I think it depends on the brand. Looking at the MSDS's, Valvoline Durablend for the wider spreads such as 5w30 appears to have better base oil components than the tighter spreads such as 10w30. On that alone (all else equal) the 5w30 Durablend may be better than the 10w30. Of course there is a lot more to oil than base oil type. Now for Maxlife the MSDS's show all grades very similar in base oil composition, in which case I would definitely favor the 10w30 over the 5w30.
SAME BRAND DIFFERENT VISCOSITY
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Based strictly on where you live, and without going into formulation issues, 5w30 would certainly be a more appropriate year-round lube for you. In general, 10w-30 lubes are only rated down to about 0 degrees F, and 5w30 down to about -13F. 5w30 is rated UP TO about 100F, which should suffice for you, I would think.
http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/nafl/auto/content/faq.shtm
http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/nafl/auto/content/faq.shtm
Yes, they dont want to pay a CAFE penalty.
Very few cars sold outside the USA/Canada spec 5w30.
Gene
Let say same brand of oil but one is 5w30 the other 10w30. Witch one is the best under average use and average weather?
As Gene indicates, the driving force behind spec'ing 5w30 is CAFE fleet mpg averages & the EPA driving cycle test.
The API energy conserving starburst designation & ISLAC GF-3 certs have pushed the viscosities of both 10W-30 & 5w30 into the lower end of the SAE 30 grade scale.
IMHO, the performance of many 5W & 10W-30 oils will be so close, it's actually a toss-up to pick one over the other, until cold starts at below zero degrees F (-18C) are considered.
Here's my standard example:
Too often, 10W-30 is simply viewed as a "thicker" oil than 5w30, probably because a value of 10 is 2 times greater than 5.
The API energy conserving starburst designation & ISLAC GF-3 certs have pushed the viscosities of both 10W-30 & 5w30 into the lower end of the SAE 30 grade scale.
IMHO, the performance of many 5W & 10W-30 oils will be so close, it's actually a toss-up to pick one over the other, until cold starts at below zero degrees F (-18C) are considered.
Here's my standard example:
In this case, the VI improvers in the Motorcraft oil actually make the 5W a thicker oil (when new) at full operating temperature.
Too often, 10W-30 is simply viewed as a "thicker" oil than 5w30, probably because a value of 10 is 2 times greater than 5.
FWIW-- I've gone from 75% (of the year) 10w30 to 75% 5w30. I think modern 5-30's can hold up just fine and the shearing down to mid twenty weights don't bother me a bit.
Blue99,
Ok the 5w30 is thicker. But what are the chance to see it shearing to a W 20 faster than the 10w30 under the same kind of service ???
MC 5w30 pour point is -40F
Pennzoil 10w30 pour point is -33F
Look at the UOA reports - oils with severe sheering are a thing of the past.
Cars ran on 20w oils for years and years and the engines were a whole lot more loose than the new ones are and the oils were not nearly as good as today's oils.
5w30 gets my vote every time.
Pennzoil 10w30 pour point is -33F
Look at the UOA reports - oils with severe sheering are a thing of the past.
Cars ran on 20w oils for years and years and the engines were a whole lot more loose than the new ones are and the oils were not nearly as good as today's oils.
5w30 gets my vote every time.
Are you referring to dinos only? Or are you lumping dinos, syn-blend, syns all together here?
Assuming you're talking dinos only, and both 5w30 and 10w30 are recommended for your application, and you putt around like a fuddle farrt, or do a lot of short trips low speed trips, 5w30 year round will probably be just fine for your location. On the other hand, if your drive like Mario Andretti, live south of the 30th parallel, I'd probably choose the equivalent quality dino in the 10w30 (hopefully of higher HTHS) variety.
Will the wrong choice shorten the life of your engine? Probably not.
Yup Dino only, especially, blend
Thanks for your input guys
Thanks for your input guys
So what I am reading if my Penzoil shears down to a 20wt in 1000 miles that 3700 miles later that will in most cases not effect the wear #'s.
Ugly...I'm not trying to be smart here but what is all the fuss about the new 5w20 grade if thats what we ran for years without knowing it ?
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