Same here, Mobil 5000 10w30.
Proper Oil Weight
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 200
Likes: 22
From: Old Greenwich CT
Proper Oil Weight
Not looking to open a can of worms, but what weight oil is everyone using? I have been told to put 20w-50 in my base engine '72. Is this correct? I only drive the car a few times a week in warm weather only. Always let the car warm up before taking it out, but generally go on short (10 miles or less) trips. Advice please...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 51
From: Cartersville GA
I guess it depends on your preference and location, weather wise.
I'm in GA where there aren't many cold days, mostly hot. I have a cousin who is a mechanic for many years, he asked what I was using and I said Castrol GTX straight 30 weight.
His response was "right answer".
If your in a colder climate, you may want to go with the 5W-30.
I'm in GA where there aren't many cold days, mostly hot. I have a cousin who is a mechanic for many years, he asked what I was using and I said Castrol GTX straight 30 weight.
His response was "right answer".
If your in a colder climate, you may want to go with the 5W-30.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 200
Likes: 22
From: Old Greenwich CT
That's what I am using now. The 20w-50 was suggested by a well respected member on this forum after he drove me car and saw the oil pressure at idle (around 15 psi). Why would he suggest that?
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From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,146
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From: NM
Most engine wear comes at start up. So you need a thin enough oil to get to all the moving parts very quickly. The thick oil work great if you are in a heavy duty useage such as towing/hauling or raceing. For most of us we are in that group.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
If your engine has less than 50k miles on it and you do mostly long trips in it, 15w40 is probably fine. If you're like me and usually only do 2 mile trips at a time and your engine barely has over 10k miles on it since being rebuilt, you want thiiiiin oil as you don't usually have much time to warm it up. I'm currently running Valvoline VRI straight 30 weight. I didn't know they made it in 10w30 until after I got it, but it seems to do the job well. Next time I'll be using 10w30 for sure.
Hope that helps. By the way, since diesels are required to have cats now diesel oil has less zinc than it used to.
Hope that helps. By the way, since diesels are required to have cats now diesel oil has less zinc than it used to.
