5w 30 Switch To 10w 30

6222 Views 18 Replies 10 Participants Last post by tflander2003, May 3, 2004

taurus_attack

Discussion Starter · May 1, 2004

I have always ran mobile 5w 30 in my car. It has come the time when I need to change my oil again. I went to walmart and bought some cheap walmart brand 10w 30. I figuared the car is getting old and its pretty much on its death bed and with the summers heat I might as well use 10w for added protection. Am I alright to run 10w in the taurus after years of only running 5w? I am pretty sure I am but I am just looking for some reassurance. Thanks

1 - 19 of 19 Posts

tmonster

· #2 · May 1, 2004

I doubt its going to affect anything. My Wal-Mart has Supertech Synthetic... 10 bucks for 5 quarts, cheap but probably better than the regular dino. oil...Most people usually step up and down over seasons with there oil. The worst you could do is cause a small leak somewhere but from they way you describe it you're probably already leaking.

KevinMarble

· #3 · May 1, 2004

I always use 10W30 in the Summer months, & 5W30 in the winter. I also only use a Full Synth. oil, like Mobil 1, Castrol Syntech, Etc, etc, etc. I know it's an ol' school way of thinking... but I've got over 80K. on my 98 SE Bull, & I ain't taking ANY chances!!! It also seems to run cooler, smoother, & quieter.

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taurus_attack

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 1, 2004

Yea its just regular supertech oil, I will just go for it. I dont see it hurting anything. Plus my power steering is going to go soon, its been squeeling bad and the trans is junked once again. So in the 10w goes. Thanks

taurus_attack

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 1, 2004

I put the 10w in, sounds louder then I am used to but oh well.

majisto

· #6 · May 2, 2004

It's not going to HELP you any, but it WILL hurt your motor. The first # should be as LOW as possible to ensure proper protection on cold starting. Remember, the first # is for the weight of it when it is cold. The lower the #, the faster it can flow to your motor to help protect it. More than 50% of engine wear occurs on start-up.

Once the oil has warmed up, the higher # comes into account. You want a high one to coat the engine better, but the first # does not need to be high at all. 10W-30 will actually kill your motor sooner. Go to something really heavy like maybe 20W-50 if you need protection. Still, I think 5W-30 is a great weight for any Taurus motor.

mobiuslogic

· #7 · May 2, 2004

Why would you switch? :headscratch: The engine seals are specifically designed to run 5W-30 to give you better protection. LISTEN TO YOUR OIL CAP! Tells you right there, 5W-30!

-mobiuslogic

Damon

· #8 · May 2, 2004

Originally posted by taurus_attack@May 1 2004, 09:56 AM
I have always ran mobile 5w 30 in my car. It has come the time when I need to change my oil again. I went to walmart and bought some cheap walmart brand 10w 30. I figuared the car is getting old and its pretty much on its death bed and with the summers heat I might as well use 10w for added protection. Am I alright to run 10w in the taurus after years of only running 5w? I am pretty sure I am but I am just looking for some reassurance. Thanks

Yes

diesel600

· #9 · May 2, 2004

10W-30 won't hurt a thing to use in the summer. Remember 5W-30 contains more viscosity modifiers than 10W-30. More viscosity modifiers = less actual oil = less engine protection. Unless of course you need the additional modifiers, like when you have very cold outside temps (below freezing). But this time of year, 10W-30 is fine.

KevinMarble

· #10 · May 2, 2004

Sounds like ya' got more troubles than what weight oil to use?! Might wanna' deal w/the Trans. & Power Steering situations A.S.A.P. !!!!!!!

:blink:
Oh yeah, the older the engine is, the larger the "gaps" in bearings, & rings get...
HEAVIER oil will help out w/older engines. It's a long time tried & true FACT!!!
A good additive would help too... PROLONG, Z-MAX, Slick 50, Restore,etc.
B)

diesel600

· #11 · May 2, 2004

Originally posted by KevinMarble@May 2 2004, 03:50 PM
A good additive would help too... PROLONG, Z-MAX, Slick 50, Restore,etc.

These are worthless. Some can do more harm than good (ie teflon particles in slick 50).

KevinMarble

· #12 · May 2, 2004

Only IF you use them excessively!

diesel600

· #13 · May 2, 2004

No, they are just plain worthless. Plenty of tests done to prove it. And plenty of complaints filed.

Look here http://www.authorized-amsoil-dealer-for-sy..._oil_additives/ and check out all the ftc links at the bottom.

KevinMarble

· #14 · May 2, 2004

You believe AMSOIL's hype, but noone elses???????

:blink:
O.K. then. Each to their own. Enjoy life!!
What no Royal Purple plug here??? LOL!!!
Best of luck w/ALL things Automotive.

markus

· #15 · May 2, 2004

Originally posted by KevinMarble@May 1 2004, 10:52 AM
It also seems to run cooler, smoother, & quieter.
B)

This is exactly why I use synthetic. I began using it at 12000 miles in my 95 SHO (now have 112K miles). I was not sure what to expect - I tried it becuase it was there. My engine instantly ran quieter and smoother with synthetic. Brand did not matter. My wife actually tried to start the car a few times when it was already running - the oil made that much difference.

I use Mobil 1 5W30 and change it every 3K miles. I use a Ford FL400S oil filter. I use no additives. At the 105K mile valve shim check (12 months ago), I had no visible wear of the valvetrain. There is a fellow on SHOForum who uses Castrol GTX 10W30 exclusively and has over 280K miles on his car. He also has no visible wear. I don't think synthetic will extend the life of an engine over and above the the time I am likely to own it, but in my regular tests of new synthetic vs new dino oil, I have yet to find a dino oil that allows my engine to run as smoothly and quietly as synthetic does.

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diesel600

· #16 · May 3, 2004

Originally posted by KevinMarble@May 2 2004, 04:26 PM
You believe AMSOIL's hype, but noone elses???????
:blink:
O.K. then. Each to their own. Enjoy life!!
What no Royal Purple plug here??? LOL!!!
Best of luck w/ALL things Automotive.

Rrrrrright, for your information I don't even use Amsoil. I chose that site because it conveniently shows all the links to Federal Trade Commision complaints for all major oil additives (which I'm sure you didn't look at). Here, have some more...

http://www.vtr.org/maintain/oil-additives.html
http://skepdic.com/slick50.html

So you don't like Amsoil. Neither do I, I think they are overpriced. I like Mobil 1, and they specifically tell you not to use additives as well.

Trust me slick, if you really think these additives have any merit to their claims, you're gonna need a hell of a lot more "luck w/ all things automotive" than me.

tmonster

· #17 · May 3, 2004

Used to use Slick 50 in the 5th Avenues 318 V-8. Never gave me a problem, and the car would run like a dream with it. As for ZMAX, theres a lawsuit going, tests show its just colored mineral oil. The only thing I will brag about is the Engine Restore. I've used it in 3 of my cars and I can honestly say there is a difference.

As for the oil seals, maybe going thinner would cause leaks, but I doubt a thicker oils is going to leak thru sumthing rated lower than it...right?

Its an old worn out engine, any mechanic trusted or not will tell you to run a higher numbered oil to prevent burning, leaking, ect.

Go ahead and argue with me, I'll just stick by my grandfather and uncle, both who had there Fords for many years, and also built stock cars.

ron porter

· #18 · May 3, 2004

As the engine ages, 10w-30 can provide a bit better protection for the bearings.....particulary the rod bearings....as they wear.

Also, if you look at your owners manual, I'm sure that it also shows 10w-30 as the recommended oil for various conditions and temps.

At he 170K mark I took the car off of it's lifelong diet of 5w-30 Mobil 1 and went to 10w-30 MaxLife. Cut the oil consumption in half (losing through the valve seals).

Much of the mfrs move toward thinner oils is also due to mileage standards, much like the 5w-20 recommendation in newer Tauri that is NOT recommended for the older cars.

tflander2003

· #19 · May 3, 2004

make ur own zmax just mineral spirits with a bit of dye, it was on the net, also seen it in a car, kinda works, but i think that would be like dumping gas in to ur oil

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