10w30 Oil in Saturn SL2

Excuse me? Superior lubricant across a wider range of operating conditions?

Yeah, really. His argument doesn't hold much weight considering he apparently
thinks mobil 1 is 5w-30 only.

Straight 30 when it gets cold is like molasses. I can see this guy hurting his
engine in the wintertime.

 

Basically in a nutshell, what most are saying is:

Winter 5w30
Summer 10w30

I have a 99 SL2

 

I just used some 30W to oil the breather filter on my 8N. The
temperature was in the mid 20's and that stuff was awful thick.

Ken

 

Wintertime cold? What's that? Should those of us live in paradise (San Diego)
where it gets below freezing less than a handful of times a year (during the wee
hours of the night for a few hours at most each time it does so) be concerned
about what happens to oil at low temperatures? I wonder.

 

Well you can THINK what you want. I've a fleet of 35 trucks have run
nothing but 30W in them since I took over 7 years ago. The lowest mileage
truck has 110k and the highest 295k. None of the engines have even had a
valve cover off. Now the transmissions, well that's another story.....

 

There's nothing "tighter" about modern engines. They are in fact 'looser'
to create less friction to keep the mileage specs as high as possible.

 

What temperature range are they operating in?

 

Interesting that what you are saying goes directly against what a
factory engineer and several GM trained mechanics have told me. Also,
that race engines are built loose to maximize horsepower while
sacrificing longevity.

 

It would be interesting to know exactly what you are basing this claim on. At
the normal oil operating temperature (around 100 degrees C), straight 30
weight and 10W30 and 5W30 all have very similar viscosities. Depending on the
brand, they all have the same additive package. For an engine in good
condition (no excessive blow-by) all three viscosities will usually tend to
thicken with age and increasing usage. The only significant difference will
the the low temperature viscosity. The 5W30 and the 10W30 will both be
thicker at 0 degrees c than any of them are at the normal operating
temperature but neither will be as thick as straight 30 weight at 0 degrees
C. The straight 30 weight will be much more viscous than either when cold. It
seems to me that I want an oil that flows well when cold and maintains its
viscosity when hot. The 5W30 does this. If you are in a perpetually warm
climate, then it probably doesn't matter which of the three oils you use.
However, in a cold climate, I'd give the nod to the 5W30 other either of the
other two. Comparitive specs for the three grades are readily available from
most lubricant supplirer. One example is available from
http://library.cbest.chevron.com/lu...87263c6a888256b56007a0487/$FILE/PCMO-2210.pdf

Regards,

Ed White

 

I also noticed that he used the term 30W (which I fell into, but then
I'm an amateur), which isn't correct because it means that the oil
meets the SAE standard for winter usage, which 30 weight oil doesn't.
I would expect that a pro fleet manager would have known this.

Ken

 

They are generally tighter.. if there's oil between moving parts (as there
should be), there shouldn't be any real friction difference.

One thing that could be described as "looser" is the use of lower-tension
piston rings, which reduce the friction between the piston and cylinder
walls. Same with newer piston designs with shorter skirts to reduce the
potential contact area.

 

30W would not be so bad in your area (Kansas, you said?), especially not for
the usage typical of a lot of fleets which don't have many short trips.
However, that doesn't mean that it's better, just that you can get away with
using it. Try using 30W in this area in a time of year even close to winter
and you'll destroy your engine from lack of lubrication in a hurry.

 

Well this week it's been 0 to 32. Last summer was 105 at times.

 

You are correct in what you say. I loosely use the term "W" to mean
"weight". Thus 30W = thirty weight oil. Sorry, and thanks for the english
lesson. You know when you've been doing this shit as long as I have, you
come to realize it really doesn't matter what you pour in there as long as
you change it every 3000 miles.

 

whatever you say. I thought cold was cold wherever you are.

 

Thank you for the civility. Might I ask what kind of trucks and
engines you have been talking about?

Ken

 

I know that I've had cars, trucks, and tractors that wouldn't have
started in some of the coldest weather here (MI) with straight 30 in
the crankcase. The 2 diesel Rabbits come quickly to mind. They had
problems even using Mobil 1 5W-30.

Ken

 

Had to write the truck numbers down and think about it for a bit.<G>

10- 302 Fords
4- 318 mopars
5- 5.9 cummins. one in a ford f-700 4 in dodges
2- 4.6 fords
1-7.3 naturally aspirated Navistar in a ford
1-7.3 power joke ford
1- 3.5 Cummins in an old bread van
1- DT-466 international
1- 460 Ford
2- 5.8 fords
2- 4.9 ford inline 6's
1- 4.0 Ranger
1- 2.3 Ranger
1-3.? can't remember Chrysler 300M
1-4.6 Mustang
1-4.1 Cadillac


Think that's it.

 

10- 302 Fords

I don't see any Saturns listed in there... What are you doing here?
Aspiring to own smaller plastic vehicles?

--



Joe - V#8013 - '86 VN750 - joe @ yunx .com
Ask me about "The Ride" on July 31, '04:
http://www.youthelate.com/the_ride.htm

I'm not a total idiot... I am after all, missing parts.

 

Let me answer here. These are the fleet vehicles. He has an SL1 as a
personal vehicle.

I disagree with his choice of 30 as a year-round lube, but as long as
he is civil and doesn't descend to personal insults, I defend his
right to post his opinions.

Best Wishes,

Ken