will 10w30 oil mess up my engine in my 02 cavalier?

Answer 1

I suggest you look at the owners manual for your car to tell you the weight of the oil you need. Or you can go to some place like Autozone or Checker and find a repair manual for your car and it should have it in there. I don't suggest putting in just any oil weight in your car because it could not properly lubricate your engine and that could cause your engine to blow, and cost you more than just oil.

Answer 2

Not at alllll

The viscosity of multi-weight motor oil is specified using two numbers. The first number is the viscosity when the oil is cold. This is followed by the letter W (which stands for winter, not weight), which is followed by the number that indicates the viscosity when the oil is at operating temperature. The higher the number the thicker the oil.

In order to protect an engine at start time, the oil needs to be thinner when cold so it flows freely. Viscosity modifiers are added to the base stock to make the oil flow better when cold, without making the oil too thin when hot.


Owner's manuals and service manuals will specify the acceptable oil to use at various temperatures. In warm climates, 10W30 is usually an acceptable alternative to the preferred 5W30 and may be used without measurable adverse effects. In the olden days, before multi-weight oils, it was common to have a winter oil and a summer oil. This is no longer necessary, but if you normally use 10W30 because you live in a warm climate then be sure to switch to 5W30 if you plan on using the vehicle in very cold weather.

5W30 versus 10W30
Virtually all new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. use either 5W30 or 10W30 oil. The difference between the two is that the 5W30 flows better when cold, so if you live in a cold climate or operate your vehicle in a cold climate during the winter months, you should use 5W30 if it is the preferred oil for your vehicle. If you live in a sub-tropical climate and don't operate your vehicle in cold climates, then 10W30 is acceptable as long as the manufacturer specifies that it is permissible to use it.

Is there a disadvantage to using an oil that flows better when cold, i.e. 5W30 versus 10W30?
Sometimes, but usually not. The crux of the issue is this: the bigger the difference between the cold oil viscosity and the hot oil viscosity, the more the volume of viscosity modifiers and the less the volume of base stock. If you are good about following the manufacturer's recommended oil change interval then stick with the 5W30 if that is the preferred oil for your vehicle, even if 10W30 is acceptable in warmer climates. Older cars may specify 10W30 only. This is because they need a little more viscosity when cold to keep a protective film on the cylinder walls. There have been instances where the larger amount of viscosity modifiers that are present in 5W30 have broken down due to excessive heat and have left carbon deposits on the valves, but this is extremely rare. The proper fix would be to reduce the excessive heat, but the workaround was to use an oil with less viscosity modifiers.

Why do many oil change places, even dealerships, use 10W30 instead of 5W30, even when 5W30 is preferred?
According to www.cartalk.com (see link in the references section), as well as many mechanics who have posted on usenet, 10W30 is the closest thing to a one size fits all oil. Many older vehicles need 10W30, and most newer vehicles are okay with it in warmer climates. Since many garages don't want to have multiple tanks of bulk oil they choose to carry only 10W30. The advice that Tom & Ray give is correct, 'it would not be a disaster if you used 10W30, but given a choice, go with the manufacturer's recommendation and use the 5W30.'

Thicker is Better Myth
The reason that oil viscosities have gotten thinner is because bearing clearances have become smaller. Using thicker oils will interfere with oil flow and the oil pressure will increase. In a worn engine it may be okay to increase the viscosity of the oil because the bearing clearances have become larger.

Answer 3

20w50 is a racing grade oil, nobody needs an oil that thick for driving around on the street, period. Other than that, either 5w or 10w will work just fine for any temperature. Only difference between the two is cold flow ability, 10 will move slower on cold startups vs. 5. At operating temperature, the oils are the exact same viscosity. I run 5w30 and haven't had a single oil related issue in 100,000 miles on my truck. It gets damn cold here in the winter so a 5w or a 0w are a must so the oil moves quickly on cold starts. Cold starts are when an engine wears the most so you want an oil that will move through the engine fast in the cold.

Answer 4

no you can use 5w30 or 10w30, the first number is only the thickness of the oil when its cold. once its warmed up there both the same thickness. The polymers in a multiweight oil allow this.

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.

Answer 5

We have always said if you live in California no big deal. The reason we believe they use 5/30 oil is for improved fuel economy,the oil gets to the engines top end quicker,engines are built with tighter tolerances and will last longer if cared for as per the manufactures recomendations. Change all fluids at there regular intervals. If you live in a cold climate you should stick with 5/30.

Answer 6

No.. It is just normal everyday oil. You want to run thinner in the summer and thicker in the winter for best performance. So the 30 is good, its a medium. We run Quaker State 10W30 all year. It really depends on the car and manufacturers instructions, you should keep the same brand it is every time though..

Answer 7

The use of 10w30 oil in your cavalier or any car is
perfectly save and reccomended by most auto mechanics. It cares for your engine in hot or cold climate. Good luck with your car.
Likeable

Answer 8

You're owner's manual should have the recommended oil viscosity ratings for your engine. Additionally you can check with a local dealer service department.

Keep in mind if you live in an area with climatic extremes freezing cold winters and/or extremely hot summers, then you want to take that into consideration when selecting your oil viscosity grade.

Answer 9

well the recomended oil is 5w30 reason being these newer cars dont need to have a thick oil. The reason is because the engines are made to be efficent and need to have oil pump quick er in the engine . The thicker the oil the harder your car engine will work and be less fuel efficent . In your owners manuel it will tell you which is recomended that ownes manuel is the bible to your car and its life . I hope this helps you

Answer 10

no it wont hurt it at all,that's ordinary oil and good to use in all kinds of cars,you can check the owners manual and see what it says but 10-w-30 is just a good oil for all year round use and wont hurt anything in it,good luck with it.