Using 10W-30 instead of 5W-30

[bender]

Hi all -

Some time ago I picked up a case of Chevron 10w30 before I knew much about oil. Since then, I have come to find out both of my vehicles suggest 5w30 in the owner's manual. I have been using 5w30 (Chevron, Shell and QS) but still have that unopened case of 10w30. Are there any compelling reasons to not use the 10w30? Temps here are very mild, so my thinking is it shouldn't matter. Thanks!!

 

[Tom NJ]

There is certainly no problem for the engine. Worse case you may lose about 1% in fuel efficiency which for the average driver is about $10/year. Another alternative is to blend the 10w30 with a 0w30 to make a 5w30 with better fuel economy.

Tom

 

[BrianWC]

Kinematic visc @ 40c is 64.8 cst for the 5W30 vs. 73.5 for the 10W30... 100c is 10.8 for both.

 

[Ron AKA]

I would use up the 10w30 in summer and get some 5w30 for winter. I understand your problem as I am in CA this week and the one store I was at, didn't even sell a 5w30. It's a minor point and 10w30 through the winter while not ideal is ok too.

 

[dave1251]

blender what part of the golden state are you from. Unless your where it gets below 0F you will be find to use it year round.

 

[surfstar]

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I would use up the 10w30 in summer and get some 5w30 for winter. I understand your problem as I am in CA this week and the one store I was at, didn't even sell a 5w30. It's a minor point and 10w30 through the winter while not ideal is ok too.

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If you were in CA, then I think you'd understand he doesn't have a problem. Temps are going to be in the 80's by the end of the week. I run 10w30 year round. There's no such thing as "winter" for most parts of the state.

 

[bender]

I'm in the north bay area, so it can get a bit chilly, but nothing ever approaching 0 F. It rarely ever dips below freezing. Surfstar is right, we're supposed to approach 80 degrees this week - this is actually the nicest time of year for this area! Thanks everyone for the replies!!! I will run the 10w30 with confidence.

 

[elsmacko]

well it never hurts to find out what engine it is and how it's driven before making recomendations.

BUt 10W30 it's a good weight for almost anything.

So what engine is this? Is it a Geo Metro with 100K on it or a heavily modified corvette with a fresh rebuild? lol

 

[bender]

LOL not high performance in the least. The vehicles are a 96 Isuzu Trooper 3.2L SOHC w/115K and a 98 Saturn SL2 1.9L DOHC w/125K. I've had the Satty since new and the Trooper since about 60K. I'd like to get both vehicles to over 200K

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

Yeah, Bender, I can relate..The Home Depot clearance brought me about a zillion quarts of 10W30 PP. I wish they made the stuff 0W20, but then, it wouldn't be groupIII, would it? I'm thinking after the winter, I'll blend it with 5W20 PP and call it a day. Jeez, the 10W30/5W20 would be fine for the winter for that matter I suppose, but it should keep until the Spring. Our Winters are such that 0W and 5W oil is quite justified. Meanwhile, I have lots of 5W20 Pennzoil dino and GC, not to mention a lotta 5W20 Havoline..

Bender, ya have to be FLEXIBLE!!!

 

[UncleS2]

Bender, IMO you should run that perfectly good 10w30 & not worry.

 

[CharBaby]

Although today I certainly beleive in using the proper oil for your engine, years ago I used anything in my engines. In the past I've used heavy weight oil in the winter and thinner oil on the heat of the summer. I didn't use these oils this way regularly, usually it was the other way around. I would just use what I had around the garage during my younger years when I was broke and just wanted to keep my heaps running so that I could get to work. I've never killed an engine using the wrong oils in my cars/trucks. I just made sure that the oil/filter was changed kinda regularly and I put many hundreds of thousands of miles on my junkers as well as the newer vehicles that I purchaced when I did have money. When I had engine troubles over the years, it was usually fuel system related(lousy carburator design) and poor quality gas.

 

[bender]

Thanks to all - you've assuaged my fears about running the 10w30 in my high-milage-bordering-on-beater vehicles!! I'd like to keep these older vehicles running as long as possible, to squeeze as much usefulness out of them before they start needing costly repairs.

I've been hoarding the CSK 0.59/quart deals for several months now and am up to 11 cases of 5w30. But I still have that original case of 10w30 that I bought when I was clueless about oil. Since it's the oldest case, I'd like to use it up soon...maybe I'll use it as part of my 2nd ARX rinse/clean cycle so it's not in the crank case for very long.

Thanks again, this site is one of the rare few where everyone seems pretty easy going!

 

[Drew99GT]

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this site is one of the rare few where everyone seems pretty easy going!

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You haven't been here long enough! It's usually

 

[Ray H]

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Some time ago I picked up a case of Chevron 10w30 ... I have come to find out both of my vehicles suggest 5w30 ... Are there any compelling reasons to not use the 10w30?

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Are you out o' your freakin' mind?!?!? Get rid of that 10w30 Chevron Supreme before you destroy your engines! Lemme help - I'll send you my shipping address... Kidding aside, 10w30 is all I've ever used except for one early oil change at 600 miles to a load of 5w30 in my '03 Sonata V6 4-sp A/T during break-in. Ever since the second oil change (3,000 total vehicle miles at the time) 10w30 is all my Sonata has seen and it's still good for 31+ mpg, highway with A/C. I'm not even sure you'll find a full $10.00 difference yearly in increased gasoline useage.

 

[427Z06]

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I just made sure that the oil/filter was changed kinda regularly and I put many hundreds of thousands of miles on my junkers as well as the newer vehicles that I purchaced when I did have money.

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Shush!

Don't let that fact get loose in the wild. The vacuum caused by the lack of needless debates here would create a Black Hole so big that Stephen Hawking would be impressed.

 

[Nickdfresh]

10W-30 is a fine weight of oil, little shearing --with less need for polymers. Use it with confidence in a warmer climate, especially in older cars...

 

[michaelc80]

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The vacuum caused by the lack of needless debates here would create a Black Hole so big that Stephen Hawking would be impressed.

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ROTFLMAO!!!

 

[BrianWC]

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I just made sure that the oil/filter was changed kinda regularly and I put many hundreds of thousands of miles on my junkers as well as the newer vehicles that I purchaced when I did have money.

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Shush!

Don't let that fact get loose in the wild. The vacuum caused by the lack of needless debates here would create a Black Hole so big that Stephen Hawking would be impressed.

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Just think how many cars we could save if we prevented them all from using that 10W30 swill that so many millions of cars have run for hundred of thousands of miles.

 

[badnews]

Using 10w30 in an engine meant to take 5w30 will cause your hard drive to totally melt down and will delete all your files .......................... wait never mind that was an e mail I recently got.


It will be fine if you use it.