Use 10-30 oil for a 1998 Accord? (83K miles)

Hi,

When I went to my usual mechanics this pass weekend to change
oil, he asked me to start filling 10-30 oil from now on. (was 5-30 before)
He said it makes no difference since my car is old and has
significant mileage on it. Is he right? So should I start to fill with 10-30
oil from now on?

My 98 Accord has 83K miles on it, and I live in Sunny California.


Thanks,
EH

 

Ask him why he thinks you should change since "it makes no difference".

No, and No.

 

The usual reason for going from 5W- to 10W- is oil consumption. If you are
unhappy about the amount of oil it consumes between changes, 10W-30 is a
good choice.

Mike

 

Only is the leaking happens when the oil is cold.

 

Someone told me its a bad idea to change to a thicker oil - the
argument being something like the following:

The engineers choose the desired oil based on the internal design of
the engine. For example, oil will be pumped to various locations in
the engine through tubing and then expected to drain back to the pump
through gaps and wholes. The wholes, gaps, and tubing were chosen
based on an a presumption of a certain vecacity of oil.

Putting a thicker oil into the engine will result in reduced flow or
even blockage resulting in an inadequate supply of oil arriving at the
desired lubrication point. Consequently, introducing a thicker oil
will hasten the life of the engine.

 

There is a lot to say about oil.
Changing from 5w to 10w is not that big an issue, it depends on how you use
your car, and the ambient temperature.
It is for worse to change from mineral oil tot synthetic or vice versa. You
should also try to stick to one brand, since oil "recipies" vary from brand
to brand. Oil is not just oil, it's a mixture of several components that
make the lubricant to what is is. It should not only lubricate, but also
dissolve dirt, stay stable in a wide temp-rage and over a period of time,
partly cool the engine, stick to metal, have the right viscosity,...
Just don't forget that there is a lot of commercial b*llshit too. Some
technicians like to keep your car in good shape, others like to sell and
earn a quick buck.
Really difficult subject IHMO.

K.

 

Your car has too few miles to start worrying about engine wear. My 93 with
180+ miles is still on 5W30 with no sign of wear. Changing oil regularly and
having service done timely are absolutely necessary. They saves you money
long term.