10W40 in 5W30 application - What problems?

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zwsdotcom@gmail.com - 02 Nov 2006 13:46 GMT

I just found some old receipts and realized that the quick lube place
put _10W40_ in my 98 Escort. All my tapping problems started after this
date. (Fortunately no cold weather). This engine was originally speced
for 5W30, though Ford later recanted and told people to use 5W20.

What are the potential problems from about 6000 miles of driving with
the wrong oil as above?

Thanks.

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C. E. White - 02 Nov 2006 14:02 GMT

>I just found some old receipts and realized that the quick lube place
> put _10W40_ in my 98 Escort. All my tapping problems started after this
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> What are the potential problems from about 6000 miles of driving with
> the wrong oil as above?

As long as the oil was of the correct service rating, or better, 6000 miles
of 10W40 instead of 5W30 is not going to hurt anything, especially given
that there was no cold weather involved.

What sort of tapping problems are you having?

Regards,

Ed White

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zwsdotcom@gmail.com - 02 Nov 2006 14:43 GMT

> As long as the oil was of the correct service rating, or better, 6000 miles
> of 10W40 instead of 5W30 is not going to hurt anything, especially given
> that there was no cold weather involved.

Good :) Of course, they also used the world's cheapest known filter,
when I took it out I found that the paper element inside had blown out
in a couple of places. They also turned the drain plug into a pan-head
coach bolt, but that's a separate story.

(I don't normally change my own oil, except on my old truck, but I have
been trying to look into this car's problems).

> What sort of tapping problems are you having?

Well, there are really three issues with the car; I posted about them a
bit earlier in this group.

1. An injector problem. I'm going to fix that this weekend. When that
particular injector is rotated, the engine misses. Doesn't appear to be
an electrical issue.

2. A tapping in the general area of the head. It sounds like a frayed
belt, or possibly exhaust escaping from a stuck valve.

3. Potentially (this is the same as #2) a known problem with the 2.0L
engine (inter alia), where #1 and/or 3 valve seats loosen and
eventually drop out.

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who - 03 Nov 2006 05:55 GMT

> I just found some old receipts and realized that the quick lube place
> put _10W40_ in my 98 Escort. All my tapping problems started after this
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> What are the potential problems from about 6000 miles of driving with
> the wrong oil as above?

Could be bad in very cold weather.
I was recently told by my Chrysler dealer that the Chrysler 2.7L V6 AL
engine has severe weather reliability problems when 10W30 oil is used
rather than 5W30.
If you are in the UK I doubt you have the severe weather we in NA are
referring to. <:)

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zwsdotcom@gmail.com - 03 Nov 2006 13:12 GMT

> > I just found some old receipts and realized that the quick lube place
> > put _10W40_ in my 98 Escort. All my tapping problems started after this
> > date. (Fortunately no cold weather). This engine was originally speced

> If you are in the UK I doubt you have the severe weather we in NA are
> referring to. <:)

I'm in New York (city, so not severe weather by upstate standards, or
Minnesota standards :).

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petebert - 03 Nov 2006 15:35 GMT

I just came across this article the other day, it pretty much says that as
long as you get occassionally get oil of some sort into your engine your car
will be fine.

http://www.xs11.com/stories/croil96.htm

>> > I just found some old receipts and realized that the quick lube place
>> > put _10W40_ in my 98 Escort. All my tapping problems started after this
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> I'm in New York (city, so not severe weather by upstate standards, or
> Minnesota standards :).

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