M1 10 or 5w30 - now I'm confused

[ruking77]

I'd stick with the Mobil 1 5w30. I used to buy 10w30 on sale if 5w30 was not available. I did notice app .5 to almost 1 mpg difference. So I have long since stopped buying 10w30 although it is perfectly fine, sans the fuel mileage difference.

This might be on/off topic, but I ran the oem factory fill conventional 5w20 in a 2004 Honda Civic (oem recommended) for 10,000 miles and got between 35-39 mpg. I switched to Mobil One 0w20 and noticed an immediate increase in mpg range 1-3 mpg or 36-42 mpg. My conclusions might be a bit skewed, for I changed to a lower viscosity and went from conventional to synthetic. My plan is to run one more 10,000 mile OCI. This will carry me through the meager warranty period of 3 year or 36,000 miles. At that time I will have no qualms in running 15,000-20,000 oci's.

[ June 24, 2005, 02:44 PM: Message edited by: ruking77 ]

 

[surfstar]

hmmm....I think i'm gonna try the 5w30 in my Mazda now and see how it goes. I was always a little worried about it consuming oil or leaking with a 5w30, so I've stuck to the 10w30. I have always tracked my MPG, so I should be able to detect any difference.

 

[farrarfan1]

quote:

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Originally posted by Patman:
I see no benefit to running 10w30 Mobil 1 over 5w30 Mobil 1, since we've seen on here that Mobil 1 5w30 is just as stable as the 10w30. But yet the 5w30 will flow better on startup, even if it doesn't get super cold where you are.

So IMHO, Mobil 1 10w30 is obsolete, since 5w30 can do everything it can do and more.

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Patman, I agree with you on the merits of 5W30 over the 10W30 Mobil 1. In your opinion does the same apply to dino? Don't mean to hijack the thread but I see 10W30 recomended a lot on here for hot climates and I just don't see the numbers (UOA's, data sheets, etc) to back that up. Is 10W30 obsolete in dino also?

 

[drums57]

where you live there is no need for 5w30 you can 10w30 all year long,if these engines have high milage 10w30 wood be a better choice

 

[farrarfan1]

quote:

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Originally posted by drums57:
where you live there is no need for 5w30 you can 10w30 all year long,if these engines have high milage 10w30 wood be a better choice

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This is exactly what I don't understand. Comparing M1 5W30 to 10W30 per Mobils data sheets the 5W has a higher viscosity at 100c,11.3 vs 10, higher viscosity at 40C, 64.8 vs 62,a higher flashpoint 230 vs 224 and a lower pour point -54 vs -45.Based on these numbers what makes the 10W30 better? Shear stability? I don't think M1 5W30 has ever had a problem with being prone to shearing, has it?

Patman where are you?

 

[drums57]

do you have to use mobil 1 what about Havoline 10w30 i looked at the uoa on this site and havoline gives better protection than mobil 1.The most advantage to a synthetic is cold flow but you dont have to worry about that.

 

[surfstar]

the mazda 2.0L has 171k miles with a 3.7qt sump and the civic 1.6L 105k miles with a 3.5qt sump

neither leaks oil nor seem to burn any.
the data sheets is what is confusing me about any differences as the 5w is thicker at operating temp. ??

drums57 - i'm partial to M1 as i know its a high quality oil that will maintain a clean engine and clean out stuff if the previous owner didn't change the oil often enough or use a good oil. i highly doubt that M1 would cause any sort of wear that would lead to engine damage vs havoline.

 

[surfstar]

also, would i want the 5w30 which has higher viscosity if i'm interested in optimal MPG?
on paper, wouldn't the 10w30 give better MPG and easy enough flow for CA winters?

 

[drums57]

Surfstar the 5w30 might give a slight improvement in mpg i dont think you will even notice it.Go to the uoa section and look at the numbers that Havoline produces, if you change every 4 to 5 k Havoline will kept your engine as clean as mobil 1. Use the money you save and spend it on your girlfriend you will be glad you did.

 

[Blue99]

It's hard to nail down the viscosity of M1 5W-30, as the data sheet indicates 11.3 cSt and all the initial SM/GF-4 UOA's, with the reduced boron levels, have been in the 10.0 cSt range.

If it is indeed 11.3 cSt out of the bottle, this SM/GF-4 version may be designed to shear down to 10.0 cSt, possibly to pass the GF-4 fuel economy test.

Regardless, to answer your initial question, the issue is really volatility or consumption. Use of 5W-30 may result in more makeup oil, in some engines, over the oil change interval.

The 5W-30, with a lower pour point, will have a higher percentage, of, say a 4 cSt PAO base oil, for the 5W cold temp rating, and this lighter viscosity PAO tends to be more volatile.

 

[surfstar]

I run M1 10w30 in my '93 2.0L Mazda and am happy with it. I have been running M1 5w30 in my girlfrinds '96 Civic 1.6L VTEC. I was wondering if there would be any benefit going to the 10w30 in the civic, as it never gets cold here. It also seems that the 10w30 M1 is now thinner at various temps than the 5w30, and it may be more shear stable from what I've read. Here are the data sheets: http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil_1_10w-30.asp
http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil1_5W-30.asp

and the most confusing thing, is when I let the Mobil website choose an oil for her car it comes up with a 5w20, even though the manual and the oil filler cap call for a 5w30. The '96 is old enough to pre-date all the Xw20 recommendations, although not on Mobil's website.

So, any benefit to the 10w30 in her car?

 

[Patman]

I see no benefit to running 10w30 Mobil 1 over 5w30 Mobil 1, since we've seen on here that Mobil 1 5w30 is just as stable as the 10w30. But yet the 5w30 will flow better on startup, even if it doesn't get super cold where you are.

So IMHO, Mobil 1 10w30 is obsolete, since 5w30 can do everything it can do and more.

 

[Patman]

quote:

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Originally posted by farrarfan1:

quote:

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Originally posted by Patman:
I see no benefit to running 10w30 Mobil 1 over 5w30 Mobil 1, since we've seen on here that Mobil 1 5w30 is just as stable as the 10w30. But yet the 5w30 will flow better on startup, even if it doesn't get super cold where you are.

So IMHO, Mobil 1 10w30 is obsolete, since 5w30 can do everything it can do and more.

---

Patman, I agree with you on the merits of 5W30 over the 10W30 Mobil 1. In your opinion does the same apply to dino? Don't mean to hijack the thread but I see 10W30 recomended a lot on here for hot climates and I just don't see the numbers (UOA's, data sheets, etc) to back that up. Is 10W30 obsolete in dino also?

---

In dino I do not think 10w30 is obsolete though, since 5w30 dino does tend to thin out quite easily while 10w30 dino is much more stable.

 

[slickhonda]

Question still remains: If 5W-30 M1 is 11.3, and 64.8 cSt and M1 10W-30 is 10 and 62, respectively, how can you say 5W will give better flow? The numbers don't prove this out.

Also the 5W is only rated A1/B1 and the 10W is rated A1/B1/A5/B5 = longer drains? more ability to stay in grade? Seriously doubt 10W is obsolete.

 

[Ugly3]

quote:

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Originally posted by slickhonda:
Question still remains: If 5W-30 M1 is 11.3, and 64.8 cSt and M1 10W-30 is 10 and 62, respectively, how can you say 5W will give better flow? The numbers don't prove this out.

Also the 5W is only rated A1/B1 and the 10W is rated A1/B1/A5/B5 = longer drains? more ability to stay in grade? Seriously doubt 10W is obsolete.

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Mobil 1 10w30 is obsolete. 10w30 and 5w30 are about the same at 104F (0C) and 212F (100C), however, the 5w30 Pour Point is -65F and the 10w30 is -49F. A real advantage when you get below 104F (0C).

 

[Blue99]

Slickhonda, many here will agree with you, and yes, M1 10W-30 does have the A5 rating advantage over the 5W-30.

Again, the key point is that the 10W-30 formulation has less of the lighter weight PAO base oils which tend to bump up the volatility of the finished formulation.

In applications where higher ambient temps or loads, such as towing, are a factor, the 10W-30 has better properties.

But on the flip side of the coin, we have many very good UOA's for M1 5W-30 and the difference between M1 5W & 10W, even in hot summer temps, may be tough to measure.

 

[buster]

The 10w M1 will be a bit less volatile and has a slightly better HT/HS number. (3.0 vs 3.2). I do not think the 10w is obsolete at all.

 

[-SyN-]

SurStar: IMHO since U live in CA={nice warm-sunshinie days}!
I would pour in 10W-30. Will also serve U better if U do alot of interstate driving.

Either one will do the job Fine.
IMHO.
I have used M1 for over 25 yrs.