10w or 5w

[OL Crony]

I am religious about using synthetics in my truck. I've always either used the Mobil1 or sometimes Valvoline when I go to one of those drive thru instant oil places. I've always just put in the 5w that the truck calls for, but the assistant manager at the valvoline place last night said that since there is a slight oil leak (you know, that one that everyone that has an explorer talks about on these pages) he recommended i use the 10w. He said that since it is a little heavier it won't leak as much. I know that I don't have a big leak, it's just wet back there and i may get a few drips on the driveway now and then. In fact I ran my last oil change to 6000+ miles and the oil still registered in the full range on the dipstick.

Is this guy full of it, or should i be playing with the weight of the oil in my truck?

 

[BradE.]

Yes going to a higher weight oil will slow oil consumption and the leak. However, since synthetic oils are much thinner than convention to start with I am not sure if it will help much in this case.

 

[dogfriend]

I would stick with the 5W in the winter based on where you live (i.e. cold) and think about switching to 10W in the summer when the low temp flow is not as critical.

I also doubt whether it will help a great deal anyway.