I have a 2000 Saturn LW station wagon, V6. It has a rear main oil seal leak. I would like to change my oil to 30W vs the 5W/30 it now uses. This might slow down/reduce the leakage. I have put seal conditioner in but have not seen any difference. I'm thinking a heavier weight oil and conditioner might work. Car is used in Florida and has 95,000 miles on it. Are there problems going with the 30W oil
2007-10-01 10:18:59 · 11 answers · asked by Steve R 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Just get it fixed. The heavier oil will not reduce the leak. Also, the conditioner will not slow it down.
2007-10-01 10:22:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
no problem with that, and actually a great idea seeing as the car has 95,000 miles. The 5w is just thinner and the 30w has a higher viscosity rating. It takes longer to burn off than the 5w. Also try puttin in some "stop leak." Thats stuffs really thick. Your car wont go 0-60 in 6 seconds, but at 95,000 miles I doubt it does that anymore anyway. good luck.
2007-10-01 10:26:37 · answer #2 · answered by Chris M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The 5W part of the designation means that the oil will flow at a low temperature (i.e., northern winter) as well as at normal outdoor temperatures. Since you live in Florida, you don't need the multi-grade oil for your engine, and the straight 30W should be fine. But I would strongly suggest getting the oil leak fixed. You're not only wasting oil, but you're causing pollution every time it rains and washes your oil drips off the road into the ditch, to be absorbed by the soil and eventually find its way into the water table from which people could be getting their drinking water.
2007-10-01 10:25:00 · answer #3 · answered by TitoBob 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
a straight 30 weight oil will not be thicker than a 5W30 oil when you use the vehicle. It will be near enough the same at operating temperatures. 5W means it flows the same as a straight 5 weight at 0 degrees C. the 30 weight bit means it flows the same as a straight 30 weight at 100 degrees C. The number is an index! It has no meaning by itself.
Your 5W30 oil is thinner at operating temperature than it is at startup. It is NOT thinner when cold. It is thicker. So by changing to a straight 30 there is utterly no advantage as your oil will be exactly the same viscosity when you drive the vehicle. The only difference will be that your oil is many many times thicker when you first start the engine causing noise, difficulty starting in cold and wear on the engine.
2007-10-01 10:45:05 · answer #4 · answered by Solid 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-18 04:24:59 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go on keep oiling the highway motorcyclists like sliding around on your oil drips especally when it rains a little. Sounds like your really aginst a 400 dollar labor charge. As for me park that dripping car in the street. Engines designed to run on 5 wt oil will not lubricate as well with 15 times thicker oil in them. Next thing cam bearing failure and connecting rod bearing knock. Just get the front engine and rear main seal changed and put on a fan belt too. Have you changed the positive crankcase ventilation Valve yet? Some times valve covers get clogged and won't allow crank case pressure out. Remove the pcv and see if there is ventilation going on then replace the valve.
2007-10-01 10:29:33 · answer #6 · answered by John Paul 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's not going to hurt anything. But it's not going to change anything either.There's only one way to stop a leak,and that's fix the problem.
2007-10-01 10:23:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
if you want to slow the leak and its warm where you live try 15w40 or 20w50 may not want to start but it will slow the leak til you get it fixed
2007-10-01 16:13:16 · answer #8 · answered by buckethead 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, just have the leak fixed or keep adding oil.
2007-10-01 10:22:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
no problem. good idea.
2007-10-01 10:21:31 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 7⤋