10w30 v 5w30
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10w30 v 5w30
Hey all...
Here's my question... Myself and another guy I work will performs our own oil changes on our work vehicles.... one is a 1993 Ford Club Wagon with 350,000 miles, another is a 1995 GMC Ventura with 225,000, and finally a third is a 1989 GMC with 150,000. With these older and/or high mileage vehicles, which oil is better, 5w30 (which I say) or 10w30 (which my co-worker says)? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Here's my question... Myself and another guy I work will performs our own oil changes on our work vehicles.... one is a 1993 Ford Club Wagon with 350,000 miles, another is a 1995 GMC Ventura with 225,000, and finally a third is a 1989 GMC with 150,000. With these older and/or high mileage vehicles, which oil is better, 5w30 (which I say) or 10w30 (which my co-worker says)? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: So Cal
I would say if you have good pressure and no smoke and no leaks either oil would be fine. A cylinder pressure check would also be worthwhile.
That is a fairly large amount of miles for these vehicles and I might use a thicker oil, especially if I lived where it doesn't get much below freezing.
Use what the manual recommends, unless you have reason to believe you need a thicker oil. 5W and 10W is hardly much of a difference.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
That is a fairly large amount of miles for these vehicles and I might use a thicker oil, especially if I lived where it doesn't get much below freezing.
Use what the manual recommends, unless you have reason to believe you need a thicker oil. 5W and 10W is hardly much of a difference.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Baltimore
Each one would have to be judged on its' own merits. Maintenance history, type and weight of oil used, engine size, oil pressure, oil consumption, regional climate, etc, would have to be considered. Based on the information given, I would say 10w-30 for the 93 Ford and 95 GMC. The 89 GMC could go either way.
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From: Southern California
Hey nickknaack, welcome to FTE and thanks for joining us in the Oil and Lubrication forum! 
I assume you and your coworker are wanting to make an agreement on the oil so you can buy it in bulk and use the same oil for all your work vehicles. Either one is a good choice and should offer the same performance and protection. Like the guys said, the 5w30 will have the edge in extreme cold weather. If your location gets extreme cold, then I would go with the 5w30.
Personally, I prefer 10w30. But that's because I'm old school and only in the past few years have switched from the traditional 'heavy' oil like 10w40 and 15w40. But now that I've finally seen the light, so to speak, I'm still running a heavier oil since 5w30 and now 5w20 are becoming the primary recommendation in vehicles. But I've been very satisfied with 10w30 because it's the one weight of oil that can satisfy the requirement of every one of my vehicles and equipment. Everything from the automobile's and pickup, to the lawn mower and farm tractor.
I assume you and your coworker are wanting to make an agreement on the oil so you can buy it in bulk and use the same oil for all your work vehicles. Either one is a good choice and should offer the same performance and protection. Like the guys said, the 5w30 will have the edge in extreme cold weather. If your location gets extreme cold, then I would go with the 5w30.
Personally, I prefer 10w30. But that's because I'm old school and only in the past few years have switched from the traditional 'heavy' oil like 10w40 and 15w40. But now that I've finally seen the light, so to speak, I'm still running a heavier oil since 5w30 and now 5w20 are becoming the primary recommendation in vehicles. But I've been very satisfied with 10w30 because it's the one weight of oil that can satisfy the requirement of every one of my vehicles and equipment. Everything from the automobile's and pickup, to the lawn mower and farm tractor.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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At normal operating temp. they are both 30 wt.
The "W" is a reference to "cold cranking" condition, both of the oils are 30 weight. For example "Cold Crank Simulator Apparent Viscosity @ -30 degrees C, cP (ASTM D2602) for a 5W-30 might be <2310 and for a 10W-30 might be 1843 for comparison. And "Borderline Pumping Temperature" (ASTM D3829) might be -47 F degrees for a 5W-30 and -42 F degrees for a 10W-30, only a 5 degree difference. Other factors are probably much more important than the "W" designation, as has already been pointed out.
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Originally Posted by RDPrimeaux
i choose 10w30 for engines with that high of mileage better yet 10w40
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