A friend of mine recently had his engine seize on his 2000 GM truck that had only 100,000 miles on it. When he took his truck into the shop, the mechanic asked him "what oil do you run?" He said "5W-30, just like the book says". The mechanic replied with "That's why your engine blew - you should have been running 10W-30". Is there any truth to this? I drive a 98 F-150 for which Ford recommends 5W-30. Is it true that my engine could last longer with 10W-30, or is this just a myth?

Thanks

 

WHat engine do you have. I have a 98 4.6 and i have been running 10-30 and its got 170,000. Dont fix it if its not broke.

 

there isnt a big difference between 5w-30 and 10w-30. Only main difference is the 5w has thinner properties in the warmer summer months. Ive never heard of using slightly thicker oil as being the main cause of the engine to fail, especially on older engines with worn down piston rings

 

HEY Patman03SprCrw,

RALLY ON THE VALLY!!!

Inside joke from Waco...

But seriously mbruno the manual says that you should run 5w-30 because they are recommending that in average conditions, but in the south like TX that **** is like water on a 104 degree day...

I have a 07' that I run the 5w-30 in FOR NOW, while it is still new, but I will eventually step into the 10w-30 round 100k miles and then into the 20w-50, but that is when my tolerences are more, kinda when I have 150k+ miles...

But it will probibly be gone in a year or two...

 

Actually, Ford back-speced your engine to 5W-20.

I'm running 5W-20 motorcraft on our 2000 F150 has over 120,000 miles (90,000 on 5W-20), and it has been flawless, using no oil, and a Blackstone Lab oil analysis showed the engine was very healthy.

I don't think the OHV Chevy pushrod engines should be used as a comparison to your SOHC Ford modular engine.

 

Yah i was just thinking that, i use 5w20 in mine

Valley is nothing but rice, but it is some good entertainment to see the young kids getting pulled over

 

I have the 4.6 litre V8

 

Where do you live. Temp has a lot to do with oil. I have never had any problems with the 10-30 i put in my truck. I change it every 3000 and it goes out the same way i put it in.

Patman..... Jbrew tells me i need to get the number for that hottie. LOL

 

?? im not sure i know what you're talking about, I know who Jbrew is, but who is the hottie supposed to be?

 

I believe that the 5w and 10w numbers refer to cold viscosity not warm, so the 5w will flow easier under cold conditions. The 30 is the warm viscosity so the 5w-30 and 10w-30 should be the same in warm conditions.

 

Correct, at engine operating temps they are both 30 weight. You will get better cold flow from the 5W-30 at start up.

 

The one in your signature. Well the moment has passed. It was much funnier last night.

 

If the 5W30 he was using met GM specs and was changed at recommended intervals using a filter that met specs, it's not the reason for the engine failure.

 

Espically in those cold winter months......

 

ahh okay i was really lost