Why do so many of you posters insist on mixing viscosities for your oil refill? Every automobile owners manual (domestic, European or Asian) I've ever read says NOT to mix viscosities. Does not strike me as a stroke of genius.
Mixing viscosities???
- Thread starter NormanBuntz
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Here we like to try different things.
And please if you could,post exactly where mixing viscosities of the same brand is a big no no.
Make sure you find a manufacturer who warns against it.
{removed insult towards other member}
Now some oil blenders encourage mixing their brands to achieve a specific viscosity index or an ht/hs value.
And I'm pretty sure every bottle I've ever seen says its ok to mix,just not optimal.
So please enlighten us with all your data. I'll be waiting with baited breath.
And please if you could,post exactly where mixing viscosities of the same brand is a big no no.
Make sure you find a manufacturer who warns against it.
{removed insult towards other member}
Now some oil blenders encourage mixing their brands to achieve a specific viscosity index or an ht/hs value.
And I'm pretty sure every bottle I've ever seen says its ok to mix,just not optimal.
So please enlighten us with all your data. I'll be waiting with baited breath.
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Shhh.. No one tell him that every oil blender already does this by mixing elaborate blends of different viscosity base oils, hence the title "blender".
an insight into one way blenders produce their lubes
http://www.prokop-engineering.cz/Misirna olejuEN.htm
an insight into one way blenders produce their lubes
http://www.prokop-engineering.cz/Misirna olejuEN.htm
Originally Posted By: NormanBuntz
Why do so many of you posters insist on mixing viscosities for your oil refill? Every automobile owners manual (domestic, European or Asian) I've ever read says NOT to mix viscosities. Does not strike me as a stroke of genius.
Come on. Waiting for your evidence.
Or if you don't mind enlightening the membership. Please,in your own words,explain why its such a bad idea. Spare us no colourful adjectives in your explanation.
Why do so many of you posters insist on mixing viscosities for your oil refill? Every automobile owners manual (domestic, European or Asian) I've ever read says NOT to mix viscosities. Does not strike me as a stroke of genius.
Come on. Waiting for your evidence.
Or if you don't mind enlightening the membership. Please,in your own words,explain why its such a bad idea. Spare us no colourful adjectives in your explanation.
I have mixed viscosities for 40 years. I never had a problem.
If people took your advice this board would never exist. We would all just do exactly what the dealerships want.
Did you just join this board to troll? It sounds like you have nothing to offer here. I smell a ban on you coming along soon if you keep it up.
If people took your advice this board would never exist. We would all just do exactly what the dealerships want.
Did you just join this board to troll? It sounds like you have nothing to offer here. I smell a ban on you coming along soon if you keep it up.
{removed insult towards other member} , but I have owned over 30 vehicles and I've read all my owners manuals. Every one stated to only add oil of the same viscosity. So why mix during a refill, aren't there enough multi-grades available out of the bottle? Sure I know how they make blended formulas. My DATA is from vehicle manufacturers recommendations. But I'm sure there are countless petrochemical engineers and other geniuses on this website.
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Not trolling. It's a legitimate question.
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Maybe if you did not rub people the wrong way it would be easier. Most of the guys on this board have been here for years and years.
My present car has 188,000 miles on it and it has run blends all its life. I do this mostly due to weather conditions. The heavier oils go in the car in the summer, and they are also cheaper to buy on sale. The lighter oils are for the wintertime. My driving will encompass from -10 degrees F. to about 122 F. if I am in the Death Valley region. 90% of it is under severe conditions.
I will add a quart of lighter or heavier oil as I see fit, especially if I am hitting a region of very cold weather.
My present car has 188,000 miles on it and it has run blends all its life. I do this mostly due to weather conditions. The heavier oils go in the car in the summer, and they are also cheaper to buy on sale. The lighter oils are for the wintertime. My driving will encompass from -10 degrees F. to about 122 F. if I am in the Death Valley region. 90% of it is under severe conditions.
I will add a quart of lighter or heavier oil as I see fit, especially if I am hitting a region of very cold weather.
Originally Posted By: NormanBuntz
Not trolling. It's a legitimate question.
Then I'd suggest you ask it without the trolling sentence on the bottom of the first post.. (ie.. Does not strike me as a stroke of genius.)
Also I would highly suggest that the insults in this thread end. Hopefully we can ask a question or make a comment without insulting each other.
Bill
Not trolling. It's a legitimate question.
Then I'd suggest you ask it without the trolling sentence on the bottom of the first post.. (ie.. Does not strike me as a stroke of genius.)
Also I would highly suggest that the insults in this thread end. Hopefully we can ask a question or make a comment without insulting each other.
Bill
Thank you, Bill in Utah. I'm a newbie here and I'll do a better job of being civil.
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Originally Posted By: NormanBuntz
Does not strike me as a stroke of genius.
Maybe spend some time trying to understand blending instead of coming in here guns blazing condemning those who have obviously done more research on the topic or perhaps understand the chemistry better than you do.
Does not strike me as a stroke of genius.
Maybe spend some time trying to understand blending instead of coming in here guns blazing condemning those who have obviously done more research on the topic or perhaps understand the chemistry better than you do.
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Originally Posted By: NormanBuntz
Not trolling. It's a legitimate question.
Then I'd suggest you ask it without the trolling sentence on the bottom of the first post.. (ie.. Does not strike me as a stroke of genius.)
Also I would highly suggest that the insults in this thread end. Hopefully we can ask a question or make a comment without insulting each other.
Bill
As usual nice work Bill!
Originally Posted By: NormanBuntz
Not trolling. It's a legitimate question.
Then I'd suggest you ask it without the trolling sentence on the bottom of the first post.. (ie.. Does not strike me as a stroke of genius.)
Also I would highly suggest that the insults in this thread end. Hopefully we can ask a question or make a comment without insulting each other.
Bill
As usual nice work Bill!
Norman, normally people here are not this hostel, i think you just hit a nerve. The best example i can give of why mix different oils is the Caterham blend. It takes two different viscosity oils and blends them to give a superior oil.
Caterham is a member of this board who came up with this concoction and so it was nick named Caterham blend. There are many threads on here talking about it some giving more information than others.
Here is a VOA, Virgin Oil Analysis, of the Caterham blend.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?
ubb=showflat&Number=3024542#Post3024542
Caterham quote.
“The following blend with give you a light 0W-30 with a HTHSV of 3.0cP and a 200+ VI? Who sells a 0W-30 oil with those viscosity characteristics? Nobody.”
Secret Caterham blend formula.
40% Mobil 1 0W40 SM.
60% TGMO 0W20 SN, Toyota Genuine Motor Oil.
Caterham is a member of this board who came up with this concoction and so it was nick named Caterham blend. There are many threads on here talking about it some giving more information than others.
Here is a VOA, Virgin Oil Analysis, of the Caterham blend.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?
ubb=showflat&Number=3024542#Post3024542
Caterham quote.
“The following blend with give you a light 0W-30 with a HTHSV of 3.0cP and a 200+ VI? Who sells a 0W-30 oil with those viscosity characteristics? Nobody.”
Secret Caterham blend formula.
40% Mobil 1 0W40 SM.
60% TGMO 0W20 SN, Toyota Genuine Motor Oil.
The owner's manuals for both of my cars give a "preferred" and 2 other viscosity recommendations. Example.. 1999Alero Owner's Guide
There are no instructions about not mixing these viscosities.
I buy 1 5qt container of 5w30 ("preferred" for 99 Olds, and 1 gallon 10W-30 ("preferred" for 87 Olds), and mix 4qt 10W30+.5qt 5w30 for 87 Olds, 4.5 qts 5w30 in 99 Olds.
So my reason for mixing is because:
1. Both my cars use 4.5 quarts oil.
2. Oil is cheaper in gallon or 5 qt container compared to 9 quarts.
(Search on "genius Wile E Coyote" if you don't understand the reason for the ACME picture )
This is intersting.
I've also owned a bunch of cars over the years from Honda, BMW, Mercedes, Subaru as well as some one-offs from MG, VW, Toyota, Datsun and so on.
I can't recall a single OM warning against mixing viscosities.
Every OM recommends either a grade or a range of them, but I can't recall a one that stated that grades shoudn't be mixed.
Also, while they are technically within the same grade, Syntec 5w30 and Syntec 0W-30, for example, have radically different HTHS viscosities, so would using one as the fill and then topping off with the other be mixing viscosities?
The same is true when comparing any oil at the thin end of a grade with one at the thick end.
For that matter, a light forty isn't a whole lot thicker than a thick thirty however you measure it, just as a thick twenty isn't much different from a thin thirty.
The reality is that we all mix viscosities all of the time, unless we always use the same brand and type of oil for any top-offs.
I've also owned a bunch of cars over the years from Honda, BMW, Mercedes, Subaru as well as some one-offs from MG, VW, Toyota, Datsun and so on.
I can't recall a single OM warning against mixing viscosities.
Every OM recommends either a grade or a range of them, but I can't recall a one that stated that grades shoudn't be mixed.
Also, while they are technically within the same grade, Syntec 5w30 and Syntec 0W-30, for example, have radically different HTHS viscosities, so would using one as the fill and then topping off with the other be mixing viscosities?
The same is true when comparing any oil at the thin end of a grade with one at the thick end.
For that matter, a light forty isn't a whole lot thicker than a thick thirty however you measure it, just as a thick twenty isn't much different from a thin thirty.
The reality is that we all mix viscosities all of the time, unless we always use the same brand and type of oil for any top-offs.
Must say that I haven't seen recommendations against mixing in manuals...
It would seem that Toyota in some markets actively ENCOURAGES blending, as per this chart.
(Note, chart taken out of context for the purpose of humour only...this does not constitute a recommendation to mix anything...whether I mix or not.)
It would seem that Toyota in some markets actively ENCOURAGES blending, as per this chart.
(Note, chart taken out of context for the purpose of humour only...this does not constitute a recommendation to mix anything...whether I mix or not.)
Actually I DO recall some of the older owner's manuals for cars owned by my parents stating this, as well as some including an older VW manual adding that they recommended staying with a single oil brand and type when changing the oil, and it went on to mention that mixing different oils might inhibit the protective and detergent additive packs that were added to each. That was back in the 70s and 80s.
Originally Posted By: NormanBuntz
Why do so many of you posters insist on mixing viscosities for your oil refill? Every automobile owners manual (domestic, European or Asian) I've ever read says NOT to mix viscosities. Does not strike me as a stroke of genius.
We do this because WE CAN!!!!! I mix therefore I am.
Why do so many of you posters insist on mixing viscosities for your oil refill? Every automobile owners manual (domestic, European or Asian) I've ever read says NOT to mix viscosities. Does not strike me as a stroke of genius.
We do this because WE CAN!!!!! I mix therefore I am.
Along the same lines of the OP's question, I have never found a clear answer to the following...
Since synthetic oil is supposed to have very uniform molecules of whatever grade it is, why would mixing the uniform molecules of a 20 and a 40 give a 30 result and not just a new mixture of 20 & 40 weight molecules. It surely could be a 30 but are we sure this happens on a molecular level?
I hope I made my question clear.
Since synthetic oil is supposed to have very uniform molecules of whatever grade it is, why would mixing the uniform molecules of a 20 and a 40 give a 30 result and not just a new mixture of 20 & 40 weight molecules. It surely could be a 30 but are we sure this happens on a molecular level?
I hope I made my question clear.
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