Some More Thick and Thin Questions.....

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I just purchased a 99 Ford Windstar Van with the 3.8 Liter engine. It has 120,000 miles on it. It calls for 5-20 engine oil. These are my thoughts and correct me where I error.

5-20 is a cafe requirement only and a 5-30 or 10-30 can be run!

If you choose to run a 30wt oil, run a thinner type of oil that meets GF-4!

Only some engines need the 5-20 for injector action purposes!

I want to run a 10-30 GF-4 rated oil the rest of the summer, moving back to a 0-20 or 0-30 in the Winter.....what are your thought of this subject?
 
IMO 10w30 is as thin as one should go unless they will be seeing sub zero F weather. Then a 5w30 (or better yet a 10w30 synthetic) is warranted.
 
Quote:


Some say that 10w30 is "thick" oil. What a joke.




+1

Too many people on this board think that way. Take a clear glass jar of 10w30 and heat it up in your oven to 200F. Now swish it around and tell me how thick it is then.
 
Since you are in Idaho, I imagine you'll see plenty of cold weather driving, as well as mountain driving and hot summers.

If the engine runs well on 5W-20, then it might still be worth a try. The 5W-20 oils that meet Ford and Honda's specs are usually pretty good oils, and are often synthetic blends.

If 5W-20 works it may be better suited for the cold weather and provide slightly better mpg.

If you want to look for 'thin' 5w30 and 10w30 oils there is a sticky in this forum that might help you find the right oil.

I don't see what would be wrong with a 0W-20 in the winter and a 10w30 for the summer heat.

If it was a good 0W-20 like the new Amsoil, or Mobil 1 0W-20, or a stout 5W-20 like the Redline 5W-20.... I also don't see what would be wrong with running these oils all year long.

I prefer 0W-x oils that are full synthetic and tend to be on the thick side at high temperatures.

When there is a wide range of temps, and mountain driving like we see in the Rockies in Colorado...I'm convinced that full synthetic can be better.

I run Mobil 1 0W-20, 5W-20, and Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20 in our Honda Element.

GC 0W-30, Elf Excellium 0W-30, and maybe I'll try Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 in our Subaru Outbacks.

Delvac 1 5W-40 in our Duramax Crew Cab.

Redline 5W-40 or GC 0w30 in our older BMW's, and Mobil 1 0W-40 in the newer BMW's and Mercedes.

Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 in our Chevy Corsica.

When I just had to make a drive from Vail to Salt Lake and back and it was over 100 degrees during much of the trip.....I was really happy to have a 'thick' full synthetic 0w30 in the engine.

I really like this comment in a Volvo oil bulletin:

"Synthetic oils meeting SAE 0W-30, 5w30, or 0W-40 and complying with oil quality requirements are
recommended for driving in areas of sustained temperature extremes (hot or cold), when towing a trailer over
long distances, and for prolonged driving in mountainous area."


http://theoildrop.server101.com/forums/s...true#Post928396


I'm convinced that 'thicker' oils, full synthetic oil, better base stocks, and higher additive levels..... make a positive difference when there is any sort of demanding driving.

I'm also convinced that Lube Control LC-20 in the oil and FP Plus in the fuel is worth using.

And, Auto RX is a great way to gently clean a used engine.

I no longer judge an engine until after I've run these products and I feel the engine internals are clean.
 
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Quote:


Quote:


Some say that 10w30 is "thick" oil. What a joke.




+1

Too many people on this board think that way. Take a clear glass jar of 10w30 and heat it up in your oven to 200F. Now swish it around and tell me how thick it is then.




+2
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