Running 10w30 where 5w30 is spec'd

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dsmith41

Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
733
Location
Kansas City Metro
My 95 Ranger 2.3L calls for 5w30 and I've been running Pennzoil YB for a few intervals now. I happen to be a big fan of HDEOs though and at Wal-Mart I noticed Rotella T5 is selling for $16.00 a gallon. The PYB is $16.47 for 5 qts. So for only an extra 71 cents per qt I can upgrade to semi-syn and get a more stout add pack. This seems like a good deal to me but will running a 10w rather than a 5w have any real negative effect? I'm specifically worried about winter time. The semi-syn should have superior cold flow properties but does the 10w rating negate that as compared to a 5w dino oil?
 
Last edited:
I've used T5 in my truck, and while I think it is a great oil, it might not be as good as the PYB 5w30 in your Ranger - then again it might, it really depends on your driving habits and OCI.
 
Wow, that's a lot of miles!

I wouldn't worry too much about 'conventional' vs 'semi-synthetic'... I tend to think of these terms as nothing more than marketing jargon these days - pretty much any modern, SN/GF-5 oil is of semi-synthetic type quality.

I want to vote for T5, but I think the PYB has more upside. Better cold starts, less expensive, slightly lower viscosity (for better fuel economy)...

Stay with the Pennzoil 5w30
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
M1 0W-40. Under your conditions, you could probably leave it in there a year.

29k miles? no.. not happening under I'm sure sever conditions.
 
It would be pretty hard to accumulate 29K in a year under severe driving conditions.
This kind of annual mileage usually indicates that the engine oil gets up to operating temperatures on most starts and stays there for a while.
To the OP, on really cold mornings, I'd be happier with a 5w30.
10W-30 was widely recommended not so many years ago for all climate use, though.
I don't know that T5 would offer any real advantage in protecting your engine over PYB.
I'm going to guess that it won't.
Google "Shell EPC".
That will lead you to a site that will allow you to compare the specs of these two oils, or any other Shell products available anywhere.
T5 does have inferior cold performance as comapred to PYB 5w30 but is actually a little better than PYB 10W-30. The T5 is quite a bit thicker at operating temperature than either PYB grade. If your engine doesn't need a thicker oil, and it most likely doesn't, this wouldn't be any advantage.
If you want to try a syn blend oil, Motorcraft is good stuff or you could use Maxlife. You might consider either or both.
 
T5 would be fine but it probably wouldnt be any better than PYB.
syn blend means nothing. MC is a blend and PYB puts it to shame
I think a better choice would be Defy because you can get the grade your truck calls for and the more potent add pack. Not to mention a HM oil could be good for those 20 year old seals.
 
I tried T5 in the Jeep that my daughter used to have. It spec'd 5w30 in winter and 10w-30 in summer. UOA was fine, the only thing was that oil consumption went up with T5 for some reason so I went back to Max Life.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: Flareside302
Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
M1 0W-40. Under your conditions, you could probably leave it in there a year.

29k miles? no.. not happening under I'm sure sever conditions.


How would someone put that kinda mileage on in a year and it be considered severe?
Sounds like a highway commuter to me.
 
If you want a synthetic blend in a 5w30 and want to stay with SOPHUS products, why not just buy Pennzoil Dexos Synthetic Blend? It can be found at Walmart for only about a $1 more than PYB.
 
In that climate and location, I'd be running 5w30 TropArctic (Syn Blend, similar to Motorcraft) and be stocking up when the farm store had it for $1.99/qt. I'd run 5w during cold weather and maybe the 10w in warm weather (if you have some consumption.) I have owned 2 of the 4 cyl Rangers (a '93 and a '95) and they are not picky about oil. I used to run 5w in my 1995 and top off with 10w(during winter) when it started consuming oil due to high mileage.
 
I ran Rotella 10W-30 (before T5 came out) for a couple of years in my wagon which is spec.'d for 5w30. UOA's were good and it started and ran fine even in weather down to 0 deg. F. Not sure I ever saw it colder than that.
 
He's been a member since '08 and assuming he knows an UOA is in order at the half way point; a year can be done. 29k a year means lots of highway which means not severe. And weather in KC does not regularly get severe either. There's also going to be consumption so there will be top off oil added during the interval. M1 0W-40 is a long life oil. T-5 is a great oil and would last as long.



Originally Posted By: Flareside302
Originally Posted By: Oil Changer
M1 0W-40. Under your conditions, you could probably leave it in there a year.

29k miles? no.. not happening under I'm sure sever conditions.
 
SOPHUS? Sorry brother, typo or not, that's funny!

Shell Oil Products US. SOPUS.


Originally Posted By: justinh384
If you want a synthetic blend in a 5w30 and want to stay with SOPHUS products, why not just buy Pennzoil Dexos Synthetic Blend? It can be found at Walmart for only about a $1 more than PYB.
 
Good thing it specs 5w30. To heck with back specs.


Originally Posted By: jorton
It's too thick where 5w-20 is spec'd.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

wwillson
  • Locked
Pennzoil API SN Plus & 0W-16 Q&A - Answers
Replies
17
Views
17K
Barn01
G
  • Locked
Oil questions, 1995 Silverado 5.7L
2
Replies
25
Views
9K
wtd
Gokhan
  • Locked
List of oils by base-oil-quality index: 0W-20 oils
2 3 4
Replies
77
Views
49K
4WD
J
  • Locked
Rotella for 6.0L Gasser
Replies
10
Views
4K
Joefuskie
R
  • Locked
I feel the need...the need for...STASH!
Replies
10
Views
2K
lockguy
Back
Top Bottom