5W-30 or 10W-30 for Camry

[mandyfig]

I was reading the manual and it says, if you are in winter time (maybe does not count in Atlanta, although, we are freezing today), it recommends 5W-30 a thinner oil, to help with start up in cold weather. But normally recommends 10W-30 a thicker oil, even the Oil Fill Cap says so.

When I bought the Car, without thinking, replaced the dirty oil and put in 5W-30. Should I change the oil back to 10W-30?

Anybody has some opinion, experience?

Thanks.

[Pineapple]

There is a temp range in the manual. If you will stay in that range, its good. The oil is the same after they heat up.

[Edmond]

I use 10W-30 year round and it's held up well in the crazy Chicago weather. I don't know what freezing means in Atlanta but we were right around zero this morning when I left.

I don't think you have to change back to 5W. I think that it doesn't make that much of a difference unless you're living in extreme weather.

[Hajoca]

Dont worry

I could explain in detail... but the number next to the W is for the oil's charater (viscosity) at cold temp. and the higher number is the oil's character at 100 degrees Centigrade.

Like pinapple stated, once at operating temp. it would be the same.

A smaller W number will mean an easier start when cold.

[BullMarket]

<<ATL...5w-30 and NO probs to date.

BULLMKT

[95camguy]

i use 10w30 in the summer and 5w30 in the winter.

my $.02

[burchard]

Originally Posted by Pineapple

There is a temp range in the manual. If you will stay in that range, its good. The oil is the same after they heat up.

In the winter I use 5w30 otherwise 10w30. In Atlanta GA...? stick with 10W30...

[ekim55121]

5-30 synthetic year round since i got the care Mobil one baby

[pclemg]

Don't waste your money on 10W-30 (lower gas efficiency). I've used 5W-30 for the entire life of the car thus far with 138K in Minnesota weather and it's held up very well. Most modern engines do not need anything heavier than 5W-30. If you towed with your car or live in Death Valley California, then use 10W-30, otherwise, it really a waste of your gasline money.

[burchard]

Originally Posted by pclemg

Don't waste your money on 10W-30 (lower gas efficiency). I've used 5W-30 for the entire life of the car thus far with 138K in Minnesota weather and it's held up very well. Most modern engines do not need anything heavier than 5W-30. If you towed with your car or live in Death Valley California, then use 10W-30, otherwise, it really a waste of your gasline money.

That's a good point but I'd like to know why the gas efficiency is better with 5w30... when warm viscocity in both olis is the same..?

[EKam]

Both won't hurt.

[Toysrme]

Anything in the ball-park is fine. Synthetics even better.

[Davee]

Originally Posted by pclemg

Don't waste your money on 10W-30 (lower gas efficiency). I've used 5W-30 for the entire life of the car thus far with 138K in Minnesota weather and it's held up very well. Most modern engines do not need anything heavier than 5W-30. If you towed with your car or live in Death Valley California, then use 10W-30, otherwise, it really a waste of your gasline money.

I agree 5W 30 is fine year round I have 164,000km & no oil burning yet. I go semi synthethic in winter It started two days ago at -35C with only a battery warming blanket to help out. Started on two cylinders & had to poke throttle to clear other plugs. The semi synthetic is better than 5W for really cold conditions

[anuthaCamry]

My car will never see temps below 37f/~3c. At 150k miles, I'm thinking mobil1 syn 10w40, any suggestions?

[Edmond]

Originally Posted by anuthaCamry

My car will never see temps below 37f/~3c. At 150k miles, I'm thinking mobil1 syn 10w40, any suggestions?

I would not go with synthetic. You've been using dino oil until this point and it's been fine. It's controversial but it's possible that the properties of synthetic oil could leak on a motor with that many miles on it.

37f isn't that cold.