M1 10w30 for higher mileage engine?

[oilpan49]

Hey,

I've learned it's better for a higher mileage engine to run a thicker viscosity for the higher clearnaces and tolerances in the engine.

Meaning in my words, say an engine reccomends 5w30. You run this oil for say 130K miles under normal conditions.(NOt running the same M1 for 130K, but providing you change the oil you stick with the same viscosity) Once the engine reaches that mileage or somewhere in the neighborhood, it's better for that engine to switch to a 10w30?? Yes we are using synthetic. Thanks,,,,,,AR

 

[Mamala Bay]

Synthetic oil doesn't shear down like dino. I've used 5w30, 10w30, and 0w30 all synthetic and in my driving condition all seem to work about the same. Why don't you try mixing say like a 5w30 and maybe a quart of 15w-50 (Mobil 1) and see if it gives better performance. I'm trying the SUV 5w-40 from 80K miles and it's on the heavier side but summer is hot here. It does better than the 10w30 at this mileage....I see no issue maybe 1MPG decrease.

 

[Mamala Bay]

I would go higher...I don't think synthetic is no difference from dino the engine will wear a bit at that mileage.

 

[Ugly3]

If I had run an engine on 5w30 synthetic for 130,000 and did not have a problem I would stay with 5w30.

If I could not keep from fixing what is not broken I would go to 0w40 and hope I am not wrecking a good thing.

 

[Alan]

Todays 5W30 is a good grade that works wells in applications it's specified for.
It flows faster at a start up than a comparible 10W30 which now a days seems like an obsolete grade.

Fast flowing oil has a lot of benefits,look at most of the 5W20 UOA's

.Good stuff!

 

[Al]

Well its sort of a loaded question. Are the clearances greater (really) and where are they greater and by how much? I think really as long as its not using excessive oil you can stay with the same stuff you were using 100K before. If its noisy than its obvious that there are problems developing and sure -go with the thicker oil and see if it quiets things down.

But I'm not convinced of the "sience" of just switching to a thicker oil as the car gets older. I think it may be partly one of those urban legend things.

 

[oilpan49]

Hey,

Thanks for replies!

I post this is because our family van with 130K is still running like a champ and we also use M1 5w30 year around in it mated to a bosch premium filter.

It's a 94 Grand Caravan with the 3.3L v6 Auto. 95% city, 5% highway. That's all the van does really since we bought it with 93K miles 6 years ago. Usually are OCI's are at about 6000 miles or 6 months. Funny thing is 6 months usually comes first since the van only runs around town on the weekdays, sometimes it'll just sit during the weekend. Probably couldn't hurt to get it out at highway speed for a change and get on it a few times. Thanks,,,,AR

 

[jsharp]

quote:

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Originally posted by Ugly3:
If I had run an engine on 5w30 synthetic for 130,000 and did not have a problem I would stay with 5w30.

If I could not keep from fixing what is not broken I would go to 0w40 and hope I am not wrecking a good thing.

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I agree on this. Why change what's working? If the engine isn't consuming the 5w30 and a UOA isn't out of line with the norms I think I'd keep running it...