Which Oil? Please Help!?

Question

Can i use a different oil in my engine than what is reccommended? i was told 0W30 is the best

Answer 1

If you do not use the recomended oil you could end up with major engine wear very quickly..so the best answer will have to be......NO i know you can buy cheaper oils but as i always say you only get what you pay for...spend that exta bit of cash and get the right one or you could end up on the side of the road waiting for the AA or RAC..

Answer 2

Take it easy Dan. The automaufacturers have come up with some pretty interesting ways to scare the public in to following all of their reccommendations.

First, their mission is to get you into a new car after about 100,000 miles. So here we go.

Answer a couple of questions for yourself here. 1- What type of climate do you live in? Hot or Cold?

If you answer is a hot climate, then you can get away with a heavier oil. If its a cold climate, (Alaska), then you would consider a thinner oil.

The manufacturers are reccommending the 0w-30 oil because they are concerned about fuel consumption, not the precision with which the parts are fitted into the engines.

Here is the rule of thumb that we use in the field.

New Car- (0 to 30,000 miles)

5w-30, 10w-30

Driven Car- (30,000-80,000 miles)

10w-30, 10w-40, 15w-40, 15w-50

High Milage Car- (80,000 to 100,000+ Miles)

20w-50 or heavier

Oil Suppliments, you can use them if you like, but they are normally a waste of your $$$. If you keep that oil changed every 3000 miles or 90 days, you should be able to put 150,000+ miles on that engine before you really start pulling into the gas station and saying, "Hey just check the gas and fill it with 30 weight."

Best place to learn about oils?? Hint: NASCAR!

Answer 3

0-30 is a winter oil. You must be careful not to put too thin an oil in your car in hot weather. I use 10-30 summer, and 5-30 or 0-30 winter. The reason so many car manufactures recommend 5-30 year round is because it requires less force to pump it and it will give a little better gas mileage. It also will increase engine wear esp. on the highway but the manufactures don't care. Anyone who knows engines will tell you the underhood temps. cars get to, and you need an oil to stand up to this. I like mobil 1.

Answer 4

Tekkaman Saber is right. However after the first 7,500 mi or so you could switch to a synthetic oil in the grades he gave. Synthetic oil works better than real oil and preserves the engine from wear.

Answer 5

In my opinion the manual in your glove compartment contains the correct engine oil viscosity the motor calls for. New Fords and Toyota's are using 5W-20. I pressed both dealers if it was OK to use this oil in pre -2005 vehicles and they both said no.

The only plus 0W-30 has going is it's ability to pump to critical engine parts sooner which is where the majority of engine wear takes place. I'd say you have a case if you were operating your car in the dead of winter. Not knowing your location I'd stick to the factory recommended viscosity.

Answer 6

Don't use 0w30 unless you plan on using your car when the temperature outside is like 30 below zeroF. That particular oil is designed to flow at very low temperatures and there would be no reason to use it in "normal" temps. Although I don't believe there would be any harm done, I would stick with 5w30 when it's cold outside and 10w30 when it's mostly warm out.

Answer 7

Never heard of 0w30,but yes you can use a different grade of oil. Check your owners manual. It will tell you the right oil.
If you dont have a manual, any carparts store will help you.

Answer 8

We use 10w30 at our shop and never have problems. It gets really hot in summer and really cold in winter. 0w30 is for real cold weather