I have gone back and forth between 5w30 and 10w30. My car allows for both, and i enjoy experimenting with various brands in both 5w30 and 10w30.
One thing i have noticed is that with 5w30 it is really difficult to check the oil when the engine is warm. It is if it is too thin to show properly on the dipstick. If i wait 20 minutes or so, it's normal. When i use 10w30 it shows on the dipstick right away and is easier to read.
I would think the opposite would be true, 10w30 taking longer to drain down should take longer to register on the dipstick, but the opposite seems to be happening.
Any ideas? It's a DOHC V6 Mazda engine.
I dont have a flat place to park the car at home so i usually check the oil level at the gas station or the car wash, thus the warm engine.
As a side note of possible interest, while i've used Motorcraft and Tropartic 5w30 lots of times, currently i have TropArtic 10w30 in the crankcase and the car seems to love it. After doing a lot of research, I've found that the TropArtic just almost makes it under the wire as a thick 5w30, but not quite. So far i really like it and it's easy to read on the dipstick to boot!
One thing i have noticed is that with 5w30 it is really difficult to check the oil when the engine is warm. It is if it is too thin to show properly on the dipstick. If i wait 20 minutes or so, it's normal. When i use 10w30 it shows on the dipstick right away and is easier to read.
I would think the opposite would be true, 10w30 taking longer to drain down should take longer to register on the dipstick, but the opposite seems to be happening.
Any ideas? It's a DOHC V6 Mazda engine.
I dont have a flat place to park the car at home so i usually check the oil level at the gas station or the car wash, thus the warm engine.
As a side note of possible interest, while i've used Motorcraft and Tropartic 5w30 lots of times, currently i have TropArtic 10w30 in the crankcase and the car seems to love it. After doing a lot of research, I've found that the TropArtic just almost makes it under the wire as a thick 5w30, but not quite. So far i really like it and it's easy to read on the dipstick to boot!