Do I really need thicker oil?

Question

My 1988 camaro was making weird clicking noises while I drove, took it to the mechanic and he said I need thicker oil for it to run right. Does that sound right? And how can I tell if the oil is thicker?

Answer 1

yes you do :)

Answer 2

Clicking while running, if the engine, is usually the lifters..... I don't know if the engine you have is mechanical or hydraulic lifters. Plus, how many miles do you have in the engine? How often do you change your oil? An engine w/ high miles can have lots of blow by..... and basically, the oil is being thinned down. Staying on a 3months/ 3000miles will keep it from thinning down. Oh, do you have a mechanical fuel pump or electric? An older truck of mine, the diaphragm in the mechanical (engine mounted) pump went bad, started seeping oil into the engine oil.

Not knowing how many miles you have and if it is the lifters, you are prob. due an engine rebuild. Thicker oil will help somewhat.... but as said, if there is a mechanical issue.... it may or may not work.

My 91 Sable and 83 Ford engines click. I'm thinking the Sable has timing chain slop. And I run 15W40 in both.....

Answer 3

Manufacturing facility oil gages? Some folks like to vary that stuff so ya not ever understand... My dad's auto *65 Mustang no longer manufacturing facility oil gages ha ha* had an air bubble in the line, so it appeared like he had dangerous oil pressure but it used to be just air in the line. If they're no longer factory, then to see when you have an air bubble within the line, the vehicle, and investigate what the oil stress is. Pressure it someplace, and investigate it once more. At the same time your waiting at a stop mild *when its low* seem and notice what it's and rev the car up.. If the oil stress bumps up, there may be a bubble. Running thick oil is simply going to make your engine work more difficult... I've 15W 50 in my 68 Stang 302 and the whole thing works first-class with it.. I wouldn't advocate thicker oil in any respect. Go with the aid of your nearby mother and pa auto save seeing that those are the great places to get answers to your auto.. They may spend time answering your questions, and so they give higher provider than most locations like autozone etc.

Answer 4

10w40 is thicker than 5w30. 20w50 is thicker than both of them. The first number is the "weight" (compared to some nebulous oil in the past) at ambient temperature and the second is the weight it acts like at heated engine temperatures. The more weight it can act like the more protection it can give you but also the thicker it is. (This can make it difficult to start your car in the winter if it is too thick.)

However, that mechanic was selling you a load of bull. The clicking noises were caused by something else. A higher weight oil might cover the sound up if they are in the engine, but not fix it.

Answer 5

The only reason that they use thinner oil in the new cars is for fuel mileage and cold start up but as a large truck and auto tech. I know that even the new cars are better off with the thicker oil after the warranty is up. You can use 10w30all year round 20w50 in Summer and 15w40 all year round. A lot of race engine builders I know rec. the 15w40 for street use. This oil is used in Diesel engines and has more sulfates then others but the detergents are better.

Answer 6

First I would like to know where you live?do u live in a country with hot climate or cool climate?
The reality is that all oil types have a different grades,some are 10w-40 and others are 15w-50,the first number(beside the w character) show the ability of oil to flow in cool conditions(to what degree is oil thin in cool climates),lower this number beter ability of oil to flow in cold conditions,the second number tell you how thick will the oil be in hot conditions or hot climate,higher this number better protection in hot conditions.
Every car has a recommended oil type and grade accoring to the engine type,what the manufacture said and the climate you are living in,so if it's hot u use 15w-50 which is better in hot conditions and if u live in cool climate you choose 10w-40 for better flowing in freeze cases.
for your camaros i don't know really what type of oil you should use,I think u shouldn't use a synthetic oil in this type of car as it's not recommended for old motors.
Last time when you changed the oil,did you change the type or the brand of oil you usually use?u may have putted really a thinner oil or an oil that isn't suitable for the climate you are living in (ig:if u have putted an oil that is suitable for cool climate and we are now in summer and u live in hot climates u well really hear noises inside your engine).
I think you should check with the manufacturer what type of oil is suit.
Sorry,I gave a general information not a specified solution.
Car mechanic engineer.

Answer 7

I am not a mechanic so I can't tell you if that sounds right. Since it is an older car it would probably be smart to pick an oil for high milage cars. It should say it right on the bottle.

Answer 8

High mileage oil has more additives to combat the problem you describe. Try them next oil change and see if it helps. If not I would try to clean the engine out just before the next change with a can of Rislone engine cleaner then change the oil and see if that helps.

Answer 9

we know how old is the car, Now how old is the engine? if the engine is relatively new "or newly overhauled" then use the manufacturer specified oil, if the engine is as old as the car is then listen to your mechanic and have him change the oil and see what happens.

Answer 10

WRONG! he is feeding you a load of crap! clicking means valves.

use thicker oil now in the warmer months but clicking means valvetrain: including valves, rockers, pushrods , camshaft, and cam gear.

maybe thicker oil will quiet the cam gear slightly and in theory, but it won't quiet valves that need attention.

Answer 11

i think chevys,you can tighten the rockers.its the lifters making a noise.just give each one about a quarter of turn,to stop the noise.