Should I be using 20w-50

[Anonymous]

I'm using 20w-50 on my rebuilt engine. It doesnt leak, and it runs pretty well. I'm planning on switching to synthetic on the next oil change.

I live in texas, and its usually about 90-100* in the summer, and about 50* in winter.

Let me know what you think. Im planning on using royal purple.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Way, way, way too thick.
In your climate 10W40 dino oil and 10W30 synthetic should do the job year round.

 

[Anonymous]

I would recommend a good straight 30W or Rotella 15-40 dino or perhaps Delvac 1300 synth (easy to find @ WalMart)...

If you want to go for the best, how about the Castrol Syntech 10w-30 from AutoZone? Better than Royal Purple or such (check out http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/ for LOTS in indepth discussions and analysis of used and new oils).

-David
Sugar Land, TX
'61 Ranchero

 

[Anonymous]

20W50 is 20wieght oil with additives that give it the ability to withstand the stress that would require 50w oil Thus 20w50 is thinner than straight 30w. Older engines ran thicker oil than modern engines due to differences in tolerances, metal composition and bearing design etc. Plus newer engines have to meet higher MPG requirements thus thinner oil is used for less drag. on a low mileage engine in your area i would use 10w30 in the winter and 10w40 in summer. If oil consumption or oil pressure becomes an issue switch up to 20w40 & 20w50. The most damageing thing is to run too heavy an oil on cold start-ups. this is why the multi visc. oils became so popular. Here in Ga. many days will be in the 20's in the morning and in the 70's that same afternoon.(too cold for 30w and too warm for 10W but just right for 10w30) When i lived in New England back when these engines were young we usually ran 10w30 in the winter -10w40 spring and fall and 20w50 in the summer. Ohh and by the way during the early 70's i ran a service station and the info i used was provided by the oil manufacturers. (W stands for 'winter' not wieght meaning that viscosity was determined at a certain temp--i think 32*F-- and is determined by the time it takes a certain size ball falling through a certain size tube filled with the oil being tested at a certain temp.)

 

[XFlow_Fairlane]

my old 170 used more oil running 20/50 than 10/30 I am guessing the worn out rings couldn't scrape it off the cylinders

 

[Lazy JW]

Way, way, way too thick.
In your climate 10W40 dino oil and 10W30 synthetic should do the job year round.

Yup. Unless you are running an air-cooled VW, then I run 20w-50 in the summer.
Joe

 

[kirkallen143]

I am going to run the Rotella Synthetic in my 200, not too expensive and Walmart has it in Brenham and Hempsted. 10w30, I think, don't quote me though.

Kirk

 

[CobraSix]

In my 200, I run 10w40 year round in Massachusetts. Even when I was living in San Diego, I ran 10w40.

Generally, thicker oil is more acceptable in a hotter climate then a cooler climate. In my explorer I run 20w50 in the summer and have to run 10w40 in the winter or the car doesn't like to start (no, it's not the battery). I only run 20w50 because the bearings are pretty much wiped out from a failing oil pump, but the engine has over 200k miles on it and the car is 15 years old. Ford wanted $2k to replace the oil pump since you have to pull the engine to do so. If I'm going to pull the engine, I'll just replace it for $1800 for a new one. So I'm driving the truck until the engine blows up. Of course, I've been saying that for 4 years now...

Slade