Which 10w-30 this winter?

[Buick92]

1987 Mazda B2000 (160,000 miles, leaks some oil)

I was thinking of trying a 10w30 high mileage oil, the temps here rarely get down to 0 degrees so I figure a 10w30 is safe. Is there any one brand of 10w30 (regular, semi-syn., high milage) to favor?

 

[TallPaul]

What is on sale in your area? Home Depot had Pennzoil High Mileage on sale really cheap on clearance. Hurry, there may be some left.

I like Maxlife though and since you are running in winter, you may favor Maxlife since it is not thicker like some High Mileage oils are. (I don't know if the Pennzoil is thicker or not.)

Citgo Ultralife is nice stuff, but about 1 cSt thicker at 100C.

 

[Dominic]

I think you'll be just golden with any modern 10w30 on the shelf. Keep it clean, do a regular change, at 160K miles you really can't go wrong doing it yourself. If it leaks a little oil, a High Mileage oil might help some, but there is no guarantee there.

 

[BennyL]

is castrol GTX high mileage 5w30 ok?

i have a vehicle with similar mileage. but temps get low in toronto sometimes.

 

[Drew99GT]

Buick, I'd run GTX High Mileage 5w30 if you want something BEEFY for winter, as the High Mileage oils tend to be on the thick side. Just in case it dips below 0; better safe than sorry!

BennyL, it's a great oil IMO. However, if it was to get really really cold, it "may" end up being thicker than normal 5w30 but that's likely just an academic paranoia on my part.

 

[Norm Olt]

Chevron Supreme, Havoline, any of the CoNoCo semi-synthetic family if you can find them on sale for around a $...

I'd go 10w30 if you are leaking a bit.

Cheers!

 

[m2200b]

I do better with 5-30 in my Mazda B2200 and get more HLA noise with 10-30s I've tried. I'm currently using 5-30 Maxlife and you can still get it with a Valvoline rebate that makes it about 70 cents a gt. Walmart still sells 5 qt boxes at 10.50.

I usually use Chevron or havoline with delo added in the summer. Maxlife's extra add pack looks a bit like a HDEO and my chevron delo mixes so I'll keep using the Maxlife at its rebated price.

I haven't tried the 10-40 maxlife.

 

[Nickdfresh]

I'd go MaxLife, it's an unadvertised synthetic-blend. And oh yeah, you can get it with a hefty rebate.

 

[Volvohead]

As long as there's an adequate API service rating, all the major brand conventional 10w30s should be just fine. But my two favorites remain Havoline and Schaeffers. In a deeper cold snap, I'd favor the Schaeffers or a Full Synthetic in that grade over a conventional. I am really liking Schaeffers right now at the price point for what it delivers. However, I can appreciate the possible concerns in running a Full Synthetic in a higher mileage leaker.

 

[Buick92]

I decided on Maxlife 10w30, the average low temps in my area during the winte are in the 20's so I figure a 10w30 shouldn't hurt. By the way I got the maxlife for 1.99/quart at Walmart, it was cheaper than regular valvoline.

 

[NewGuy]

I have used both Castrol High Mileage 5W30 and Havoline High Mileage 10W30 in my 1990 Jeep Comanche with great results. If your B2000 leaks a bit and/or uses a little oil between changes....I think these High Mileage oils are great. The Castrol seems very smooth and I am going to use it again. I think that either the 10W30 or 5W30 would work well for you.

 

[r961161]

I use Valvoline Maxlife Hi-Milage 5W30 in winters and 10W30 in summers on my 1995 B3000. No problems with either of the Oils.

 

[G-MAN]

Check out my UOA on GTX HM 5w30. It was in use 14 months and held up extremely well (though LC was also used).

 

[BlazerLT]

This is rather pointless, why would you not get a better flowing 5w30 for the same money?

Who cares how cold it is, the better flow at startup, the better the protection.

Going with 10w30 rather than 5w30 for no reason is just pointless. It still gets cold, the 10w30 is still thicker at colder temperatures than the 5w30, so why are you even considering anything different?

Just seems rather odd......

 

[TallPaul]

For the record, I just ran the numbers. The Valvoline MaxLife 10w30 at 20F will be as thick as the Valvoline MaxLife 5w30 at 11.3 F.

So you have a good point, though I doubt it will make a difference for Buick92. His engine is likely to last as long either way.

 

[Buick92]

m2200b,

I've never used 5w30 in my B2000, I'm pretty sure that it's had a steady diet of 10w-40 over it's lifetime and was kind of weary going to a 5w30, the owner's manual says to only use 5w30 when it's below 32 degrees (of course this manual is 20 years old) Is it safe to make the switch on an old engine with 160,000 miles? Or should I stick with 10w30? Thanks

 

[Nickdfresh]

You be fine sticking with 10w30 in an older engine. I've used mostly 10w30 in the Buffalo winters and have never had a problem, of course, it was often a synthetic 10w30.

 

[Drew99GT]

It's perfectly safe! I run 5w30 in my 94 Corolla that was, according to the previous owner, run on 10w30 in it's previous ownership.

Maxlife is not one of the high mileage oils that is on the thick side of the SAE grade equation. GTX high mileage is the thickest of the High Mileage oils and that is why I suggested it for you if you fear 5w30. GTX High Mileage 5w30; give it a try

I think you won't be dissapointed, especially if it were to dip well below 0.

 

[m2200b]

The Mazda problem recomendations are to use 5-30 over 10-30 for HLA lifter noise.

However if you're just trying to stay similar vis to 40 grade like you've used and get better winter starts with a 5w- Valvoline maxlife , exxon hm and Mobil High Mileage are lower vis than most other HM that are on the thick side. I haven't bothered to look up SuperTech High Mileage to see if its thick or thin but its $1.88 around here.

My b2200 did not do as well on 10-30 or 10-40 chev and havo for noise or gas mileage but seems to do better on delo/ chev blends but I use a 5-20 with my delo.

 

[mokmaoxo]

Another vote for supreme 10w30