Main > Everything Else
What do the numbers mean with motor oil?
<< < (6/7) > >>
AlanS17:
LOL there you go! Plus they say the heavier stuff is less likely to drip out on a leaky engine (or at least not as quickly).
shmokes:
It says to use 5w-20 right on the crankcase cap.  I'll have to look at the manual to see if it recommends anything else for various weather conditions. 

FWIW our winters are pretty cold, but not terribly harsh.  We get lots of snow (Greatest Snow on Earth for those who are interested), temperatures tend to get down in the twenties or teens at night, with a few below zero days, but just by a few degrees.  Summers are hot.  Generally 90-105ish, though St. George (about 45 minutes from my house) has a dozen or so 115 degree days every summer.  Pretty big range of weather conditions -- gotta love the desert.
boykster:
The main thing I would avoid is mixing viscosities of oil.  If there's 5W-20 in the crankcase, I wouldn't put 10W-30 in there unless you absolutely had to without a complete change.  Mixing viscosities is a great way to cause sludge which will lower the effectiveness of the lubrication.

Otherwise, unless you're in extreme conditions, or switching a large range of viscosities, you're pretty safe using a slightly different grade of oil.
 
ChadTower:

Would it ever lower it below the lesser rating of the mixed oils?
Havoc:

--- Quote from: shmokes on December 28, 2006, 01:07:57 pm ---If my car calls for 5W-20

--- End quote ---

Must be a Honda the only car co. I know that uses that mixture.  I put 10W30 in my accord and didn't notice any reasonable difference in performance and gas mileage.  Problem with the 5W20 is not everybody stocks it.
Navigation
Message Index
Next page
Previous page

Go to full version