I did a search on this and I couldn't find anything.

I just wanted to know if people are using a different oil in there cars for the winter.
I have been using 10W30 for the summer and I did this last winter should I go to a 5W30 for the winter, and is there any benefits to do this?

 

thicker is better in cold weather. also depends if you are in the snow. then u want an oil for a lower temp than say someone in california..... make sure your windshield wiper fluid is snow ready too while ur doing fluids! dont wana shoot ur windshield and have it ice it down.....that happens to people when they go to tahoe from my area because we dont get much colder than about 35 deg here.

 

Actually you'll take longer to warm up. 5w30 is recommended for cold weather climate.

 

We get not to much snow ( just around 2-3 weeks worth) but hell does it get cold. So it looks like I will be switching to 5W 30 oil for this winter. Do you guys use a certain brand??? I use Casrtol.

 

I run 5w 30 all the time specially in winter time thicker oil takes longer to heat up and reach engine parts.

 

Sentinal is right, 5w-30 offers the same protection at high temps as the 10w-30 so it's recomended by Mitsu to be used all the time

 

just did my oil change today and i mixed 2 QT of 5-30W and 3 QT of 10-30W Royal Purple.

 

Interesting blend 4Gsixty3, tell us how well it works out.

And yeah, in colder areas 5W30 is a good way to go. I live in So Cali so I always run 10W30, but it never gets below 40 here, even at 2am.

 

thicker oil just makes for less funny noises. i drive hard...so thinkcer oil helps to eliminate all the vodo that comes from older engines...this is my first car that isnt in the 100,000 mile club lol, so im sued to putting the thick junk in pretty much year around.....i sacrifice the warm up time.....it makes it sound better......

just impulse i guess. go with the 5w30 i guess.....

looks like i should change my oil ;-)

 

Oh really? I wish I had a clip of the sound when I changed the oil in my old mazda from 5w30 to 10w40 cuz it was (and still is) burning oil (valve seals). You know what it sounded like? Like a lot of elves with a lot of hammers going under the hood. Clackity clack clack until it warmed up and I quickly drained it and went back to 5w30. Someone told me its lifters making all the racket because they aren't getting oil because its too thick.

 

But you mentioned that the noise only lasted until the engine was warmed up. Like they said, thicker oil takes longer to warm up. But agreeing with you (somewhat) I have had no problems with 10W30 in the 43k miles on my car.

 

This was in the middle of summer, imagine if it was winter. The oil squirters and the holes in the lifters that take the oil are designed for a specific weight.

Imagine a squirt gun filled with water (5w30) and it works great, then fill it with Mrs. Butterworths (10w40) hows it squirt now? Toss it in the microwave try it again. Works a little better but not right. Thats my point.

 

lifters not getting oil ehh? never heard of that probelm...perhaps you have something gummed up in them or something? and if our geting that clang clang....take of your valve cover(s) and make sure ur lifters and springs and all that jazz is lined up and tightend....i had that problem too....the el camino was quite bucket of problems....but what can you ask for for 600$ lol........

 

No they get oil this whole thing was about not putting the recomended oil wieght in your car.