99 quick regal 3.8l 165k

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The car specs 5w30 but i guess you could its your ride but IMO id go with 5/30,over sized filter is a good choice also,PF52
 
The engine spec.'s 5W-30 for 60F and below and 10W-30 for 0F on up. I have the same basic engine in my Grand Prix, it does best on PP 10W-30 or 5W-30. I've never tried a 5W-20 and never will since it is not spec.'d for it. It would probably fine for the coldest months of the winter (Dec-Feb) if you really need to use up the oil and have no other use for it.
 
A relative of mine once wiped a rod bearing on that engine. The bearing that failed was the one furthest from the oil pump, indicating lack of oil pressure was involved. It didn't have the famous melted intake manifold either.
I don't know why the oil pressure got low, and I'm sure it wouldn't have happened under normal circumstances. But that episode makes me shy about the idea of using thin oil on those engines.
I've noticed GM put "10w30" on the oil cap (at least in 1997), while they normally put "5w30" on the oil cap of every other engine I'm aware of, dating back at least to the 80s. The somewhat "unique" labeling for that engine makes me wonder what they were worried about.

To use up the 5w20, you could mix it with some 15w40 or 20w50 to get it up to a 30 grade.
 
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I run 10W-30 in my 3800 S/C, well everything really.

The 3800 is easy on oil. Don't fret, get a quality 5W-30 or
10W-30 and drive.

But...No 5W-20. The 3800 will not like that.
 
Originally Posted By: beast3300
I wouldn't put the 5w20 in that. A 5w30 is much better in this app.


I would agree - running 5-30 now in mine and it has over 200,000 on it.
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97 Prk.Ave.-5-30 Havoline and Wix filter
03 Corolla-5-30 QSUD and Wix filter
04 Rav4-5-30 M1 HM and Wix filter
 
I use 5w-30 for my 3800 200k now. I wouldn't use 5w-20 on a car that was speced for 10w-30 for most of its production years. The oil will shear down. I always noticed that the oil pressure gauge would read a little lower at operating temptures after a few thousand miles on the oil.

My toyota will get 5w-20 though. No oil pressure gauge so no way for me to entertain the thought about the oil pressure. Smart move toyota.
 
We have a 2000 Impala LS with 212,000 miles and it always has seen 10w30 (PP for the past 5 years) and it burns no oil, is always quiet no matter the temp, and still gives good mileage. I would not recommend a 5w20 in that engine even though they are easy on oil to begin with. I was told those engine oil pumps had issues with thinner oils, hence the 10w30 spec??
 
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