MOBIL 1 20-50 Damage my engine?
#21
Race Director
My coworker's 2002 Porsche Boxster uses 0W-40 synthetic, directly from the factory. Stick with the 0 or 5W stuff unless you are doing some serious racing or your vehicle's manufacturer recommends it.
#22
Race Director
Originally Posted by AmericanPie
I just thought I'd point out that for my 1985 635CSi, BMW recommends 20W-50 from 15 to 120 degrees F. They only specify the lighter weight stuff (5W-20, 5W-30) up to about 20 degrees F.
#23
Melting Slicks
Originally Posted by Dave68
5W-30, 0W-30, or 0W-40 are the only oil viscosities I'd use. 20W-50 may very well cause premature engine wear due to its poor flow characteristics at startup temps.
#24
Race Director
I felt this way until I spoke to the Mobil application specialist who is personally using 0W-40 in the heat of Texas. Essentially, he admitted, there is no good reason for using 10W-30. 5W-30 and 0W-30, 0W-40 oils not only flow more easily at startup, but also protect as well or better (in the case of 0W-40 and some 0W-40 oils) under extreme heat conditions.
If you are concerned about oil temps greater than 260 (very rare unless you are racing), then the 0W-40 is an excellent choice.
If you are concerned about oil temps greater than 260 (very rare unless you are racing), then the 0W-40 is an excellent choice.
#25
The Service Manual for my 98 states on page 0-41 that SAE 5W-30 is the preferred and SAE 10W-30 is also ok. Lower viscosity engine oils can provide better fuel economy and cold-weather performance. Under the Export section, it states that due to unavailability of API STARBUSRT symbol oils or the lack of oils meeting GM4718M specifications you can go other routes. It also provides a chart with temperature ranges and corresponding viscosities. For the highest range of temp (-4F to +122F) it shows 10W-40, but it also indicates that the widest temp range ( <-22F to >+122F) 5W-30 covers it.
So with that information, why would you want to use anything else?
FWIW
So with that information, why would you want to use anything else?
FWIW
#26
As someone mentioned, use the thicker oil in extreme heat conditions (ie. track events etc..) GM, Ford, etc... has been going to thinner oils to increase the efficiency of their engines to get that extra MPG out of them (CAFE average increase across the product/car line). Ford now specs 5w20 oils for their 4.6 engines even though the oiling system is the same as in the mid 90's where they specified a thicker oil.
We exclusively run Redline 10w40 in all our C4/C5/C6 cars that are producing horsepower #'s greater than stock, or are road raced often.
I wouldn't be afraid to run a 15w50 in a extreme heat environment, just get the oil temps up before really beating on it.
Has anyone seen how thin 5w30 or 5w20 looks when it is 275 degrees? Its like water That extra viscocity of a 10w40/15w40 will be added insurance of a thicher oil film between parts at the extreme heats.
Top fuel Drag Cars run a straight 70w fyi...
My $.02
We exclusively run Redline 10w40 in all our C4/C5/C6 cars that are producing horsepower #'s greater than stock, or are road raced often.
I wouldn't be afraid to run a 15w50 in a extreme heat environment, just get the oil temps up before really beating on it.
Has anyone seen how thin 5w30 or 5w20 looks when it is 275 degrees? Its like water That extra viscocity of a 10w40/15w40 will be added insurance of a thicher oil film between parts at the extreme heats.
Top fuel Drag Cars run a straight 70w fyi...
My $.02