Dadgumit...wrong oil

[bigdee]

Went to Wally world to pick up some 5-30 oil for a 4.3 GM V6. After changing the oil I glanced over at the 5 qt container and it was 10-40,someone must had mistakenly put it in the wrong shelf bay (my fault for not being observant). Anyway, as soon as possible I am going to have to drain and replace with the proper grade. Being a penny pincher I was planning on just draining 2 qts and adding 2 qts of 10-30 to dilute the viscosity additives to a safe level to prevent rings sticking. I know my base weight will be 10 instead of 5 but that should be OK with summer temperatures.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Dadgumit...wrong oil

Will not hurt anything. May cost you a 1 mpg until your next oil change. There are worse things that could happen.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Dadgumit...wrong oil

Will not hurt anything. May cost you a 1 mpg until your next oil change. There are worse things that could happen.

I have rebuilt engines because of 10-40 that is why I'm so paranoid. GM voids the warranty if you use 10-40 but this engine is out of warranty so that is not the issue.....I just do not want to chance stuck rings.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Dadgumit...wrong oil

I doubt it will hurt the 4.3........ GM had some oil passage problems with the smaller V-6 motors but the 4.3 is essentially the V-8 with 2 cylinder's chopped off and just the act of oil changes is healthy for the motor. I seriously doubt you will stick a ring with fresh oil at this point. If you really want to cut the present oil back....... drain 2 qts and add two qrts of 0-30W or the 5-30W.

I think you will come out ahead if you just leave well enough alone and drive it

 

[bigdee]

Re: Dadgumit...wrong oil

I doubt it will hurt the 4.3........ GM had some oil passage problems with the smaller V-6 motors but the 4.3 is essentially the V-8 with 2 cylinder's chopped off and just the act of oil changes is healthy for the motor. I seriously doubt you will stick a ring with fresh oil at this point. If you really want to cut the present oil back....... drain 2 qts and add two qrts of 0-30W or the 5-30W.

I think you will come out ahead if you just leave well enough alone and drive it

Thanks, I guess I'm just a worry-wart. I remember when 10-50 was popular it was not a problem until engines went from 180 to 210 operating temperatures....heat will cook viscosity improver additives usually on the 1st and 2nd rings.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Dadgumit...wrong oil

If more people would change their oil and put the wrong weight oil in vehicles would last longer.

Instead, they just don't change it at all.

Look, I'm a licensed airplane mechanic. It's not the end of the world that you put the wrong weight oil in. Draining it would be excessive. If you'd have put 20w50 I'd say don't drive it too much like that, but 10w-40? Nah, that's fine. Just put the right on in next time and you'll be fine.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Dadgumit...wrong oil

Like the others have said don't sweat it. We run 15/40 in all our gas trucks and have several well over 200thu miles.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Dadgumit...wrong oil

Unless your boating in really cold conditions, I cant imagine issue at all. Maybe let it warm up a minute longer before ya hammer down. But what do i know ? No facts to support my opinion. This is one of those so argued topics.