Random question(s)

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
Dec 31, 2005
Messages
493
Location
Kansas
Was just looking at oil at Walmart and thought...

Why would one use 10w30 when 5w30 is available?

Same question for 5w20 when 0w20 is available?
 
Climate is one reason, 10w is OK down to -20c. Why pay the extra for an 0w when a 5w is specified in the manual?
Some people hate VIIs and love shear stability.
Some people have no idea so they ask their friend who says 'ummm well it's a diesel so it should be 15w40, right?'

It's kind of akin to asking why Ford is on sale when you could buy a Ferrari...different strokes for different folks and the right tool for the job.

There could be other reasons but I can't think of them right niw
 
Assuming no difference in price as there is typically none... At least where I am.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: vronline
Assuming no difference in price as there is typically none... At least where I am.


Assuming no price difference look at the first reply
 
You have people that rather follow the manual to a T. When I do oil changes for other people I follow the recommended spec and when they receive the bill of parts the oil viscosity purchased matches what is on the oil cap or manual and everyone's happy.
 
I use whatever I want. But I been doing this for a few decades
laugh.gif
 
.. its supply and demand on everything. You will see 0W8 and 0W16 oils soon...

If u really want to freak yourself out walk down the wine aisle... or even better the womens bodywash aisle... wake up man! this is america!
 
My car specifically calls for 10W30. Its a 2009 model. 5W30 was super prevalent in 2009, yet the manufacturer explicitly recommends 10W30 only.

So I use 10W30 only. And in my climate, its fine. If I lived in the great white north, I would run 0W30 and not think twice about it.
 
Smart man!

Originally Posted By: Kibitoshin
You have people that rather follow the manual to a T. When I do oil changes for other people I follow the recommended spec and when they receive the bill of parts the oil viscosity purchased matches what is on the oil cap or manual and everyone's happy.
 
Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant

Smart man!

Originally Posted By: Kibitoshin
You have people that rather follow the manual to a T. When I do oil changes for other people I follow the recommended spec and when they receive the bill of parts the oil viscosity purchased matches what is on the oil cap or manual and everyone's happy.
I do that with customers cars. That way I'm off the hook if something goes wrong. My stuff gets what I have in the garage.
 
Because some of us like 10w30 due to it just gives us a little extra against the heat. Really the whole oil viscosity is over thought. Unless you live on the Sun or Siberia, all the weights will suffice across the board including 10w40. I can remember when 5w30 was the lightweight that freaked everyone out.
 
An oil distributor here in S.Cal said he delivers a lot of 20w-50 and I don't know if that viscosity is recommended for any cars in this modern era for this usually warm or hot climate.

My 79 Scirocco purchased new got Castrol 20w-50 every oil change at 3K miles and I drive that car very hard and used the A/C a lot. I used a larger Ford spec oil filter (PH-8A if Fram) after grinding ways some of the oil filter mounting bracket for edge clearance, a common mod. The only problem I had was a blown head gasket which was common for that engine when pushed hard. It probably had nothing to do with the oil viscosity.
 
I think all manufacturers are squeezing every drop of MPG out of cars that's why you see 0-20 trucks. Every year restrictions get tighter and they need to get their fleet wide avg into certain avg.
 
Agreed- I see people freak here daily over using a 5w instead of a 0w and a 20w instead of a 30w.
If I had a shop I'd go by the book- less drama that way.

Originally Posted By: Chris142
Originally Posted By: AirgunSavant

Smart man!

Originally Posted By: Kibitoshin
You have people that rather follow the manual to a T. When I do oil changes for other people I follow the recommended spec and when they receive the bill of parts the oil viscosity purchased matches what is on the oil cap or manual and everyone's happy.
I do that with customers cars. That way I'm off the hook if something goes wrong. My stuff gets what I have in the garage.
 
My car calls for 5w-30; and that's what I've used on all but two occasions.
One winter I tried 0w-30 to see if it saved any gas; it didn't.
On a 5300 mile summer road trip I knew I'd be running 80+ mph for hours at a time
so I felt better running 10w-30. Did the engine feel better? I don't know.
 
Originally Posted By: Shata
I think all manufacturers are squeezing every drop of MPG out of cars that's why you see 0-20 trucks. Every year restrictions get tighter and they need to get their fleet wide avg into certain avg.


This.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom