Question about switching oils...

[moexplorer97]

Previous/only other owner of the Explorer I bought last weekend, ran Quaker State 10w-30, even though the manual said 5w-30. I want to switch brands, and would rather run the weight the manual says to use.

Would you think I'd create any problems by doing this?

 

[Pensa]

I would recommend a good synthetic oil, but changing to any quality oil shouldn't be a problem.

I run 10W30, but here again you can run the 5W30 if that's what you want.

 

[moexplorer97]

30 views and 1 opinion.

 

[gijoecam]

Only one opinion because the 'correct weight' discussion comes up weekly...

The 'proper' weight oil is listed in your owner's manual. Odds are your manual states 5w30 for warmer climates, and 5w30 for colder climates. Either way, it's not a big difference... Run whichever lets you sleep at night...

 

[Trebor]

ill be switching mine to 0W20 mobile1. i was going for 0W30 but the parts store didnt have that only 0W20 and 0W40

 

[moexplorer97]

Actually, this link, that I found on explorerforum--> http://www.analogstereo.com/pdf/om/explorer_owners_manual_1997.pdf

says 5w-30 Super Premium Motorcraft Oil.

Also, it wasn't just a weight question, it was about changing the brand and weight after a vehicle has been ran with a certain brand and weight for the first 83K of it's life. I even searched the forums about switching oils, and found nothing, so I thought I'd ask. Sorry I wasted 30ppl's time asking a question they apparently didn't read thoroughly enough to understand.

 

[Nunze]

over 70000 miles run a heavier weight in warmer weather and 5w30 in colder weather

 

[Walnut777]

I don't know what brand or weight of oil the previous owner used in my Explorer but when I bought it I ran Valvoline 10 w40. I switched from that to Castrol GTX 10 w40 for about 2 or 3 oil changes and I am currently running Valvoline MaxLife 5 w30. I am going to stay with the MaxLife 5 w30.
I just dropped my explorer off to have new head gaskets put on b/c the left one was leaking coolant. I doubt my oil changes caused that.

My answer to your question would be: No, I do not believe that changing oil or the weight of oil will affect you engine. If your really concerned you might try some motor flush or add some Sea Foam to clean the engine before you change the brand/weight.

My ex has 157,000 miles and engine wise, the leaky head gasket is the 1st serious engine work that's ever been done.

I say go for it and change the oil.

 

[moexplorer97]

Thanks for the replies, Nunze and Walnut777.

 

[shortstack]

you can get a 5qt jug of mobil 1 synthetic for about $21 (if you live in a colder state i would use the 0w30 if not use the regular 5w30)

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Also, it wasn't just a weight question, it was about changing the brand and weight after a vehicle has been ran with a certain brand and weight for the first 83K of it's life. I even searched the forums about switching oils, and found nothing, so I thought I'd ask. Sorry I wasted 30ppl's time asking a question they apparently didn't read thoroughly enough to understand.

FYI.

With an attitude like that you aren't going to get any help.

 

[gijoecam]

Actually, this link, that I found on explorerforum-->
Also, it wasn't just a weight question, it was about changing the brand and weight after a vehicle has been ran with a certain brand and weight for the first 83K of it's life. I even searched the forums about switching oils, and found nothing, so I thought I'd ask. Sorry I wasted 30ppl's time asking a question they apparently didn't read thoroughly enough to understand.

Brand means even less than weight... Run the cheapest 5W30 you can run, or run the most expensive synthetic 5W20, 0W50, whatever floats your rubber ducky. Hell, run canola oil if it lets you sleep at night. Just pick one that meets the API rating your vehicle requires, change it often, and use a good filter, and don't worry about it.

If the *brand* of oil is the worst thing you have to worry about, you'll be fine...

 

[toypaseo]

My 1992 Paseo has around 205,x.. miles.

I have ran numerous brands. If my oil level is low, I'll top it off with whatever brand I have on hand, and I have mixed 10W-30 and 10W-40 before also. The use of Pennzoil was stopped in the mid-90's. I won't buy Wallymart's brand of oil, since a name brand there is not that much more, and I question the quality, even though it is pry fine.

My last oil purchase was NAPA's brand, which is made by Valvoline.

FYI: the use of Pennzoil was stopped due to one of my friends, who owns a lawn mowing service, telling me that it sludged up in his Grasshopper or Walker mowers. Pry a whole different story between his mowers and my Paseo, but I figured there was no reason to see if it would sludge my engine.

 

[moexplorer97]

My 1992 Paseo has around 205,x.. miles.

I have ran numerous brands. If my oil level is low, I'll top it off with whatever brand I have on hand, and I have mixed 10W-30 and 10W-40 before also. The use of Pennzoil was stopped in the mid-90's. I won't buy Wallymart's brand of oil, since a name brand there is not that much more, and I question the quality, even though it is pry fine.

My last oil purchase was NAPA's brand, which is made by Valvoline.

FYI: the use of Pennzoil was stopped due to one of my friends, who owns a lawn mowing service, telling me that it sludged up in his Grasshopper or Walker mowers. Pry a whole different story between his mowers and my Paseo, but I figured there was no reason to see if it would sludge my engine.

Yep, have read a smilar story over on fullsizebronco.com about a 5.0L in a fullsize bronco that had a terrible sludge problem after using QS/Pennz it's whole life.

 

[Walnut777]

Back in 2000 or so I worked at Wal Mart in the tire & lube dept.
I asked one of the managers where did thw wal mart brand Super Tech come from? He said, "Quaker State!" He said that you can even look at Quaker state and Super Tech very closely and notice that they have a light green tint to the color of the oil.
That was 8 or so years ago, so Walmart could have a different company labeling their oil.