com/StoreFront/eao.aspx . And then you can try a different brand and viscosity oil such as the ones mentioned here listed specifically for your car at the AMSOIL applications found at http://www.amsoil.com/scripts/runisa.dll?amsoiloaf:index . The Camry recommended oil viscosities and some AMSOIL recommendations are:

Engine Oil
Grade 1......API*
Series 2000 Synthetic 0w30 Motor Oil
SAE 5w30 Synthetic Motor Oil
SAE 10w30 Synthetic Motor Oil
SAE 5w30 XL Synthetic Motor Oil
Above 0°F......10W-30
Below 50°F......5w30
You may notice an improvement with these recommendations as some who have posted here have, or you may not as it could be unrelated to any of these. But in either case, I feel you would be cleaning your engine and upgrading your oil and filter.

When was the last time you changed your spark plugs?

 

[gudkarma]

I think the viscosity chart for you car goes down to 5w30 for cold conditions... I was just reading the Haynes Manual for my girl's Toyota the other day.

In fact, I put 5w30 (Hav. Deposit Shield) in her car instead of the 10w30 the quickie lube place was using... indicated by their sticker.

Of course, this was before she met me... now I do her work.

Her car runs so quite with the 5w30 I was told between smoochies (the cost of labor around these parts) that the car didn't even sound like it was running. Much more quiet & smoother excel.

By weeks end, I'll be able to check her mileage after a full tank & we'll see if the lighter oil gave a small mpg boost.

I have a 1990 Volvo and German Castrol 0w30 is my fill... no consumption, no issues, no problems.

Read around, research, & come to BITOG on the regular & you'll learn (or re-learn) much about oil.

 

[eshishlo]

I have a 1994 Camry with 2.2 5S-FE engine. This winter I put in Mobil 1 5w30, the car starts and runs much better. When I had 10w30 in it in the past, it would seem like it was starving for oil when I would start it on very cold days. It sounds much better now. And I have 180,000 miles on it. Had it in the family since 3,000.

 

[PT1]

Go to walmart and get some pennzoil 5w30 for like $10 and give it a try. If you don't like it, then you are only out 10 bucks.

 

[RacerE7773]

I used 10w30 only in my '80 Malibu's v6. I have used 5w30 in my '93 Tempo, and my two current vehicles '00 Cavalier (bought with 5 miles on it in November '99) and '03 Impala. No oil issues despite switching brands and now staying with just one.

 

[427Z06]

Quote:

---

If i recall correctly this engine is a flat tappet engine using shims for lash adjustment,i would avoid SM oils in favor of SL because of the zinc content which is beneficial to this type of tappet.personally i would look at Amsoil S2000 0w30 or GC which it seems may not be with us much longer if the information someone posted in the GC section is correct.

---

That's not a concern here. Cold oil flow to the valvetrain is. Read up on the Sequence IIIG and IVA tests.

 

[Trav]

Of course its a concern,Read up on the effects of low ZDDP content on flat tappets.Cold flow is a major concern of all OHC engines more so with those that don't use rollers.This engine is a 92 and will be better served using a oil with higher ZDDP content.Maybe this is the reason Amsoil is staying with the SL rating on their premium products.

 

[Ramblin Fever]

Kind of funny though how it's just *now* starting to make noise with the use of same oil viscosity; reason I say this, is I had the same scenerio develop last year. Had been using the same oil/same viscosity for years, then suddenly engine started making oil deprived sounds.

Turns out that I had issues coming on that within a few months reared their ugly head - i.e. bad waterpump, timing belt slipped a tooth.

 

[Doc8404]

try the Motorcraft blend 5w30....great oil for $10 and some change for a jug.

 

[mitchcoyote]

Stick with the 10w30 .....

 

[G_lo]

Hey, it's a 2.2L engine. The timing belt was replaced at 44k mi. The spark plugs at 104k. NGK plugs.
What exactly does above 0 or below 50 degrees mean as far as choosing 5w or 10w? It seems like the concept should make sense but it just doesn't click. I live in Ca. winter nigths are in the 30's and days mid 50's.
Let me know guys. Thanks

 

[Cogito]

I got an OC for my 89 Civic a couple of weeks ago at a local garage. Before the guy started anything, I said 'You do have 5W30, right?' He said 'No, we use 10W30, you should not use 5W30 in an old car like that, it's too thin.' I told him I always use 5W30 in the winter because the car starts easier when it gets real cold. Well, he finally relented, and agreed to use 5W30, but had to have someone go and pick it up.

I thought this seemed odd, so when I got home I pulled out my shop manual I bought from Honda when I got the car. Sure enough, they recommended 10W30 down to 18 degrees, and 5W30 when it was colder. I'm sure glad I didn't let him talk me out of it, it's been low zero around here for the past week, and the car has started fine.

 

[G_lo]

Could it be the Thermostat? What do you guys think? I asked about the timing belt and water pump replacement and the guy says it'll run me about $300 parts and labor for both. So I was thinking, might it just be the thermostat taking too long to open?