Quick Oil Question

[alindquist]

7.4 Volvo GIPWTR Serial# 4110176452

Manual Says to use SAE30... I have been buying the Volvo synthetic stuff for a while but at $8.50 a quart it seems a little steep (9 quarts total). Can I use 10W30 or 5W30 synthetic... None of the auto parts stores carry SAE30 but they all carry the other stuff.

Thanks,
Aaron

 

[sethjon]

Re: Quick Oil Question

I think sysnthetic is a waste of money. I have used 10/40 for years and never had a problem. A lot of guys don't agree with that which I don't understand. If you have any doubts call a local shop for an answer.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Quick Oil Question

Ah. oil thread.....my sig speaks for me.

 

[goosenoose]

Re: Quick Oil Question

What about rotella t 15-40 w ?

 

[alindquist]

Re: Quick Oil Question

I've only used synthetic because that's what the dealer has always sold me... I don't want to go to a conventional oil now because if any oil is left in the crank case when I drain it, it will turn into sludge. What's the closest to weight to SAE30? 10W30, 5W30, 10W40?

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Quick Oil Question

10W30 Synthetic is what i would use.

 

[security6]

Re: Quick Oil Question

I've only used synthetic because that's what the dealer has always sold me... I don't want to go to a conventional oil now because if any oil is left in the crank case when I drain it, it will turn into sludge. What's the closest to weight to SAE30? 10W30, 5W30, 10W40?

Why will adding conventional oil turn any oil left in the crankcase into sludge? Every synthetic oil I've ever used is fully compatible with "regular" oil.

I wouldn't use a multi-weight oil. I know SAE 30 is a little hard to find, but keep looking. An autozone near me has SAE 30 for $13/gallon.

 

[alindquist]

Re: Quick Oil Question

I had a Range Rover that I ran synthetic in and someone added a quart of conventional and it turn the crank case into sludge... That why I don't wanna mix...

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Quick Oil Question

Quick Oil Question

There's never a quick oil question: answer

What's the closest to weight to SAE30? 10W30, 5W30, 10W40?

syn: 0w30, 5w30, 10w30 is the "closest" to SAE 30

Synthetics do not use the VI improvers that non-synthetics use to get the cold temp performance.

The synthetic process designs an oil that doesn't thicken at extremely cold temps....... so the oil "behaves" like a lower wt oil.

but at 100*C (temp) the oil meets the kinematic viscosity rating of SAE30. It is essentially an SAE 30 oil that DOES NOT THICKEN at low temps.

Do you boat at -30*F?............ If not, you're wasting your money buying synthetic oil. JUST USE WHAT THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTS. (SAE30/40)

NON-synthetic 10W-40 is specifically NOT recommended in some engines because it has the highest amount of VI improvers (which eventually do break down) Some Ford owners manuals indicate that 10w40 WILL CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE and void the engine warranty (1986 F250 6.9L diesel) .......I seem to remember in the 90's even Consumer Reports suggested NOT using 10w40 in their huge oil analysis article because it didn't stay in grade very long.....

Mixing syn and non-syn oils do NOT produce "sludge". If you got sludge when you did it, it came from something else.


Now having said all this. EVERY oil mentioned has been tried in a boat successfully.

No engine ever died as a result of brand or type of oil. They usually crack from freeze damage or rust out far earlier.

Use whatever blows your skirt up!


Search here for oil threads. There's THOUSANDS of them on the internet on boating, car, truck, motorcycle, snow-mobile, lawn-mower, leaf-blower sites.

EVERYBODY has a pet oil that they use. USE what ever you want. My sig indicates what I use





Cheers,


Rick

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: Quick Oil Question

You must have been running some snake oil synthetic because any Mobil, Amsoil, or any other mainstream synthetic WILL NOT turn dino oil into sludge. I've changed many, many a vehicle over to synthtic and back with no problems. And the whole thing about seals leaking with synthetic is the very reason to use a synthetic. Typically it's the dino oil that contributed the sludge and crap to harden up the seals. Most sysnthetics have an additive that reconditions seals as the detergants in the oil clean up all the damage that the dino oil has done.
If you haven't already guessed it I use synthetic and only synthetic. I've seen too many engines change for the better, much better, after switching to synthetic.
Just my .02

 

[Lou C]

Re: Quick Oil Question

I agree with most of what was said above...if you don't want to use the pricey Volvo syn 30wt then use any of the HD 30 weight oils such as Chevron Delo 400, Shell Rotella or even Pennzoil Marine....I would not use a conventional multi vis oil in a marine inboard even though some will say they have with no problems because of the above mentioned issue with VI improvers....they break down especially under high RPM use and then the oil will shear down to a lower viscosity level. A straight 30 is fine for the temps most people will be boating at....
Keep in mind that the better HD 30 weight oils are about $5 a qt anyway so you are not really saving all that much....

And I do recall GM stating that if you used 10w-40 in its engines you would void the warrantee (circa 1980 or so)....the issue seemed to be that the VI improvers when they broke down caused deposits that caused piston ring sticking...even though we used 10w-40 for years on our old tech 70s American engines (Chevy Ford and Mopar small blocks) and never had a failure we could link to oil....

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Quick Oil Question

Quote: [ I've only used synthetic because that's what the dealer has always sold me... I don't want to go to a conventional oil now because if any oil is left in the crank case when I drain it, it will turn into sludge. What's the closest to weight to SAE30? 10W30, 5W30, 10W40? ]

That is the most unrealistic statement I've heard regarding oil. It is perfectly safe to switch back and forth between oil types and in fact it is also perfectly safe to mix the two these days if you have to. If the engine calls for SAE 30 run SAE 30 and then find a different auto store. SAE 30 is as common as dirt. If you have a farm store in your area try the auto dept there. They have so many brands and types of oil it will make your eyes bleed.

 

[sethjon]

Re: Quick Oil Question

I've only used synthetic because that's what the dealer has always sold me... I don't want to go to a conventional oil now because if any oil is left in the crank case when I drain it, it will turn into sludge. What's the closest to weight to SAE30? 10W30, 5W30, 10W40?

It won't turn to sludge.

 

[alindquist]

Re: Quick Oil Question

Ok, it must have been something else that turned the oil into sludge... Whatever, I sold that POS a while ago so that's not an issue.
I wasn't trying to start a debate on weather or not to use synthetic, I always have and plan to keep doing it... The problem is I'm having a hard time finding synthetic SAE30 other than the Volvo brand that's $8.50 a quart, again the engine takes 9 quarts. I was really just curious if it really matters if I run 10W30 or not. I've never thought twice in my cars / trucks but boats run at a higher RPM so maybe that why I need SAE30??? I'm not an oil expert but I know I need to change mine and I'm sick of paying double for for Volvo oil...

 

[carolynrose]

Re: Quick Oil Question

As an automobile master mechanic for 30yrs and a builder of race car engines and muscle car restorer I have been to so many classes on oil types and issues I've lost count. But here is the answer. One quart of synthetic oil added to your regular amount of oil at oil changes gives you all the synthetic properties you need. I personally use 30w oil mixed with one qt of quicksilver synthetic. GM classes told me never to use 10w40 in anything, and they emphasized never.

At no time did they ever worry about mixing sythetic with regular. As a matter of fact synthetic blend is exactly that.

The only time I ever saw oil sludge up was either due to overheating or failure to change oil for extended periods.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Quick Oil Question

The only time I ever saw oil sludge up was either due to overheating or failure to change oil for extended periods.

The other time is when someone uses NON-detergent oil .
(and THEN doesn't change it!!!!)

 

[IES99]

Re: Quick Oil Question

7.4 Volvo GIPWTR Serial# 4110176452

Manual Says to use SAE30... I have been buying the Volvo synthetic stuff for a while but at $8.50 a quart it seems a little steep (9 quarts total). Can I use 10W30 or 5W30 synthetic... None of the auto parts stores carry SAE30 but they all carry the other stuff.
Thanks,
Aaron

West Marine has 30, 40 or 15W-40 Pennzoil Marine for $18.99/gallon.

 

[TiredoleBoy]

Re: Quick Oil Question

The NAPA down the road sells it, as does auto zone and walmart.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Quick Oil Question

I seem to recall that back in the early days of synthetic oils there was a compatibility issue. There is a lot of mis information regarding syn oils out there. One is that you should never break in an engine with syn, as it's too slippery for the parts to wear in correctly.
If that was the case, then I doubt several of the very expensive hi perf. cars out there (like the Corvette) would come out of the factory already filled with synthetics. Maybe in the early days but now there is no reason why you can't switch and blend as you need to.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Quick Oil Question

run a diesel grade oil and you will be fine.
If 15/40 does not give you enough oil pressure at idle, run a 30w or 40w.
If 15/40 diesel grade oil gives you good oil pressure at idle you could run a 15/40.
Synthetic or reg. oil your choice.