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Car Forum / GMC Cars / May 2008

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Oil...5W-30?

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Dave C. - 22 Apr 2008 17:22 GMT
I have a 2008 Buick with a 3.6L engine whose oil weight spec is 5W-30.  I
have a case and half of 10W-30 that I would like to use up.

Any problem in using the 10W-30 in this engine for the next few oil changes?
Summer is almost here and I am thinking that it would be OK to use it in the
warmer weather.

Thanks,

Dave C.
HLS - 22 Apr 2008 17:55 GMT
>I have a 2008 Buick with a 3.6L engine whose oil weight spec is 5W-30.  I
>have a case and half of 10W-30 that I would like to use up.
>
> Any problem in using the 10W-30 in this engine for the next few oil
> changes? Summer is almost here and I am thinking that it would be OK to
> use it in the warmer weather.

You will probably get a plethora of opinions on this.  I would look in the
owners
manual and see if 10W-30 is approved as an option for some temperatures or
classes
of operation.  If so, I would use it..

If not, I might be hesitant, especially if it affected the viability of my
warranty.
Dave C. - 22 Apr 2008 19:31 GMT
>>I have a 2008 Buick with a 3.6L engine whose oil weight spec is 5W-30.  I
>>have a case and half of 10W-30 that I would like to use up.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> If not, I might be hesitant, especially if it affected the viability of my
> warranty.

Gosh, that is so obvious, I didn't even think of checking the owner's
manual.  I'll do that first.

Thanks for the reminder.

Dave C.
John Horner - 04 May 2008 06:31 GMT
> You will probably get a plethora of opinions on this.  I would look in
> the owners
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> If not, I might be hesitant, especially if it affected the viability of
> my warranty.

A bogus answer.   The manual is not all knowing and all powerful.
Science matters too.  A good 10W-30 is going to put less start up drag
on an engine in the summer months than a 5W-30 does in the winter.
Once warmed up, they are the same viscosity rating.  All the 5W tells
you is that that oil has better extremely low temperature cranking than
does a 10W oil.
Anyolmouse - 04 May 2008 14:23 GMT
| > You will probably get a plethora of opinions on this.  I would look in
| > the owners
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
| you is that that oil has better extremely low temperature cranking than
| does a 10W oil.

I thought this way too- until reading this:

Multi viscosity oils work like this: Polymers are added to a light base
(5W, 10W, 20W), which prevent the oil from thinning as much as it warms
up. At cold temperatures the polymers are coiled up and allow the oil to
flow as their low numbers indicate. As the oil warms up the polymers
begin to unwind into long chains that prevent the oil from thinning as
much as it normally would. The result is that at 100 degrees C the oil
has thinned only as much as the higher viscosity number indicates.
Another way of looking at multi-vis oils is to think of a 20W-50 as a 20
weight oil that will not thin more than a 50 weight would when hot.
*(Not a 50 weight oil that will only get as thick as a 20 weight oil
when cold)

From: http://www.repairfaq.org/filipg/AUTO/F_oil_facts.html#OILFACTS_004
If correct, you have a 5 or 10 weight oil at start up that only thins as
much as 30 weight oil at higher temperatures. At 70° F the 5 weight will
be thinner than the 10 weight.

*Added by me.

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Edwin Pawlowski - 04 May 2008 16:04 GMT
"Anyolmouse" <Anyolmouse@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
> Multi viscosity oils work like this: Polymers are added to a light base
> (5W, 10W, 20W), which prevent the oil from thinning as much as it warms
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> *(Not a 50 weight oil that will only get as thick as a 20 weight oil
> when cold)

You screwed up a good conversation by adding facts.  Shame on you, this is
USENET where we have the right to be wrong.
Anyolmouse - 04 May 2008 16:50 GMT
| "Anyolmouse" <Anyolmouse@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
| > Multi viscosity oils work like this: Polymers are added to a light base
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
| You screwed up a good conversation by adding facts.  Shame on you, this is
| USENET where we have the right to be wrong.

Sorry!  I guess I won't post Battery Facts then-
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HLS - 04 May 2008 16:31 GMT
>> You will probably get a plethora of opinions on this.  I would look in
>> the owners
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> up, they are the same viscosity rating.  All the 5W tells you is that that
> oil has better extremely low temperature cranking than does a 10W oil.

Dont be such a dipshit, John...It is not a bogus answer.  If the
manufacturer
approves a qualified 10W-30 under the conditions that the OP is
encountering,
then there is no reason not to use it.

If, however, you start using oil, or tranny fluid, or coolant, which the
manufacturer
does not approve or specifically rejects, you can end up with a warranty
that will
not be accepted.  I have seen it happen.
Gosi - 22 Apr 2008 18:06 GMT
> I have a 2008 Buick with a 3.6L engine whose oil weight spec is 5W-30.  I
> have a case and half of 10W-30 that I would like to use up.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Dave C.

It is 99.99999% sure to be absolutely harmless.
Lets round it up and say you are completely ok with your oil.
Woody - 22 Apr 2008 21:20 GMT
And if you don't tell no one will ever know it wasn't 5w30..

>> I have a 2008 Buick with a 3.6L engine whose oil weight spec is 5W-30.  I
>> have a case and half of 10W-30 that I would like to use up.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> It is 99.99999% sure to be absolutely harmless.
> Lets round it up and say you are completely ok with your oil.
Chim chim Racer - 02 May 2008 03:48 GMT
>I have a 2008 Buick with a 3.6L engine whose oil weight spec is 5W-30.  I
>have a case and half of 10W-30 that I would like to use up.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Dave C.

Hello Sir, and thank you so much for that grand and magnanimous inquiry.
The engine oil weight is contingent upon the amount of miles on your
vehicle. A new low mileage engine requires 5-30w. As the engine ages and
gets to say 60k miles then go to a heavier weight like 10-30. Above 100k I
would be using 10-40w. Closing in on 200k miles I would be using 10-50w.
HLS - 02 May 2008 14:24 GMT
>>I have a 2008 Buick with a 3.6L engine whose oil weight spec is 5W-30.  I
>>have a case and half of 10W-30 that I would like to use up.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>>
>> Dave C.

Did you ever check your owner's manual, Dave, for ranges of viscosities
recommended?

If so, what did you find?
John Horner - 04 May 2008 06:32 GMT
>>> I have a 2008 Buick with a 3.6L engine whose oil weight spec is
>>> 5W-30.  I have a case and half of 10W-30 that I would like to use up.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> If so, what did you find?

There is more to be known about automotive technologies than is found in
the owner's manual.
Dave C. - 04 May 2008 23:57 GMT
>>>I have a 2008 Buick with a 3.6L engine whose oil weight spec is 5W-30.  I
>>>have a case and half of 10W-30 that I would like to use up.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> If so, what did you find?

Yes, I did (sorry for this late answer) and the manual specifically
specifies 5W-30.  Further, it clearly states in the manual "Do not use SAE
10W-40, SAE 20W50 or any other viscosity grade oil not recommended."

And a chart shows that 5W-30 is to be used at ambient temperatures between 0
deg F and 100 deg F.

So, I am sticking with that.

Being a new vehicle, 5W-30 is the oil of choice....not worth the issue that
if I ever have an engine problem within warrantee I don't want the oil
viscosity to be a concern (probably would not be, but who knows).

Regards,

Dave
John Horner - 04 May 2008 06:31 GMT
> Hello Sir, and thank you so much for that grand and magnanimous inquiry.
> The engine oil weight is contingent upon the amount of miles on your
> vehicle. A new low mileage engine requires 5-30w. As the engine ages and
> gets to say 60k miles then go to a heavier weight like 10-30.

Bzzzt, wrong.  You don't understand oil as well as you think you do.
Anyolmouse - 02 May 2008 13:13 GMT
Viscosity explained here-
http://www.repairfaq.org/filipg/AUTO/F_oil_facts.html#OILFACTS_004

I wouldn't change the viscosity unless the engine is out of warranty and
using over a quart of oil between changes. I.E., burning oil. I
definitely wouldn't change it based solely on mileage unless it was
burning, or using, excessive amounts of oil.

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John Horner - 04 May 2008 06:29 GMT
> I have a 2008 Buick with a 3.6L engine whose oil weight spec is 5W-30.  I
> have a case and half of 10W-30 that I would like to use up.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Dave C.

No worries, especially in the summer, assuming it is a good quality oil
and not some "SA" rated non-detergent junk.
aarcuda69062 - 04 May 2008 15:08 GMT
> I have a 2008 Buick with a 3.6L engine whose oil weight spec is 5W-30.  I
> have a case and half of 10W-30 that I would like to use up.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Dave C.

GM requires a 5W30 oil that carries their GM6094M approval.

If the GM6094M approval isn't listed on the bottles of 10W30 oil you
have left over, I certainly wouldn't use it.
HLS - 04 May 2008 16:29 GMT
>> I have a 2008 Buick with a 3.6L engine whose oil weight spec is 5W-30.  I
>> have a case and half of 10W-30 that I would like to use up.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> If the GM6094M approval isn't listed on the bottles of 10W30 oil you
> have left over, I certainly wouldn't use it.

I agree.
The auto manufacturer sets the requirements, rightly or wrongly, and it pays
to follow their recommendations in most things...at least until your
warranty is
expired.
 
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