HDEO that runs quieter?

[gunnellett]

Have you used a particular HDEO where you clearly noticed a difference in how loud your engine sounded after switching to it?

I am particularly interested in oils you noticed a definite reduction in volume or of a particular noise/sound.

In my truck with a 7.3, it definitely runs much quieter and smoother after an oil change. Anyone with a 7.3 will confirm that is not a placebo affect with this engine.

It also has much less noise on start-up with an oil having a winter rating of 5 as opposed to 15 regardless of the weather.

It's been awhile, but I feel the Valvoline Premium Blue 5-40 was noticably quieter at first but didn't last as long.

 

[fantastic]

Not necessarily in how you describe but I noticed a big improvement in the cold winter going from 15w to a 5w HDEO on my old 7.3L. On my 6.0L I don't notice near as much difference but it has a lot more compression (7.3L had a lot of miles on it). New oil seems to sound better than used oil but that's not scientific & probably a placebo effect.

 

[gunnellett]

Not necessarily in how you describe but I noticed a big improvement in the cold winter going from 15w to a 5w HDEO on my old 7.3L. On my 6.0L I don't notice near as much difference but it has a lot more compression (7.3L had a lot of miles on it). New oil seems to sound better than used oil but that's not scientific & probably a placebo effect.

Well you will see I added to my original post as somehow I accidentally hit post before I was done.

New oil in a 7.3 is definitely not a placebo effect in my book!

My 30 year old girl definitely lets you know it is time for an oil change by how loud it starts to get and doesn't run quite as smoothly. It's crazy how it feels it almost happens overnight!

 

[kschachn]

Engines always sound quieter after an oil change. For one thing the oil is cold and thick and this helps to dampen the sound. If the engine was running prior to the change and you're comparing it to that, then this is the reason. Second the new oil is not diluted with fuel or otherwise thinned.

Noise on startup due to the winter rating would be highly dependent on the temperature. Any oil with a 5W rating isn't guaranteed to be thicker or thinner than the same grade with a 15W rating, except at below the testing temperature for the rating. You say "regardless of the weather", if that's the case then it isn't due to the winter rating.

 

[kschachn]

Here are a few previous (sometimes lengthy) discussions on this popular topic. A few are essentially identical to your question:

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Thread 'Fresh Oil = Quiet'

Mar 28, 2024

Why is it that a fresh oil change in my Honda always results in a buttery quiet engine and as the miles rack up (in only do 5k mile OCI's) the engine gets noisier and noisier? Mostly ticking.

I'm running 5w40 HPL SuperCar in my 2010 Honda Accord with 270k miles

• Phishin
• Replies: 96
• Forum: Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) - Gasoline Vehicles

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Thread 'Study on Engine Noise Level vs Oil Formulation'

Feb 16, 2021

Thought this was somewhat interesting, especially the engine noise level vs oil formulation used data. We've all seen various threads where people say they can hear an engine noise level difference with different oils, and some say it's "all in their head" or "their ears aren't sensitive enough to tell a difference". Guess I go with science on this one.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/493/1/012008/pdf

• ZeeOSix
• Replies: 72
• Forum: Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) - Gasoline Vehicles

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M

Thread 'Oil Life vs. Engine Noise'

Mar 12, 2016

Does anybody experience the phenomenon of an engine becoming more noisy as it's motor oil gets age on it?

• MrkofXcellence
• Replies: 15
• Forum: Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) - Gasoline Vehicles

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Thread 'Engine noise gone with a thinner W oil.'

Sep 25, 2019

Thinnies are going to love this even though it only relates to the W part.

My car makes this tapping/ticking? Sound when cold. Noise is very noticeable above 1800 RPM. I typically keep the rpm below that (in 2nd gear) till the engine warms up and the noise is gone. The car has over 200K miles. Where I live, we can't go faster than 20-25 mph for a few miles so keeping the rpm below 1800 is not an issue.

With 5W30, I can't hear the noise. Just changed the oil from Chevron Supreme 10W30 to CS 5W30 and no noise.

Even in the summer 80°F ambient, the car makes the noise for a while with...

• OilUzer
• Replies: 14
• Forum: Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) - Gasoline Vehicles

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Thread 'Engine sounds and drives way better after oil change'

Dec 7, 2019

I know this has probably been beat to death but I'm confused about something. So I was running castrol edge 5w30 or another name brand full synthetic and I decided to get an oil change a couple thousand before the actual due date as winter is approaching. The oil still had life left and my truck olm never said anything. I got a fresh oil change with the Dexos 2 gm stuff at the dealership and wow the truck sounds and drives way smoother and better now. It just feels completely different at the same oul weight. What I don't understand tho is that the old oil that was in the vehicle before...

• jalikaria24
• Replies: 46
• Forum: Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) - Gasoline Vehicles

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Thread 'Engine smoother after oil change'

Feb 21, 2022

Hi guys,

I know for the most part there must be a placebo effect, but recently I changed the oil in my 6G75 Mitsubishi Diamante and I genuinely believe it got smoother.

I went from Castrol Edge 5W40 with 6,500 miles on it to Valvoline SynPower 5W40.
The engine is in good condition with no sludge, not even varnish (internals are raw aluminum color).

I have driven the car a few times now and just think to myself it is running smoothly, then remember that I did an oil change.

Is this possible?
The only thing I am thinking is whether different oils stick on the rotating assembly in...

• Spetz
• Replies: 40
• Forum: Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) - Gasoline Vehicles

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Thread 'Engine Noise And Oil Brand'

May 28, 2024

Is their truth to engine noise and what brand of oil you put in your car? My last oil change I use Napa synthetic 0w20 oil and my engine was noisier. Just changed the oil a few days ago with Pennzoil Platinum same viscosity and the noise is gone. Maybe it’s additives in the oil?

• Charmet37
• Replies: 78
• Forum: Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) - Gasoline Vehicles

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Thread 'Can a brand of oil have an effect on engine noise?'

Jun 15, 2009

I have read on numerous occasions, posts that state a certain brand they use in their vehicle has led to an engine being "more quiet".

Assuming the grade of oil used is the same throughout, can a different brand of oil have an effect on the engine noise and if so, what is it in the oil that aids in decresed noise?

• sir1900
• Replies: 18
• Forum: Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) - Gasoline Vehicles

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Thread 'Loud vs Quiet Oils'

Nov 3, 2018

So I know this doesn't really mean much in terms of oil performance but for me noisy oils just bother me. Super subjective too, I have never taken decibel measurements or anything like that...

I have a 2004 LS430 that has about 125k on it, I've put the last 12K on it since I bought it, it is an amazing car. But it has perhaps the most sensitive/oil dependent tappet-y sound of any car I've ever had (I've had A LOT of cars) but it got me thinking over my past cars and what oils I've tended to notice are nosier than other oils.

I've also been playing with oils to see what is really quiet...

• MPosey
• Replies: 149
• Forum: Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) - Gasoline Vehicles

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Thread 'If an engine is quieter after an oil change, why?'

Mar 20, 2012

So I had the oil changed on two cars after about a year.

One had Mobil 1 0w40 before and after, and it was a 6k interval. The oil was quite black, but as we know that oil can last much longer than 6k. It's the MB 5.5 V8 engine. The new oil was GF5/SN, the old oil might not have been.

The second went from Valvoline Synpower to Quaker State Ultimate Durability, both 5w30. It did 3.5k. Oil was not as black. Both oils were GF4/SM.

But both cars were noticeably quieter after the oil change.

What is the reason? Is it due to shearing and the fact that the new oil is now the correct weight?

• RedCorvette
• Replies: 32
• Forum: Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) - Gasoline Vehicles

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Thread ' Motor oil and engine sound'

Jan 28, 2016

I've read in many forums about people who say the engine of their vehicles feels more "quiet" and "sound less" when using an specific motor oil brand.

I'm wondering if that's true and what chemical on some oils would "reduce" the sound of the engine.

• Carguy21
• Replies: 57
• Forum: Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) - Gasoline Vehicles

Thread 'What oil/oils have made your engine more quiet?'

Jun 3, 2008

I'm curious because I've really never had an oil make a difference and I'm skeptical of these claims in general. My personal opinion is that it's psychological 90% of the time.

• buster
• Replies: 63
• Forum: Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) - Gasoline Vehicles

 

[fantastic]

Well you will see I added to my original post as somehow I accidentally hit post before I was done.

New oil in a 7.3 is definitely not a placebo effect in my book!

My 30 year old girl definitely lets you know it is time for an oil change by how loud it starts to get and doesn't run quite as smoothly. It's crazy how it feels it almost happens overnight!

Stick with the 5w if you want it to run it's best during winter. That's really the only biggest difference here. If you're trying to quiet it with oil outside of the above conditions...good luck! 7.3L are loud engines. If you're concerned get a stethoscope & put your calibrated ear & listen to the different brands you decide to run. Just ribbing a little.

 

[BC1]

I have never noticed a difference in sound with any oil over the last 20+ years with mine. They only way to quiet it is to cut the key off.

 

[bdcardinal]

I thought I was high as a giraffe when this happened last LOF on my diesel. I switched from Rotella T6 5W40 to Mobil 1 ESP 5w40 (it was cold and on sale at Walmart) and I swore the engine sounded quieter.

 

[OM617YOTA]

Changed my 1KZTE from Super Tech 15w40 conventional summer oil to Delo XSP 5w40 this weekend and it was noticeably quieter and smoother.

I don't generally subscribe to the idea of "my engine loves XYZ oil" when what most people mean is "my engine didn't immediately blow up on XYZ oil." Any perceived improvement is likely from changing old/used/sheared out of viscosity oil to fresh in-spec oil and doesn't mean anything about whatever oil flavor they chose.

That said, I've run O'Reily's house brand 15w40, Rotella 5w40, and Super Tech 15w40, and now XSP 5w40, and to my completely uncalibrated ear and having listened to only the Super Tech 15w40 and XSP anywhere close to each other, the XSP is the only one I thought changed how the engine sounds.

 

[johnmyster]

It's kinda like when your brand new tires ride smoother than the old ones. Of course they do. There's an additional 3/8" of rubber between you and the road. It may or may not also be because it's a better tire, but it's not a fair comparison.

The reason why you changed from your old oil to the new oil is because the old oil was old. If it never got old, there'd be no reason to change to the new. The new is better at being oil because it's new, and not old.

 

[Ruby]

I used to own a 2002 F350 4x4 with the 4R100 Auto Transmission with the legendary 7.3, great motor. Who knows, if the truck's body would not have rusted badly, I still may have it. It ran great and was great to drive. I actually took really good care of he truck over the years I owned it.

I usually ran the Motor Craft 15w40, or once in a while Delo 15w40 always with the Motor Craft Oil Filter changing the oil and oil filter every 5000 miles or a little sooner and grease the front end while waiting for the oil and oil filter to drain. Super Easy oil changes with this truck.

Looking back, I wished I would have run a 5w40 diesel oil during the cold months which would have made the 7.3 a little happier even after plugging in.

I now have a 2011 Ram 3500 4x4 and always run the Rotella T6 5w40 year round.

 

[crashz]

My Kubota L2501 has a loud diesel engine. I typically run a synthetic 5w-40 because I use it in the winter to plow. Last year I tried a Kubota branded 15w-40 conventional oil and it was remarkably quieter.

 

[Ruby]

My prior truck was 2002 F350 4x4 with the 7.3 made by International. What a great motor and very easy to work on. When I had my 7.3, I always usually ran the Motor Craft 15w40 year round in all climates. I did run Delo 15w40 a few times and always the Motor Craft FL-1995 oil filter always changing the oil and filter every 5000 miles per the manual. I didn't notice any engine noise quieter or louder with either oil, the 7.3 had a distinctive sound which I thought sounded great. If I still had my 7.3 today, I would run Shell Rotella T6 5w40 in it. My 2011 Ram 3500 6.7 Cummins does very well with the Rotella T6 5w40 year round.