Sure my 0 weight will be fine, but my

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daves87rs

daves87rs

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Feb 23, 2009
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OCD here just won't it go...
crazy.gif



I decided grab a few jugs of the M1 AFE 0w30 jugs from autozone for some yearly oil changes for my "baby" (and soon to be slightly custom) 04 Ecotec running Cavalier. (You can stop laughing now
wink.gif
) I know this and a Delco cartridge are overkill (for a slightly over 3k change), but it's nice under 20 buck oil change....

Anyways, here is my worry. The car tends to sit for a little while at times (not too long, a few weeks at the very most), but I have this little worry that the oil will be too thin at start up (or more maybe that it will drain off the top of the engine easier) and cause a little more start up wear than normal....


My BITOG side says I am worrying over nothing and it will be just fine, but I just feel the need to prove it somehow....
 
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
OCD here just won't it go...
crazy.gif


My BITOG side says I am worrying over nothing and it will be just fine, but I just feel the need to prove it somehow....


I would say one oil analysis, but your OCD will probably want two to compare against a 10w.
 
Two things; first, stop worrying, it can't be "too thin" at startup.

Second
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:

Originally Posted By: daves87rs
OCD here....


Hyphenated

Non-hyphenated


27.gif
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: CT8
Magnetech sticks to the parts. There I did it.


Dang it, and here I've been using M1 since the late '70s.

Can the damage be reversed?
 
The number before W is not oil weight. It is its winter rating. The oil gets it by passing the MRV and CC test at a certain temperature. For MRV 10W is at -30C, 5W is at -35C and 0W is at -40C.

Since oil viscosity is not linear and increases more rapidly as the oil nears its pumpability limit, the biggest differences between these ratings will be seen close to the temperatures they were tested at. At around water's freezing point, those differences are negligible from the engine perspective.
 
You can tell at cold start after sitting for a while. Open hood, start engine. If it sounds rattly or rough, switch oils or viscosities.

If it were me, I'd run at least a 5W blend for motors that sit ...
 
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
OCD here just won't it go...
crazy.gif



Anyways, here is my worry. The car tends to sit for a little while at times (not too long, a few weeks at the very most), but I have this little worry that the oil will be too thin at start up (or more maybe that it will drain off the top of the engine easier) and cause a little more start up wear than normal....



You need to remember that the first number and the second number of an oils viscosity are on completely different scales. Oil is at its thinnest when fully warmed up. Having a 0w oil simply means it will be LESS THICK than a 5w WHEN COLD But in both cases, the oil will still be much much thicker when cold, than at operating temperature. So with all that in mind, going from 10w30 to a 0w30 makes the oil easier to pump when the engine is cold, and reduces the time that the engine is deprived of oil.


Basically, you're actually doing your engine a favor by going to a 0w30, on an engine that sits for longer periods of time, because the oil will flow faster when first started, but will thin out to the same viscosity as a 10w30 when fully warmed up.
 
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
OCD here just won't it go...
crazy.gif



I decided grab a few jugs of the M1 AFE 0w30 jugs from autozone for some yearly oil changes for my "baby" (and soon to be slightly custom) 04 Ecotec running Cavalier. (You can stop laughing now
wink.gif
) I know this and a Delco cartridge are overkill (for a slightly over 3k change), but it's nice under 20 buck oil change....

Anyways, here is my worry. The car tends to sit for a little while at times (not too long, a few weeks at the very most), but I have this little worry that the oil will be too thin at start up (or more maybe that it will drain off the top of the engine easier) and cause a little more start up wear than normal....


My BITOG side says I am worrying over nothing and it will be just fine, but I just feel the need to prove it somehow....


You have ~15K posts and are still "worried" about 0w30 oil?

You do realize that the 0W isn't really a factor until about -20F? At those really frigid temps your engine will benefit from an oil with better pumpability.

Also 3K OCI for M1 oil is ludicrous, you are dumping perfectly good oil, go to at least 7K before changing. As little as you say you drive that car, change it once a year.

Yes, you worry too much.
 
Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
You can tell at cold start after sitting for a while. Open hood, start engine. If it sounds rattly or rough, switch oils or viscosities.

If it were me, I'd run at least a 5W blend for motors that sit ...


So you are claiming that there in California you can tell the difference between a 0W and a 5W oil at startup?
 
Except that the W doesn't mean weight, it means winter. You have issues, especially that obsessed with a Cavalier.
 
I'd be more worried about the OW-30 pouring out the old seals on the Ecotec - that's what happened on my son's '03 Cavalier. It didn't leak as bad with 5w30 M1 and even less now with PYB. Next stop for his Cavalier is Maxlife Blend. Keep an eye on your oil level.
 
Originally Posted By: stchman
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
OCD here just won't it go...
crazy.gif



I decided grab a few jugs of the M1 AFE 0w30 jugs from autozone for some yearly oil changes for my "baby" (and soon to be slightly custom) 04 Ecotec running Cavalier. (You can stop laughing now
wink.gif
) I know this and a Delco cartridge are overkill (for a slightly over 3k change), but it's nice under 20 buck oil change....

Anyways, here is my worry. The car tends to sit for a little while at times (not too long, a few weeks at the very most), but I have this little worry that the oil will be too thin at start up (or more maybe that it will drain off the top of the engine easier) and cause a little more start up wear than normal....


My BITOG side says I am worrying over nothing and it will be just fine, but I just feel the need to prove it somehow....


You have ~15K posts and are still "worried" about 0w30 oil?

You do realize that the 0W isn't really a factor until about -20F? At those really frigid temps your engine will benefit from an oil with better pumpability.

Also 3K OCI for M1 oil is ludicrous, you are dumping perfectly good oil, go to at least 7K before changing. As little as you say you drive that car, change it once a year.

Yes, you worry too much.




2 points-

Not worried about the oil in general, just that it might be too thin to stick to the engine parts like a higher grade. I could use it in any car at any time without care. I have a household of ecotec engines that can run on anything.....


You miss the fact that I change it once a year at around 3k miles (usually a bit more) Could care less whether it is a waste or not..it is my fun car, so not worried there. Still like the fact with oil and filter it still only costs me under 20 bucks anyways...get to thank autozone for that....
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: bigt61
I'd be more worried about the OW-30 pouring out the old seals on the Ecotec - that's what happened on my son's '03 Cavalier. It didn't leak as bad with 5w30 M1 and even less now with PYB. Next stop for his Cavalier is Maxlife Blend. Keep an eye on your oil level.


Thinking I should be okay on the seals ...for now.

For an 11 year old car, it still has under 30k on it....
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Speak to your doctor. There may be something he can prescribe for this.
smile.gif




LOL. Knew I was going to take a little ribbing for posting it that way...but it's all good because I have a good sense of humor....
grin.gif
 
Originally Posted By: razel
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
OCD here just won't it go...
crazy.gif


My BITOG side says I am worrying over nothing and it will be just fine, but I just feel the need to prove it somehow....


I would say one oil analysis, but your OCD will probably want two to compare against a 10w.



11.gif
 
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