Is 10W40 obsolete ?

[pbm]

I picked up some Havoline 10W40 that was on closeout at Walmart for $1.00 a quart. I've read that older 10W40's were known for VII breakdown which caused deposits in the ringpack area. Is this still true for SL and SM versions of 10W40?
Would you run this oil in a GM 3.1 or Saturn 1.9 in the summer or just use it for top up?

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: pbm
I picked up some Havoline 10W40 that was on closeout at Walmart for $1.00 a quart. I've read that older 10W40's were known for VII breakdown which caused deposits in the ringpack area. Is this still true for SL and SM versions of 10W40?
Would you run this oil in a GM 3.1 or Saturn 1.9 in the summer or just use it for top up?


Top Up!

 

[Zaedock]

SL/SM 10W40's are much, much better than those of old. I don't think the engines you listed really need a 40wt, but it wouldn't hurt anything.

To be honest, I'm a little surprised that a member with your time and posts are asking this

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: Zaedock
SL/SM 10W40's are much, much better than those of old. I don't think the engines you listed really need a 40wt, but it wouldn't hurt anything.

To be honest, I'm a little surprised that a member with your time and posts are asking this

I thought he was a new poster, oh well.

 

[jstutz]

pbm, i asked this a while back and kinda go the same response as Zaedock said about them being much better today than before. I do know some people that run the 10w40 here in NC where the weather is generally mild and have not had issues.

 

[Gary Allan]

Here in the states it's stale bread, but apparently in Europe it's a visc that's seen continued popularity and further development. At least that's what Doug Hillary has said ..and it seems to be supported by some EU posters.

 

[EricF]

Even though I know the answers to stuff I'm working on etc.. just reading the posts & views from bitog.. i kinda second guess myself at times and just want some reassurance.

 

[Zaedock]

Originally Posted By: EricF
Even though I know the answers to stuff I'm working on etc.. just reading the posts & views from bitog.. i kinda second guess myself at times and just want some reassurance.


Certainly! I absolutely meant no disrespect to pbm. It's not even really a big deal, I was just surprised with the question knowing of his previous forum contributions.

 

[jstutz]

you never know what he is thinking. Knowing he probably knows something about oil, he may be looking for something in particular or someone to pipe up with some real substantial data. Im interested in this also. For instance does PYB use the same basestock quality for 10w40 as 10w30 and so on?

 

[Audi Junkie]

I use it in Euro cars.

 

[hominid7]

If you go to the Pennzoil Lube selector site, it's kinda fun to put in your car (or in the OP's case something like a Vauxhall) for Australia and see what the oil rec's for that country are for the same engine.

http://ew5.earlweb.com/search.php?site=52

You'll see lots of 10w40's spec'd for euro/aus versions of american used engines.

 

[nooil]

I know a guy who uses castrol 10w-40 in all his vehicles and riding lawn mower without issue. When he gets a new vehicle he doesn't care what the recommended oil is.

 

[CATERHAM]

Somewhat off topic, but in motorcycle applications 10W-40 is probably the most popular grade. Because of the shared gearbox/engine oil shear is a problem. 5W-40 while available is too shear prone in many applications.

 

[pbm]

Originally Posted By: Zaedock
SL/SM 10W40's are much, much better than those of old. I don't think the engines you listed really need a 40wt, but it wouldn't hurt anything.

To be honest, I'm a little surprised that a member with your time and posts are asking this

I haven't given 10W40 any thought since I wrecked my 1982 Mazda GLC in 1988.
I do know that wider viscosity spreads (which used more VII) tended to break down in the past. I haven't read much about whether this is still true. At any rate , I couldn't pass up oil at a buck a quart.

 

[lipadj46]

I remember sending my wife to walmart to get M1 10w40 and she asked the guy at Walmart and he said they have not made 10w40 in years...

 

[wavinwayne]

Originally Posted By: lipadj46
I remember sending my wife to walmart to get M1 10w40 and she asked the guy at Walmart and he said they have not made 10w40 in years...

I'm sure he meant well.

FWIW, my GTI liked the M1 10w40.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: hominid7
If you go to the Pennzoil Lube selector site, it's kinda fun to put in your car (or in the OP's case something like a Vauxhall) for Australia and see what the oil rec's for that country are for the same engine.

http://ew5.earlweb.com/search.php?site=52

You'll see lots of 10w40's spec'd for euro/aus versions of american used engines.


Yeah,it`s pretty cool going on different country`s oil sites and playing around with their oil selectors. The US sites always give the generic 10W30 for my car. The Australian Pennzoil and Valvoline sites recommend 15W40 and 20W50 for my car.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Speaking of Havoline,I`ve actually had members recommend their oils to me when choosing a dino. Around here it`s suprisingly a lil hard to find. On the 40 weight question,I`ve also been told if you want to run a 40 weight,to choose a 15W40 over a 10W40 due to a stronger base oil. Is this fact or fiction?

 

[lipadj46]

15w40s are generally HDEOs so yes its true.

 

[1 SX]

I would use a 10W30 in the Saturn. I was using 5W30 Synthetic on my 120K mile 94 SL2 and was using maybe a QT every 2200 miles or so. I think it was using most of it at cold start up, and the 5Wt i think was slightly too thin..