Oil Change: 10W30? Or must it be 5W30?

[haktmal]

(I have a 98 Sport OHV).

Well.. My lil' brother wants to do the oil change for me and I found out that he use 10W30. He used 4 quarts of Penzoil and 1 DuraLub.

I really don't know the difference between the two or MUST it be 5W30 oil for our Explorers. Does anybody know any difference?

 

[88vert]

I would not mix oils

 

[leenjen]

it wont hurt anything, but 5W-30 flows quicker at startup and is recommended....

i use 0W-30

 

[wpurple]

Would also stay "way"away from DuraLube. Do a search on the web, there were a few independant labs that tore it apart.

I use 0W30 Mobil 1 year round in my 97 Sport.
10W30 wouldn't hurt but you do sacrifice some fuel economy and it takes a little longer to pump at startup especially compared to a 0W30 synthetic.

Kurt

 

[rvitek]

LOL - this is a funny website that did a quick review on DuraLube. It's good reading!

Don't like what he said about RainX though

 

[aldive]

I have used Mobil 1 0 w 30 and now use Amsoil 0 w 30.

 

[ajevenson]

0w30 and 5w30 are ok as long as you dont have any leaks. When i switched mine to 0w30 my oil pressure dropped in half (even though its a dummy guage) and I was losing a quart a week. I switched to 5w30 and the oil pressure rose a bit, but still losing a quart every 2 weeks. Now I'm back to 10w30 and there are no leaks at all and the oil pressure guage is back up to the middle of NORMAL. Go figure. 0w30 sure was nice to start up though. -20C here and it started like it was a balmy summer day.

 

[aldive]

Funny.... the 0w. 5w and 10w 30 all behave the same as soon as warmed up.

 

[ajevenson]

That's what I would have thought that too but my engine disagrees, and I have left the puddles to prove it. I think it has something to do with the oil cools faster than the engine and is able to seep out the gaps in the gaskets while the engine is still hot. Once the engine has cooled and contracted then it probably doesn't leak.

 

[haktmal]

After readint this:
Dead Link Removed (Click on the third link from the bottom in the MORE INFO box) I'm beginning to worry. Should I drained everything out and use Synthetic? Or will it just be fine until 3,000 miles is up?

 

[aldive]

I sure like synthetic oils. But, you should be fine for the 3k,

Good luck

AgExplorer is offering a great deal to us on Amsoil products, check it out....

 

[Odman]

NEVER SECOND GUESS WHAT IS RECOMENDED !! Ford prints the stuff in those manuals for reasons we all may not understand. (till it too late)

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by Odman
NEVER SECOND GUESS WHAT IS RECOMENDED !! Ford prints the stuff in those manuals for reasons we all may not understand. (till it too late)

,,,,,,and Ford sells cars/trucks... they might not be as concerned about yours as you are.

 

[addkev]

I do all my maintenance on the X, but my wife takes her Taurus to the Ford Dealer because they are free with a preferred customer thing she bought. Last time it went in, I took it in instead of her and I specifically said to the service manager/advisor this car takes the 5w-30 and he said they don't carry 5w-30 on a regular basis that I would have to wait a week while they ordered it and come back when it came in. I know as a mechanic myself it won't do anything "bad". But it surprised me that the Ford house didn't carry it since it is recommended for most of their vehicles. Needless to say, Ford put 10w-30 in the Taurus.

I wouldn't worry about it. And next time don't use any oil additives. If you use a quality oil and change your oil on a regular basis you won't need any kind of additive the oil company has already added enough.