oil wieghts?

Papa Rad17 · 10-03-2011, 11:59 AM

I'm just using the regular 5w-30 oil right now. full synthetic with the Lucas oil additive. I need to do an oil change sometime soon and I was told that I should put in a lighter weight oil. What would I gain/loose from a heavier or lighter weight oil?

[ion] C2 · 10-03-2011, 12:32 PM

Fuel economy/power, and wear protection.

Use 5w-30 or 0w-30. No Lucas.

I've used 0w-30 up to 15w-50 depending on my mood.

Shiwnath · 10-03-2011, 01:07 PM

Personally if I were you, I would stick to what GM recommends. I know some people do change up what grade of oil they use in the winter and what not, but it's always a good thing to play it safe..You really cant go wrong with the fluids the manufacturer recommends unless you're a 3400 owner in 2000 using DEXCOOL coolant lol.

mmorello82 · 10-03-2011, 01:14 PM

I second ION. I use 5w-30 in the summer time and 0w-30 in the winter. 0w in winter because I have noticed in cold weather here in WV, the lifters pump up faster, thus, not as much time hearing my sewing machine under the hood lol

Papa Rad17 · 10-03-2011, 01:27 PM

Alright. Thanks for the help. What about -20 or -40 oils?

[ion] C2 · 10-03-2011, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Papa Rad17

Alright. Thanks for the help. What about -20 or -40 oils?

Stick to 30.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiwnath

You really cant go wrong with the fluids the manufacturer recommends unless you're a 3400 owner in 2000 using DEXCOOL coolant lol.

The V6 gaskets would have leaked regardless of which coolant brand they used; it just so happened that Dex-Cool was the factory fill, so everyone jumped on the bandwagon against Dex-Cool. It was GM's shitty gaskets.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmorello82

0w in winter because I have noticed in cold weather here in WV, the lifters pump up faster, thus, not as much time hearing my sewing machine under the hood lol

Ha, yeah I think I'll be switching to 0w-30 this oil change. Car's always noisier on cold startups in the cool weather.

kwhauck · 10-03-2011, 01:53 PM

I will stick rock dexcool. They use similar stuff in Toyotas? I believe and no problems there.....

Shiwnath · 10-03-2011, 02:06 PM

Definitely had my facts wrong on that one. When I did my last coolant flush I read that in a couple of places so i had no idea otherwise. Whoops lol.

Redog · 10-03-2011, 03:42 PM

My 3400 Alero - Mobil 1 5w 30
My 307 Delta - Quaker State 10w 30
Mom's 2.2 OHV (LN4) Cavalier - Quaker State 5w 30

I go by the book

lonnie · 10-03-2011, 04:20 PM

I used 5w-30 since I've had the car.

Papa Rad17 · 10-03-2011, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonnie

I used 5w-30 since I've had the car.

Ya so I have I, figured it would be best. But I was in getting it the other at my local napa and as I was checking out the guy said if it was "for the alero out there, get a lighter weight oil" so I just though I'd check.

guiguilandry · 10-03-2011, 07:20 PM

5w50 full syntec in my ld9 (daily driver) and 20w50 in my l67(of course it's only a summer car and it's been built with some ''slack'')
the cheapest 5w30 I can find in the malibu 3100 (g/f daily driver)
5w40 syntec in the subaru (current project car to be sold next summer)
I like thicker oil when i know that the car will be driven hard at high rpm... help keeps compression a little more and reduce oil consuption

Papa Rad17 · 10-03-2011, 08:26 PM

Iv had trouble with burning at high rpms recently, was looking into getting some work done. So would 5w-40 help with that?

TdotAlero · 10-03-2011, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwhauck

I will stick rock dexcool. They use similar stuff in Toyotas? I believe and no problems there.....

My car used Dexcool since brand new. Replaced coolant tank twice this summer and both times filled up with red Dexcool. 2000 Alero and still factory gasket... knock on wood.

guiguilandry · 10-03-2011, 10:20 PM

Just to give you an idea, I was burning 1,5 to 2 liter of 5w30 on my old integra (321000km) by 5000km...
I switched to 5w50 and it was burning between ¼ and ½ liter by 5000km

please note that I've beaten the shit out of this car almost everytime that I was in it. By beating, I mean orange glowing header almost all the time i opened the hood...
and it regained lost compression ( a little more torque, and even funnyer to beat)
I saw it last year too and the guy that bought it from me told me he was at 465000km lol still running strong on 5w50 (not more that ½ pint)

Papa Rad17 · 10-03-2011, 10:30 PM

Daym! That's interesting... I think I'll drop some 5w-40 in and see what happens. And maybe try the 0w-30 or 40 for winter at some point. I appreciate the help everyone.

dcinti · 10-10-2011, 11:53 AM

I was under the impression you should not change the oil grade!

[ion] C2 · 10-10-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcinti

I was under the impression you should not change the oil grade!

Within reason you can.

I would recommend staying within the following boundaries:
5W-30
0 to 15 ................... 30 to 50

robalero · 10-10-2011, 08:22 PM

when your car uses more oil then normal switch to valvoline maxlife 5w30 I had a oil burning issue and switched to maxlife ( used it in the aurora also ) and no more burning of oil and 0 loss of oil between changes now

Papa Rad17 · 10-10-2011, 08:52 PM

Alright. Im noticing on the dip stick it's looking a little extra dark and still burning some (haven't got to changing it yet).