(Skip to the second paragraph to get to the background of my question, and the third for my question)
Hey folks, this is my first post. Realize as I write this I'm hesitant to write it, because I can already hear the obvious objections, but I gotta throw something on the wall and get my name up there. In part to first say thanks for the site and forums, BITOG. I've been searching the web, and stumbling across articles on here for at least a year, and it has really helped me to understand significantly better. Specifically, I'd like to mention there was a really good article, perhaps written in a forum thread style, and maybe truly as a forum thread, that put to rest the reliance on K100 spec as the operating viscosity and how the HTHS 200 and viscosity index are better data to consider. I will have to find that link again and read it again already as I'm starting to forget the terms as you can see. It will be bookmarked and used as a reference in the future. To my question however...
I have a 2008 Grand Prix with the GM 3800 series/mark III motor. Currently it has 180k miles, and I've run synthetic in it since I got it with 12k miles. I live in northern Missouri. I drive a work vehicle daily, so this car sits until the weekends when I make an self-imposed obligatory trip just to get it out and warm it up, and keep it from developing flat spots on the tires. I absolutely will not short trip it when I do get it out. I will either skip a weekend or, (cringe) two weekends, but I will not drive it less than 50+ miles one-way to go somewhere and then return in the evening.
I have to admit that I am a meddler. I love fixing things that are not broken. Why I even ask on here is because I like seeing what others have to say, and perhaps will suggest something I have not already thought of. My question is what will happen if I use 10w30 conventional oil with SN and SN plus GF6A ratings, lacking Dexos, May 1 to September 30, before switching back to the recommend 5w30 spec specified in the manual, synthetic, and with Dexos rating?
Summer Plan (5-months; May thru September): Conventional 10w30 GF6A SN Plus (perhaps Castrol GTX)
Winter Plan (7-months; October thru April): Synthetic 5w30 GF6A SN Plus Dexos (PDS: https://www.mfaoil.com/wp-content/uploads/MFA-Oil_Excede_SB.pdf)
Alternative Winter Plan: Synthetic 0w30 as not starting more frequently than on the weekends seems to produce dry starts for the first second in sound on that first weekend startup, and perhaps a 0w would really help me out a lot there.
Additional Info: DIC (Dashboard Information Center) says that I've got 60% oil life remaining, current OCI is just over 6k miles, Aug 2023 (9-months +/-). And if someone tells me I could delay my oil change until after I put a big trip on the oil May 9, and drive 2,000 miles in four days, then I'd be willing to delay this until I get back, and then change the oil.
Hey folks, this is my first post. Realize as I write this I'm hesitant to write it, because I can already hear the obvious objections, but I gotta throw something on the wall and get my name up there. In part to first say thanks for the site and forums, BITOG. I've been searching the web, and stumbling across articles on here for at least a year, and it has really helped me to understand significantly better. Specifically, I'd like to mention there was a really good article, perhaps written in a forum thread style, and maybe truly as a forum thread, that put to rest the reliance on K100 spec as the operating viscosity and how the HTHS 200 and viscosity index are better data to consider. I will have to find that link again and read it again already as I'm starting to forget the terms as you can see. It will be bookmarked and used as a reference in the future. To my question however...
I have a 2008 Grand Prix with the GM 3800 series/mark III motor. Currently it has 180k miles, and I've run synthetic in it since I got it with 12k miles. I live in northern Missouri. I drive a work vehicle daily, so this car sits until the weekends when I make an self-imposed obligatory trip just to get it out and warm it up, and keep it from developing flat spots on the tires. I absolutely will not short trip it when I do get it out. I will either skip a weekend or, (cringe) two weekends, but I will not drive it less than 50+ miles one-way to go somewhere and then return in the evening.
I have to admit that I am a meddler. I love fixing things that are not broken. Why I even ask on here is because I like seeing what others have to say, and perhaps will suggest something I have not already thought of. My question is what will happen if I use 10w30 conventional oil with SN and SN plus GF6A ratings, lacking Dexos, May 1 to September 30, before switching back to the recommend 5w30 spec specified in the manual, synthetic, and with Dexos rating?
Summer Plan (5-months; May thru September): Conventional 10w30 GF6A SN Plus (perhaps Castrol GTX)
Winter Plan (7-months; October thru April): Synthetic 5w30 GF6A SN Plus Dexos (PDS: https://www.mfaoil.com/wp-content/uploads/MFA-Oil_Excede_SB.pdf)
Alternative Winter Plan: Synthetic 0w30 as not starting more frequently than on the weekends seems to produce dry starts for the first second in sound on that first weekend startup, and perhaps a 0w would really help me out a lot there.
Additional Info: DIC (Dashboard Information Center) says that I've got 60% oil life remaining, current OCI is just over 6k miles, Aug 2023 (9-months +/-). And if someone tells me I could delay my oil change until after I put a big trip on the oil May 9, and drive 2,000 miles in four days, then I'd be willing to delay this until I get back, and then change the oil.