10W30. What does minimum means

[Big Jim]

You might enjoy this guys comments about selecting viscosity.

http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=000427

 

[21Rouge]

quote:

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Originally posted by ford390gashog:
too much pressure can give to much advance or to much retard of the valves.

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Speaking as someone who knows very little technically about auto mechanics what would be the symptoms of 'advance' or 'retard' of the valves?

And if a VVT engine, say my 1ZZFE, permitted the use of a 0W-30 (although 5W-30 is the preferred oil) than any such viscosity from a thick GC 0W-30 to a thin M1 0W-30 would be acceptable VVT wise? I guess what I am wondering is what kind of viscosity would cause valve problems in such an engine that permits starburst 5/10W-30 and even 0W-30?

 

[olympic]

Hondas VTEC and Toyotas VVT don't activate until the oil reaches operating temperature, so the number infront of the "W" doesn't matter. 0w30,5w30,10w30 or even straight 30 weight should not affect VTEC or VVT.

The engineers who built these engines had to know that the owners could be putting any 30 weight oil in them ranging from 9.5-12.5 cst. So the engine would have to be designed so that the operation of VTEC,VVT, etc wouldn't be affected by different oil viscosities in that range.

 

[21Rouge]

quote:

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Originally posted by olympic:
The engineers who built these engines had to know that the owners could be putting any 30 weight oil in them ranging from 9.5-12.5 cst. So the engine would have to be designed so that the operation of VTEC,VVT, etc wouldn't be affected by different oil viscosities in that range.

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And dont we often comment that non starburst GC is thick enough to be almost a 40?

 

[Dad2leia]

olympic, how does Honda do that? Is there another temperature sensor that measures oil temperature? And I thought that there were enough things under that hood to go bad!!!

I'm no expert but doesn't that seem like a small range of cSt, considering the vast difference in range that I see from 20 to 30 to 40 weight oils?

 

[Dr. T]

Yes Tourist, the quote means you can use any grade 10-30 and up...safely. So the 15-50 is just fine.

 

[Tourist]

Thanks. But would a 15W50 be less fuel-saving then a 10w30?