Manual says 10W-30, is 5W-30 ok to use?
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Another reason was I read an article stating that the lower the cold viscosity the better it was for your engine on wear. The article said if you can use a 0W-XX that was the best as even at 75f temps NO OIL is thin enough to protect but the lower the weight the better. At operating temp all of them are the same as long as the second viscosity number was the same.
Originally Posted By: cmanser
I am getting ready to change my oil and want to use a thinner oil for better gas milage. I am going to use dino oil and the thinnest they make is 5w30.
Am I ok doing this or am I going to gernade my engine?
Thanks
I should let one of the Pro's here like Pablo answer this but its late and I am bored here at work. You can use a 0W-30, 5w30, or stick with the 10W-30 but if you stay with a conventional oil you will not see much if any economy gains from the 0W or 5W oils as at normal operating temp they are all 30 weight oils, thus they will perform the same from that point of view. They, the 0W/5W oils will help protect your engine better as they will flow quicker/faster than a 10W at low temps. To see any measurable economy gain you would need to use a synthetic oil in any of those grades. You could also push out your change intervals to help reduce the cost, and the time lost waiting for for those changes, by using a synthetic as you could eliminate 1 or 2 oil changes a year.
I am getting ready to change my oil and want to use a thinner oil for better gas milage. I am going to use dino oil and the thinnest they make is 5w30.
Am I ok doing this or am I going to gernade my engine?
Thanks
I should let one of the Pro's here like Pablo answer this but its late and I am bored here at work. You can use a 0W-30, 5w30, or stick with the 10W-30 but if you stay with a conventional oil you will not see much if any economy gains from the 0W or 5W oils as at normal operating temp they are all 30 weight oils, thus they will perform the same from that point of view. They, the 0W/5W oils will help protect your engine better as they will flow quicker/faster than a 10W at low temps. To see any measurable economy gain you would need to use a synthetic oil in any of those grades. You could also push out your change intervals to help reduce the cost, and the time lost waiting for for those changes, by using a synthetic as you could eliminate 1 or 2 oil changes a year.
^^^what they said^^^
No, you won't grenade your motor or do any harm to it at all, but you also won't see any MPG improvement, either. The tiny difference in low-temp viscosity between 5w30 and 10W-30 will do little or nothing.
Even Ford, one of the biggest proponents of 5W-20, admits that it only makes about a 0.6% difference when compared to 5w30. For a manufacturer that has to pay huge amounts of money based on CAFE, that might make a difference, but to an individual customer it's squat...
No, you won't grenade your motor or do any harm to it at all, but you also won't see any MPG improvement, either. The tiny difference in low-temp viscosity between 5w30 and 10W-30 will do little or nothing.
Even Ford, one of the biggest proponents of 5W-20, admits that it only makes about a 0.6% difference when compared to 5w30. For a manufacturer that has to pay huge amounts of money based on CAFE, that might make a difference, but to an individual customer it's squat...
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Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
^^^what they said^^^
No, you won't grenade your motor or do any harm to it at all, but you also won't see any MPG improvement, either. The tiny difference in low-temp viscosity between 5w30 and 10W-30 will do little or nothing.
Even Ford, one of the biggest proponents of 5W-20, admits that it only makes about a 0.6% difference when compared to 5w30. For a manufacturer that has to pay huge amounts of money based on CAFE, that might make a difference, but to an individual customer it's squat...
I agree. But, if everyone used the lighter weight oils, it makes a difference over hundreds of millions of vehicles. However, let's say you improved your mpg by 1% by dropping a grade, and you usually got 25 mpg...now, you get 25.25 mpg. That's almost 6 gallons of fuel per year savings, or, 150 miles. Multiply that times the 100's of millions of vehicles, and that becomes a large number of gallons conserved. Alternatively, IF you can decrease your driving in the upcoming year by 150 miles by being in a more conservation-minded mindset, you can have the same savings while being able to use up your stockpile of higher viscosity oils before switching to a thinner oil....very important to all the BITOG-types that have stockpiles!
^^^what they said^^^
No, you won't grenade your motor or do any harm to it at all, but you also won't see any MPG improvement, either. The tiny difference in low-temp viscosity between 5w30 and 10W-30 will do little or nothing.
Even Ford, one of the biggest proponents of 5W-20, admits that it only makes about a 0.6% difference when compared to 5w30. For a manufacturer that has to pay huge amounts of money based on CAFE, that might make a difference, but to an individual customer it's squat...
I agree. But, if everyone used the lighter weight oils, it makes a difference over hundreds of millions of vehicles. However, let's say you improved your mpg by 1% by dropping a grade, and you usually got 25 mpg...now, you get 25.25 mpg. That's almost 6 gallons of fuel per year savings, or, 150 miles. Multiply that times the 100's of millions of vehicles, and that becomes a large number of gallons conserved. Alternatively, IF you can decrease your driving in the upcoming year by 150 miles by being in a more conservation-minded mindset, you can have the same savings while being able to use up your stockpile of higher viscosity oils before switching to a thinner oil....very important to all the BITOG-types that have stockpiles!
Your dollars are at risk for warranty coverage, however. Is that an issue?
No warranty left on the car so that is not an issue - just would not want to pay for a new engine if the oil is going to cause problems.
Thanks for all the input so far - good info. I am going to put in the 5w30 and see what happens.
Next oil change I will try a 0W-30 synthetic and compare mileage for the 2. Not the most scientific but hey - we do what we can.
Any gas saved would make me happy - VIVA ENERGY INDEPENDANCE!! (I can dream can't I???)
Thanks for all the input so far - good info. I am going to put in the 5w30 and see what happens.
Next oil change I will try a 0W-30 synthetic and compare mileage for the 2. Not the most scientific but hey - we do what we can.
Any gas saved would make me happy - VIVA ENERGY INDEPENDANCE!! (I can dream can't I???)
Originally Posted By: cmanser
Another reason was I read an article stating that the lower the cold viscosity the better it was for your engine on wear. The article said if you can use a 0W-XX that was the best as even at 75f temps NO OIL is thin enough to protect but the lower the weight the better. At operating temp all of them are the same as long as the second viscosity number was the same.
I know what you've been reading. It's bad enough that those writings are on the internet but worse when people bring it up and it gets read by others.
No worries about your plan to try a 0W-30 synthetic.
Another reason was I read an article stating that the lower the cold viscosity the better it was for your engine on wear. The article said if you can use a 0W-XX that was the best as even at 75f temps NO OIL is thin enough to protect but the lower the weight the better. At operating temp all of them are the same as long as the second viscosity number was the same.
I know what you've been reading. It's bad enough that those writings are on the internet but worse when people bring it up and it gets read by others.
No worries about your plan to try a 0W-30 synthetic.
Originally Posted By: Titan
But, if everyone used the lighter weight oils, it makes a difference over hundreds of millions of vehicles.
Agreed, but my interpretation of the OP's post was that he thought changing from 10W-30 to 5w30 would give him a noticeable mileage increase. Since both are 30-weights at operating temp and the 5W is only "thinner" for the short amount of time it takes the car to warm up, I don't think he'll notice any improvement.
Quote:
Alternatively, IF you can decrease your driving in the upcoming year by 150 miles by being in a more conservation-minded mindset, you can have the same savings
Now THERE'S a radical new concept...
Seriously, you're right on there, Titan...
But, if everyone used the lighter weight oils, it makes a difference over hundreds of millions of vehicles.
Agreed, but my interpretation of the OP's post was that he thought changing from 10W-30 to 5w30 would give him a noticeable mileage increase. Since both are 30-weights at operating temp and the 5W is only "thinner" for the short amount of time it takes the car to warm up, I don't think he'll notice any improvement.
Quote:
Alternatively, IF you can decrease your driving in the upcoming year by 150 miles by being in a more conservation-minded mindset, you can have the same savings
Now THERE'S a radical new concept...
Seriously, you're right on there, Titan...
IT was the mileage increase (which from what I read will be better if I go with a synthetic 0W-30) and the reduced wear at startup that I was looking for.
Of course I could do all of this if I rode my bike everywhere for an entire week - then I would really save on gas and engine wear - time to break out the biking tights!!
Of course I could do all of this if I rode my bike everywhere for an entire week - then I would really save on gas and engine wear - time to break out the biking tights!!
5w30 vs. 10W-30 will deliver some fuel economy gains during the warm up period, which depending on your commute might be a large fraction of the daily drive. At $4 per gallon and rising every little bit counts. It costs no more to do a 5w30 oil change than it does a 10W-30 change, so why would anyone use 10W-30? Today's high quality 5w30 name brand oils are excellent products.
I tend to use the 5w30 in the colder weather for somewhat better flow, then switch to 10W-30 for the summer. At one time 10W-30 was a bit more oxidation/viscosity-stable blend due to less cold flow improvers and less viscosity index improvers. No need for 5W-XX in the summer since most starts here are at 60 deg F or higher then. Newer cars I just stick with the 5w30 year round, esp while under warranty.
Originally Posted By: wgtoys
It costs no more to do a 5w30 oil change than it does a 10W-30 change, so why would anyone use 10W-30? Today's high quality 5w30 name brand oils are excellent products.
Read up on polymeric viscosity index improvers, straight weight oils, and Newtonian/Non-Newtonian oils, etc. Today's high quality 5w30 conventional oils are significantly compromised, formulation-wise. If it's cold enough, then that compromise is warranted.
It costs no more to do a 5w30 oil change than it does a 10W-30 change, so why would anyone use 10W-30? Today's high quality 5w30 name brand oils are excellent products.
Read up on polymeric viscosity index improvers, straight weight oils, and Newtonian/Non-Newtonian oils, etc. Today's high quality 5w30 conventional oils are significantly compromised, formulation-wise. If it's cold enough, then that compromise is warranted.
Jag
Are you saying then there is enough difference and unless cold you should use the 10W-30? Can you summarize how the 5W-xx oils are compromiseda and why we should avoid them?
Thanks
Originally Posted By: JAG
Originally Posted By: wgtoys
It costs no more to do a 5w30 oil change than it does a 10W-30 change, so why would anyone use 10W-30? Today's high quality 5w30 name brand oils are excellent products.
Read up on polymeric viscosity index improvers, straight weight oils, and Newtonian/Non-Newtonian oils, etc. Today's high quality 5w30 conventional oils are significantly compromised, formulation-wise. If it's cold enough, then that compromise is warranted.
Are you saying then there is enough difference and unless cold you should use the 10W-30? Can you summarize how the 5W-xx oils are compromiseda and why we should avoid them?
Thanks
Originally Posted By: JAG
Originally Posted By: wgtoys
It costs no more to do a 5w30 oil change than it does a 10W-30 change, so why would anyone use 10W-30? Today's high quality 5w30 name brand oils are excellent products.
Read up on polymeric viscosity index improvers, straight weight oils, and Newtonian/Non-Newtonian oils, etc. Today's high quality 5w30 conventional oils are significantly compromised, formulation-wise. If it's cold enough, then that compromise is warranted.
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