Is 10W-30 an Obsolete Viscosity Grade?

[The Critic]

I've always wondered with percentage of engine oil sales are to quick lubes and dealerships...Ashland once said it's a little over 50%.

Given that quick lubes only install the recommended viscosity for liability reasons, wouldn't that be a major driver for the sales of 5w-20 and 5w-30?

 

[bruce381]

""It's also the only grade that allows Group I as the majority basestock in SM/GF-4 formulations.""

Not true GPI volitlity is way to high >22% or so to be used as a majority base stock in 5w,10w oils but is used somewhat in 15w\xx and for sure in 20w\xx as well as some heavy straight grades.

bruce

 

[JohnBrowning]

I too do not belive that SM GF4 10W30 could be made from mostly GI. The volitity of the oil would not meet spec. with group one.

 

[JohnBrowning]

The quick lubes in my town will put in whaterver you ask for from 5W30-20W50. They usuualy only have 5W30 and 10W30 on the automatic feed in dino only. If you want 10W40,20W50, HD30 or synthetic they have to manualy get it from either a case or a drum.

 

[Rhoyd]

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Make and model, engine?

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'93 Ford F150 Lightning, 351 Windsor.

 

[Mr Nice]

If you are in FL, you can run 10w30 all year long without any problems.

 

[Gene K]

Quote:

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Given that quick lubes only install the recommended viscosity for liability reasons, wouldn't that be a major driver for the sales of 5w-20 and 5w-30?

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Until the advent of 5W-20 (Manufactures can only use it in Fuel Economy Test if they dont mention other grades in the manual) almost all 5W-30 Speced cars "allowed" 10W-30 as an optional choice in the owners manual. The 3800 Buick is a good example. Around here is you take almost any GM to any "Quickchange" and dont specify oil you get 10W-30.

As matter of fact last I checked SAE30 was a major seller. It was the cheapest oil in bulk. Most of it went to "Quickchange" places. Many people believe they were dumping it in all 5W-30/10W-30 Spec Cars as a simple 100*C test would not show a difference in viscosity.

 

[427Z06]

Quote:

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""It's also the only grade that allows Group I as the majority basestock in SM/GF-4 formulations.""

Not true GPI volitlity is way to high >22% or so to be used as a majority base stock in 5w,10w oils but is used somewhat in 15w\xx and for sure in 20w\xx as well as some heavy straight grades.

bruce

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Bruce, sorry your wrong. I proved this several times before with numerous references. I'm going to give just one reference this time because I'm tired of repeatedly proving this:

http://www.chevron.com/products/prodserv/BaseOils/gf4_faq.shtml



What about 10W-30? For GF-4, can it still be made with Group I base oils? What are Correction Fluids?

Depending on the properties of the Group I oil used, the final blend might require 10-50% of a correction fluid, such as 5R (Group II+). If a Group III correction fluid is used, less will be required.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

Yes, I agree. 10w30 is a money maker$$$$(because of the lower basestock requirements to meet it) It's always nice to sell a product with a perception of being better, yet it actually cost less to produce.

 

[427Z06]

Quote:

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Quote:

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Make and model, engine?

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'93 Ford F150 Lightning, 351 Windsor.

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In Florida, you can use SM/GF-4 5w30 dinos all year long. You can look up the specs and you'll find virtually all 10w30 dinos don't perform any better.

 

[surfstar]

I like my 10w30 synthetics. Also 10w30 SL dinos aren't bad either.

It got cold the last couple nights here - I think it went down to 39* F last night.

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

Let's see, Pennzoil Platinum, 10W30 dated 4-22-2005. API SM, ILSAC GF4, is "Energy Conserving", and touts compliance with GM standards 4718M (whatever that is).

Sounds pretty current to this day, especially for an "obsolete" oil. My 2005, which stresses 5W20 all seasons, nonetheless still shows 10W30 SJ/SL as acceptable down to 0 Degrees F.

 

[Patman]

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Let's see, Pennzoil Platinum, 10W30 dated 4-22-2005. API SM, ILSAC GF4, is "Energy Conserving", and touts compliance with GM standards 4718M (whatever that is).

Sounds pretty current to this day, especially for an "obsolete" oil.

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That's not really the point though, the point is, why have the 10w30 when the 5w30 also passes those specs too? 5w30 can do everything the 10w30 can do, and will also flow better in the cold. So 10w30 really is not necessary anymore.

The only reason it's still a top seller is because people just can't let go of the past, just like so many people still cling onto the 3k/3 month OCI with an iron clad grip.

 

[TomJones76]

Patman, one could argue that the only reason it's a top seller is that the lube makers want to charge the same money for a cheaper product... otherwise I'll bet it would have gone away like 20W20.

 

[1sttruck]

When I looked at 30 weight oils at Walmart the M1 10w30 EP and a Castrol synthetic were the only ones with an A5/B5 rating. Walmart doesn't have the most extensive selection, maybe Mobil hadn't taken the time get the rating for their other oils, but at the time when I was looking for oil 10w30 appeared to be a better oil than than Mobil's other 30 weight offerings.

 

[427Z06]

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When I looked at 30 weight oils at Walmart the M1 10w30 EP and a Castrol synthetic were the only ones with an A5/B5 rating.

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That's because EOM decided to cheapen their regular line. All M1's use to pass ACEA's A3/B3/B4-02 or the A5/B5.

Further, your referring to synthetics, not dinos.

 

[The Critic]

Mobil 1 EP 5W30 meets ACEA A5/B5.

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil_1_Extended_Performance.asp

 

[vulture]

But chevron 10W-30 is still made from group II while 5w-30 made from group II+.
Do I understand that correctly?

 

[ziggy]

SO which would actually lube better, and for protection, 10w 30 or 5w 30? I used 10w 30 mobile 1, 2 years ago, in my 95 neon SOHC ATX, and it ran like #@$%!, durin a hot humid summer. Same day i changed it back to 5w 30 and it drov normal. COuld it be, my car jsut dosnt like 10w 30?

 

[Blue99]

Yes, the "Isosyn" term on the Chevron 10W-30 label indicates the base oils are Chevron Grp II.

Keep in mind that volatility increases with lighter weight base oils and the higher percentage of lighter 4-5 cSt base oils in a 5W-30 practically mandates the use of Grp II+.

A 10W-30 can meet the same high temperature performance requirement with Grp II, as the base oil blend has more of a heavier base oil weight to help with the volatility.