Any harm going 10w30

[RamAir5]

GM suggests 5w30 oil for our Traverse. There are several posts that indicate the DI engines in these Lambdas are hard on oil. The 10w oils seem more durable than their 5w counterparts. We live in Virginia, mild winters, mild to hot summers. Would there be any harm in running 10w30 Synpower or PP vs 5w30? Looking at Valvoline's website, both weights seem neck-n-neck. Even the pour points are the same (-42). The only major differences I can see are Viscocity index of 169(5w) 153 (10W) and the NOACK % of 10.5 (5w) 8 (10W).

Thanks... Jeff

 

[panthermike]

Absolutely no harm.

Run 10w30's in our Corolla's which all call for 5w30. We do also run 5w30's too, A good oil such as the ones you've mentioned should hold up fine in either grade.

 

[TallPaul]

Can't hurt, may help.

 

[RamAir5]

Why would GM recommend only 5w30? I have owned many cars in my years. All of which recommended an oil weight range with a chart in the owner's manual for different climates. Recommendations from 5w30 up to 10w40 for my other vehicles. Heck even our new Hyundai has a chart ranging from 5w30 to 10w40.

Why does GM only recommend 5w30?

 

[TallPaul]

Assume the 5w30 was used in CAFE testing and so EPA won't let them recommend anything thicker (10w30 has thicker base oil in theory).

 

[CATERHAM]

The difference between the two grades with syn oils is only slight.
In the better syn formulations the 10W-30 grade has been rendered largely obsolete.
Unless you're getting a price advantage stick with the 5W-30 syn with it's higher VI; you'll have better start-up flow in the winter.

 

[Geonerd]

Originally Posted By: TallPaul
Assume the 5w30 was used in CAFE testing and so EPA won't let them recommend anything thicker (10w30 has thicker base oil in theory).


Yea. 0W or 5W30 will produce fractionally better mileage when the engine is warming up. So long as you keep an eye on the oil's pour point and the weather, a 10W30 will work perfectly well for you.