I dont want to add to the 5w30 vs 10w30 debate, but i am curious about my specific situation....
I drive a 2001 Mazda 626. It has the Mazda (japan built-KL) 2.5 liter V6 with currently 53,000 miles on it.
My current driving patterns are 5 days a week i drive 1 mile to work in the morning, and then in the evening i drive 1 mile back, unless i run a few errands, but then 4 or 5 miles at most. However on the weekends i do make frequent 45 mile trips to neighboring cities, and maybe once a month or so get it out on the interstate for a 2 or 3 hour cruise. Sometimes with 'spirited' driving.
My car owners manual calls for 10w30 from -13*F on up OR 5w30 at all temps below 98*F.
I've experimented with both 5w30 and 10w30's from Havoline, Pennzoil, Shell, Motorcraft, Castrol, and Superflo. I change my oil at least every 3K miles, so synthetic is not a good option considering the price. Thus far i've not noticed a big difference between any of the oils with the expection of Castrol Synthetic blend 10w30 seemed a bit thick on startup in the winter. The thinner 5w30's "feel" good but i am concerned about them being too thin as Ive experienced slight oil usage when using 5w30 and none with 10w30.
So my question is, with all the fuel dillution i am likely experiencing with the short trips, does the weekly longer drives 'repair' the dillution? Regardless, would 5w30 be better for short trips and/or would 10w30 handle dillution better? Or in my climate (North Texas) are the two oils really interchangeable?
Right now i'm using Motorcraft 5w30, which seems to be on the "thicker" side of the various 5w30's on the market. I've also noticed the "new" Havoline 10w30 is about the same vis as Motorcraft 5w30, which may make it an attractive oil for me. I'd like to try a 'thin' 5w30 but also want to keep my Mazda for well over 100K.
Motorcraft 10w30 seems to be blended on the 'thin' side at cold temps, so that might be my next experimental oil. I should note ive also had good experiences with Superflo 10w30 as well as regular dino pennzoil 10w30.
I've tracked my gas mileage along side which oil im using and so far have been unable to see a big difference between the two. I may get slightly better city mileage with 5w30, but again, the biggest difference seems to be the weight of my right foot and not the oil in my crankcase.
I'd like to find a dino oil to use year-round. Here in North Texas I see temps from 15*F to 105*F sometimes without much warning of severe temp swings.
I should note this engine has not been back-spec'd by either Ford or Mazda to use 5w20. Ford stands by their orig 5w30 rec and Mazda stands by their 5w30 or 10w30 rec, depending on temp.
I tend to like the following choices in no particular order:
5w30 Pennzoil
10w30 Pennzoil
5w30 Havoline
10W30 Havoline
5w30 Motorcraft
10w30 Motorcraft
5w30 Castrol GTX
10w30 Castrol GTX
5w30 Superflo
10w30 Superflo
Ideas? Or should i just flip a coin?
I drive a 2001 Mazda 626. It has the Mazda (japan built-KL) 2.5 liter V6 with currently 53,000 miles on it.
My current driving patterns are 5 days a week i drive 1 mile to work in the morning, and then in the evening i drive 1 mile back, unless i run a few errands, but then 4 or 5 miles at most. However on the weekends i do make frequent 45 mile trips to neighboring cities, and maybe once a month or so get it out on the interstate for a 2 or 3 hour cruise. Sometimes with 'spirited' driving.
My car owners manual calls for 10w30 from -13*F on up OR 5w30 at all temps below 98*F.
I've experimented with both 5w30 and 10w30's from Havoline, Pennzoil, Shell, Motorcraft, Castrol, and Superflo. I change my oil at least every 3K miles, so synthetic is not a good option considering the price. Thus far i've not noticed a big difference between any of the oils with the expection of Castrol Synthetic blend 10w30 seemed a bit thick on startup in the winter. The thinner 5w30's "feel" good but i am concerned about them being too thin as Ive experienced slight oil usage when using 5w30 and none with 10w30.
So my question is, with all the fuel dillution i am likely experiencing with the short trips, does the weekly longer drives 'repair' the dillution? Regardless, would 5w30 be better for short trips and/or would 10w30 handle dillution better? Or in my climate (North Texas) are the two oils really interchangeable?
Right now i'm using Motorcraft 5w30, which seems to be on the "thicker" side of the various 5w30's on the market. I've also noticed the "new" Havoline 10w30 is about the same vis as Motorcraft 5w30, which may make it an attractive oil for me. I'd like to try a 'thin' 5w30 but also want to keep my Mazda for well over 100K.
Motorcraft 10w30 seems to be blended on the 'thin' side at cold temps, so that might be my next experimental oil. I should note ive also had good experiences with Superflo 10w30 as well as regular dino pennzoil 10w30.
I've tracked my gas mileage along side which oil im using and so far have been unable to see a big difference between the two. I may get slightly better city mileage with 5w30, but again, the biggest difference seems to be the weight of my right foot and not the oil in my crankcase.
I'd like to find a dino oil to use year-round. Here in North Texas I see temps from 15*F to 105*F sometimes without much warning of severe temp swings.
I should note this engine has not been back-spec'd by either Ford or Mazda to use 5w20. Ford stands by their orig 5w30 rec and Mazda stands by their 5w30 or 10w30 rec, depending on temp.
I tend to like the following choices in no particular order:
5w30 Pennzoil
10w30 Pennzoil
5w30 Havoline
10W30 Havoline
5w30 Motorcraft
10w30 Motorcraft
5w30 Castrol GTX
10w30 Castrol GTX
5w30 Superflo
10w30 Superflo
Ideas? Or should i just flip a coin?