quick question

[BamaDiver]

I am currently using shell rotella 15w40 in the following vehicles i own: (I have used it for years)

2004 chevy impala

2003 ford ranger

1994 toyota tacoma

1996 nissan pathfinder

1995 toyota camry

my question is this: Can I change weight oil---I want to change to Valvoline 10w30. Knee's are getting worse so i plan to take all my vehicles to express oil change to take care of the oil changes for me. would it hurt to change from 15w40 to 10w30 without hurting the engines?

thanks for your time

BD

 

[tommygunn]

Isn't that the factory fill for all those cars anyhow?

5w30 is probably a better choice, with better startup performance. No issues changing oil viscosity though if it meets what the vehicle requires.

Why did you use 15w40 in the first place? What problem are you trying to fix?

 

[daves87rs]

Oh, 10w30 would be fine.


So would 5w30.

 

[dparm]

None of those cars need 15w40 unless you are doing some crazy towing, and even then.....

 

[JGW]

Maybe the spec'd oil would be best.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Old school: thicker is better !

Most of engines that you have should use either 5W30 or 10W30, the current 5W30 is much more shear stable than 10-15 years ago, I would use 5W30 in all your engines.

 

[OtisBlkR1]

agreed: 5-30 is the ticket.

 

[dave1251]

If all you can get is either 10w30 or 15w40 I prefer the 10w30 unless it is a diesel even then a 10w30 HDEO would not be bad. So yeah a 10w30 would be OK for a fleet fill.

 

[hardcore302]

10w-30 because it's cheap. or so i've found.

 

[Gene K]

I would shorten the drain intervals if you were using Rotella to extend the drains (Rotella T3 or TP makes a very nice budget extended drain oil for gas motors).

If you want to keep using a HDEO 15W40 in your cars you could ask them to use Valvoline Premium Blue.

 

[BamaDiver]

@tommygunn--my dad and my uncles used delo 400 for as long as i can remember in their cars. followed in my fathers footsteps, i guess you could say.....


whats the difference between 5w30 and 10w30? how do they differ at temps above and below freezing?

thanks again for all the replies.

BD

 

[Gene K]

To oversimplify the 5W30 is the same viscosity about 10 degrees colder once you get down below 0F. The closer you get to 212F the more they converge.

In theory a 10W30 could be a little more shear stable and some oil companies blend the 10W30 a little thicker. Some 30 Weights are up to 34% thicker than others at 212F.

That said modern 5W30 is becoming so good their is less and less reason for 10W30 every day.

Nothing wrong with Valvoline but if your a Shell Fan then Pennzoil (If their is a local lube place that uses it) is a very good product and brought to you by the same fine people that gave you Rotella.

 

[SatinSilver]

Originally Posted By: BamaDiver
my question is this: Can I change weight oil---I want to change to Valvoline 10w30. Knee's are getting worse so i plan to take all my vehicles to express oil change to take care of the oil changes for me. would it hurt to change from 15w40 to 10w30 without hurting the engines?


I've had Hondas and now have Toyotas and I think the best bang for the buck is going to the Ford dealer for oil changes. Not only do you get a quality oil filter but you get quality oil. They have a quick lane oil change place. So find a quality Ford dealer and go there would be my suggestion. You can request 5w30 or 10w30 as well.