How about an oil question?

[Elmer Fudge]

Re: How about an oil question?

Surely todays manufactures would have spent lots of time and money in the design and testing of their engines.<br />What is puzzling to me is, if the manufacture recommends a particular wt of oil to be run in their engines, why would anyone want to use a different wt?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: How about an oil question?

Well, Here's my 2c.<br /><br />I am a heavy oil nut and like to see good oil pressure on OTR trucks and farm tractors after they have been worked and are shut down to idle. So I use the heavy duty oil made for diesels,and use the multigrade 15w-40 or in the case of syn, 15w-50 in all my stuff except as mentioned below.<br /><br />So I buy this '05 Dodge pu and it has a newly designed ('02 I think) 4.7 litre V8, single (per side) OHC engine. So I go to www and look up the engine and here is this nice article on the engines design and all.<br /><br />Clearly stated therein is the statement: ".....with an oil pump specifically designed (by Mopar) for the 5w-30 recommended oil...." which is also the viscosity marking on the cap.<br /><br />So I use 5w-30 and don't worry about it. I too have heard about the newer thinner oils and tighter tolerancing with CNC milling machines and think there is something to it. Oil pressure stays right on the money (center mark, no pressure or other indication on the gauge) regardless of heating of the oil (type driving, speed, temp, etc.)<br /><br />HTH,<br /><br />Mark

 

[Manipulator]

Re: How about an oil question?

I often wondered about oil in my vehicle myself. My Expedition recommends 5W-20, which can be hard to find and is pricey when you are buying 6 quarts for every change. Thing is, Ford recommends it but it does not say to use anything but 5w-20 in the owners manual. Could it be the recommendation is because they want to get a better fuel economy rating for their vehicle? I use 5W-30, which is cheaper and readily available. I have talked to mechanics and other oil gurus who say its fine and not to worry about it. I have talked to other people with the same vehicle who are in the 100K mileage range that use 10W-30 during all their oil changes and have never had any problems. <br /><br />I do hear that synthetics are far superior to the petroleum-based oils. You can go from 7500 miles and higher between oil changes. I have read reports of petroleum-based oils being tested at 5000K and still are fine. I’ve read information that says synthetics are a waste of money for the average day to day driver. It’s not the oil that is the issue, but rather carbon and other “dirty” substances the engine develops which makes the oil become dirty. Synthetic oil gets just as dirty as petroleum-based oils. The filter is more of an issue and typically should be changed every 3000K regardless of the type of oil used. I believe there was a study done on some Taxicabs in New York City where they used synthetics in some cabs and petroleum based oils in others. After so many miles they completely dismantled the engines and could not find any differences in wear in the vehicles that used synthetic oil and those that used petroleum-based oil.

 

[crazycory]

Re: How about an oil question?

they still do not recomend switching back and forth between synthetic and standard oil.<br />two totaly different based oils.<br />rubber components and seals do not like this.<br />same as puting brake fluid on a set of wiper blades (see what happens)<br />don't try it on the ones on your vehical though

 

[Chief101]

Re: How about an oil question?

Originally posted by SoLittle:<br /> A friend of mine took his limited edition street racing Corvette into Jiffy Lube. They put the wrong lube in the tranny - which blew to the tune of a $7,000.00 replacement. Jiffy Lube denies responsibility. My friend has sued them for $140,000.00 and has the documentation and oil samples of what they did. It is scheduled for trial later this year.

Why in the world would anybody take a prized possession into Jiffy Lube for anything? That absolutely blows me away...