question about oil for my car

Oct 19, 2000
17,860
4
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I've had my oil changed by the same dealership for a long time now, for the whole 3 years I've had my car. My car has about 109,000 miles on it, and from the paperwork they give me, they put in 10W30 Valvoline. Well, I've not had the money to get an oil change lately, and need another quart in my car. Well, I bought some Valvoline 10W30 motor oil, and when I got under the hood to check and fill my oil, the cap for the oil reserve says 5W30 oil. Has it been ok for the dealership to have been putting 10W30 in my car, or is the cap just a suggestion as to what to use?
 

Tominator

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,559
1
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Well, I've not had the money to get an oil change lately, and need another quart in my car.

A complete oil change is only $20 and there is no excuse not to change it on a regular basis.

To answer your question, there was no harm done using 10W30 instead of 5W30.

I would use the same oil you have been as it has not caused any problems.
 

amdskip

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
22,530
13
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Originally posted by: Tominator
Well, I've not had the money to get an oil change lately, and need another quart in my car.
A complete oil change is only $20 and there is no excuse not to change it on a regular basis. To answer your question, there was no harm done using 10W30 instead of 5W30.
Exactly, you are only asking for trouble not chaning your oil. Walmart will change it for $12-15.
 
Oct 19, 2000
17,860
4
81
Originally posted by: Tominator
Well, I've not had the money to get an oil change lately, and need another quart in my car.

A complete oil change is only $20 and there is no excuse not to change it on a regular basis.

To answer your question, there was no harm done using 10W30 instead of 5W30.

Thank you. I know it is no excuse, but I got laid off 3 days before Christmas, and money is only now starting to make an appearance in my life again. I'm not completely stupid, it will be changed at the soonest possible moment.
 

farmercal

Golden Member
Mar 23, 2000
1,580
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WoodchuckCharlie put whatever you can in there until you can change your oil properly. It won?t hurt your engine as oil is oil is oil. I am presently living in Germany (military), drive a 1986 Mercedes and have been putting whatever oil I find in the junkyard, or whatever is cheapest in the Base Exchange and it just doesn't care. It runs like a champ and has a very strong engine for a 4-banger. Am I suggesting that you do the same thing? NO. I just wanted to point out that putting in oil that isn't exactly like what you already have won't hurt your engine but running it without enough oil, might. And before you teenage mechanics out there hit me with a lot of jargon on how I don't know what I am talking about, let me point out that I have been working on cars for the last 30 years (longer than most of you have been alive) so I know what I am talking about.
 

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
10
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Originally posted by: The_good_guy
those merc's are bullet proof... especially the the 4 and the 6 cylinder diesless tooo.
You mean it dies for cheaper?
 

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
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in an older car, it's recommended to not use 5w30 anymore because the oil is too light for the higher mileage engine anyways.
on my old celebrity with 295,000 kms i always used 20w50 and it ran fantastic with that oil.
 

psianime

Golden Member
Mar 16, 2002
1,497
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Don't let your oil go down too low or else your engine might seize and it will cost you A LOT more money to fix then a stupid $2 qt. of motor oil. Trust me. My engine has about 135,000 miles on it. I'm thinkiing of changing to a heavier grade of oil.

-psianime
 

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
Originally posted by: farmercal
WoodchuckCharlie put whatever you can in there until you can change your oil properly. It won?t hurt your engine as oil is oil is oil. I am presently living in Germany (military), drive a 1986 Mercedes and have been putting whatever oil I find in the junkyard, or whatever is cheapest in the Base Exchange and it just doesn't care. It runs like a champ and has a very strong engine for a 4-banger. Am I suggesting that you do the same thing? NO. I just wanted to point out that putting in oil that isn't exactly like what you already have won't hurt your engine but running it without enough oil, might. And before you teenage mechanics out there hit me with a lot of jargon on how I don't know what I am talking about, let me point out that I have been working on cars for the last 30 years (longer than most of you have been alive) so I know what I am talking about.

i'm a teenage mechanic telling you you're right.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
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Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
Originally posted by: farmercal
WoodchuckCharlie put whatever you can in there until you can change your oil properly. It won?t hurt your engine as oil is oil is oil. I am presently living in Germany (military), drive a 1986 Mercedes and have been putting whatever oil I find in the junkyard, or whatever is cheapest in the Base Exchange and it just doesn't care. It runs like a champ and has a very strong engine for a 4-banger. Am I suggesting that you do the same thing? NO. I just wanted to point out that putting in oil that isn't exactly like what you already have won't hurt your engine but running it without enough oil, might. And before you teenage mechanics out there hit me with a lot of jargon on how I don't know what I am talking about, let me point out that I have been working on cars for the last 30 years (longer than most of you have been alive) so I know what I am talking about.

i'm a teenage mechanic telling you you're right.

I'm a twenty-something mechanic telling you that you are partially wrong.

Oil is not oil is not oil. That said, any oil is going to be better than none.

If you've been working on cars for 30 years, you should know this. There are very big differences in the different grades of oil.

That said, using 10W-30 isn't going to hurt anything if you live in a warm climate. You should definately be using 5W-30 if it gets below 40F often, though.

Originally posted by: psianime
Don't let your oil go down too low or else your engine might seize and it will cost you A LOT more money to fix then a stupid $2 qt. of motor oil. Trust me. My engine has about 135,000 miles on it. I'm thinkiing of changing to a heavier grade of oil.

-psianime

Don't switch to a heavier grade unless you know that your engine has some excessive wear and would benefit. 135,000 miles doesen't necessarily mean that your engine is worn out.