5W-30 or 10W-30? Which one?

[balingwire]

Which oil wt do you recommend for Tennessee on a 184K mile 2.2L 4-cyl '99 Camry? I will be using conventional oil and a Wix filter. Thanks.

[Mike Gerber]

If the OEM oil cap is still on the car it probably recommends 5W-30. Using 10W-30 in the warm summer months would probably be a good idea.

Mike

[freeyellow2000]

The 1st number says how it will react in cold temperatures. 10w is not recommended if you have extremely cold winter and that where 5w is recommended. I using 5w 30 year round.


http://www.performanceoiltechnology....toildoiuse.htm

[mandyfig]

Follow recommended oil weights...it is on the oil cap....or check your manual. Cold climate, 5W-30. Also can be used year round.

[TheKevin]

5w30

[touringcamry]

I say 5W-30. You can use it year round and it sometimes has higher quality base stock than 10W-30.

[bcp477]

I would add that your choice should depend on whether your car burns oil. It is a bit of a problem for all of the newer cars for which 5W30 oil is spec'd.....that after they have a lot of miles on them and the engine wears.....5W30 oil tends to promote excessive oil consumption. Using 10W30 instead will NOT harm your engine. A really heavy wt. of oil, such as ALL 20W50 used in really cold temps, for example, COULD harm your engine, if a bearing ran dry before such thick oil could warm enough to lube all of the bearings. Using a heavier wt. of oil though, will tend to reduce fuel mileage somewhat. After a lot of miles, it is often true that even 10W30 will not be heavy enough to eliminate most oil consumption. My '97 Camry, with 228,000 + plus miles, will burn 5W30 almost as fast as gasoline - and 10W30 is not much better. I now use a hybrid mixture, which I make up myself....consisting of about 50 % 10W30, about 40 % 20W50....and some no-smoke additive (and a bit of Marvel Mystery Oil) to make up the remainder (about 3.8 quarts, total). This mixture, in my high-mileage engine, very nearly does away with oil consumption. I would NOT use this mixture if I lived in Alaska or N. Dakota, for instance, but, since I live on the Eastern Seaboard and we do not have too many days with temps below freezing, it is not a problem.

I am aware that many here may gasp in disbelief at such foolishness on my part....but everyone needs to realize that the switch to lighter oils ONLY occurred due to the decrease in clearances in production engines AND more especially, the improvement in consistency in achieving these tolerances. Engines of today are not somehow different animals from years past. The manufacturers have simply improved their production methods and quality control, which in conjunction with the movement toward higher fuel economy, made the use of thinner oils both possible and desirable. Engines still DO wear, though, just as they always have - and tolerances DO open up, as they do. This is why using a thicker oil mixture in really high-mileage engines does work.

[PhatRoyale]

5W30 would be ideal.

[Stillrunning]

Mobil 1 0w-30 synthetic. I have proved this oil with oil analysis. You can do extended drains to offset price. Right now I do oil change at 6K with filter change and top up at 3K.

[FireFire]

10w for most time and 5w for the winter

[Venom_5]

either/or ...
u can consistently use either one, or you can use 5W30 for Winter and 10W30 for Summer - there are at least 5 good reasons to go either route

btw, what part of TN are you from?

[FireFire]

I am in Canada. -30 in the winter and +35 in summer. would you tell me the 5 good reasons to stick on one kind? "there are at least 5 good reasons to go either route"

[96paseo]

Originally Posted by FireFire

I am in Canada. -30 in the winter and +35 in summer. would you tell me the 5 good reasons to stick on one kind? "there are at least 5 good reasons to go either route"

If your worried about temperature, use this. Its in your owners manual.

[t3chnique]

^^ so your saying we should be using 10W-40 or 10W-50 in the summer here in Cali because it usually between 75-85? No one uses that because you get less mpg rite?

Most people I know stick to 10W-30 for "performance". Should I use it as well?

[rty]

Originally Posted by t3chnique

^^ so your saying we should be using 10W-40 or 10W-50 in the summer here in Cali because it usually between 75-85? No one uses that because you get less mpg rite?

Most people I know stick to 10W-30 for "performance". Should I use it as well?

Every car is different. In my manual it only has 5W30 and 10W30 on that graph.