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Light oil in cars??

Posted on 01/19/2024 9:19:40 AM PST by ganeemead

I do not like the idea of using sewing machine oil in cars and some of the newer cars are supposed to be using 0-20 weight oil. Would it hurt anything to run one of those cars on 10W30 oil?


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: caroil; ganymedehypothesis; getspaidinrubles; medved; tedholden
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1 posted on 01/19/2024 9:19:40 AM PST by ganeemead
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To: ganeemead

You could try kerosene.


2 posted on 01/19/2024 9:22:45 AM PST by Jonty30 (In a nuclear holocaust, there is always a point in time where the meat is cooked to perfection. )
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To: ganeemead

I don’t know about the chemistry of it, but it would likely void any manufacturer / dealer warranty if you needed repairs and they found out, so consider that.


3 posted on 01/19/2024 9:23:38 AM PST by PGR88
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To: ganeemead

It says here that you can use 5w30.
https://www.motoraudit.com/can-i-use-5w30-instead-of-0w20/


4 posted on 01/19/2024 9:23:45 AM PST by Jonty30 (In a nuclear holocaust, there is always a point in time where the meat is cooked to perfection. )
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To: ganeemead

I’m sure you will get a lot of snide comments but the straight answer is to use what the manufacturer recommends. In the case of the 0w-20, the tolerances in the engine are really tight so using a thicker oil may not allow some parts to be lubed the way they should.


5 posted on 01/19/2024 9:24:50 AM PST by Boomer (The Long Winter is coming...)
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To: ganeemead

Use recommended viscosity.


6 posted on 01/19/2024 9:25:12 AM PST by paintriot (Die with your boots on )
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To: ganeemead

Old habits die hard. Years ago, a V8 was pretty much ready for overhaul at around 75k miles. The machining tolerances were not especially tight.

Modern casting techniques and machining means engines routinely run 250k or 300k miles, no spark plug changes required every 10k miles, no tune-ups, no nothin’. You might be smarter than the engineers that designed and built the motor but that (no offense) is probably not the way to bet.


7 posted on 01/19/2024 9:26:50 AM PST by Freedom4US
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To: Boomer

I have used the recommended oil weight in my wife’s minivan and it has 312,000 miles and still runs strong.


8 posted on 01/19/2024 9:27:56 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants ( "It is easier to fool people than to convince them they have been fooled."- Mark Twain)
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To: ganeemead

Yes.


9 posted on 01/19/2024 9:29:43 AM PST by Combat_Liberalism
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To: ganeemead

Don’t do it.
The reason is for tolerances.


10 posted on 01/19/2024 9:30:57 AM PST by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope. )
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To: ganeemead

I’m using synthetic oil in my 03 and 07 vehicles.


11 posted on 01/19/2024 9:31:41 AM PST by tflabo (Truth or tyranny )
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To: ganeemead

Use the oil that is designed for the car. New cars have smaller oil passages and tighter tolerances.

Heavier weight oil does not protect better, and may not flow at the design rate the engineers intended.

I have seven cars, and use the oil recommended for them by the manufacturer, including 0W-20 for a Honda CR-V that has 140k miles and is running fine.


12 posted on 01/19/2024 9:31:41 AM PST by Rinnwald
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To: right way right

I had heard the main reason was for fuel economy.


13 posted on 01/19/2024 9:32:17 AM PST by CA_soon_gone
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To: ganeemead

14 posted on 01/19/2024 9:33:03 AM PST by z3n (Kakistocracy)
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To: CA_soon_gone

I am an auto tech.
It you want lifters and cam phasers etc to not work properly and have MIL lights coming on go ahead and put in whatever you want.


15 posted on 01/19/2024 9:35:45 AM PST by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope. )
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To: ganeemead

It depends on the car. Look at the manual in the glove compartment. I have a 4Runner, and it comes with 0W20, but for different temperature ranges you can run 5W30 or even 10W30. Again, according to the manufacturer.

The issue is lowest expected temperature, and for starting and cold operation. Lower first number, the oil flows more freely and has a thinner film; the additives determine the effective viscosity at operating temperature, and that’s what the second number tells ya.


16 posted on 01/19/2024 9:36:44 AM PST by Pearls Before Swine
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To: Pearls Before Swine

True. Look at the manual.


17 posted on 01/19/2024 9:37:31 AM PST by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope. )
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To: ganeemead

Why? The conspiracy theory of the owner’s manual?

Try Bunker C or road tar and see what happens, then let us know.

Also, did we really land on the moon? Discuss.


18 posted on 01/19/2024 9:39:51 AM PST by lefty-lie-spy (Stay Metal)
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To: ganeemead

What does the owner’s manual say? Often there’s an option.

Manufacturers are using lighter oil to help make the extreme gas mileage requirements dictated by the EPA. But there may be an option to go up one weight, as you’re proposing. I would definitely read the fine print in the manual. And if running a quality full synthetic oil, might be tempted to go up anyway after the warranty period.

It’s interesting, in the non-turbo version of my car, 0W-20 is recommended, while 0W-30 is the recommended weight in the turbo version. The engine displacement is the same, and I bet they are very, very similar.


19 posted on 01/19/2024 9:43:12 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: ganeemead

I would go with the manufacturers recommended weight of oil, especially in a car with VVT (variable valve timing).


20 posted on 01/19/2024 9:43:39 AM PST by Babba Gi
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