Using thicker oil

It's now time for an oil change on my '95 Civic. The owner's manual I
downloaded recommends 5W-30, but here in the Philippines all I can
find is 10W-40 and 10W-50. People look at me strange when I ask for
5W-30.

We're located very near the equator, very hot tropical climate and it
never snows; is it safe to use the thicker viscosities? Will it affect
mileage noticeably?

BTW: Does it even make sense to buy multigrade oils here?

Thanks.

 

That near the equator the 10W-40 should work fine.

Mike

 

That near the equator the 10W-40 should work fine.

Mike

 

Multigrade, yes. 5W-30, no. The manual you downloaded was almost certainly
intended for US use and US climate.

Use either 10W-40 or 10W-50 and don't worry about it. 5W is too thin for
tropical locales.

 

Multigrade, yes. 5W-30, no. The manual you downloaded was almost certainly
intended for US use and US climate.

Use either 10W-40 or 10W-50 and don't worry about it. 5W is too thin for
tropical locales.

 

I would use, and only use, what the owner's manual calls for.

It takes more additive to get the wider split -- 5-30=25; 10-40=30;
10-50 -- with the thicker oils. The more additive, the less oil/
lubrication.

I'd special order the 5W-30. But then you're driving an old '95 Civic
and is it worth the cost... that's your call...

Patrick

 

Plain 30W oil will work. The lower number isn't very important in a hot
climate.

10W-40 probably works too but I've heard that it's more prone to burning
than 10W-30 unless it's synthetic.

 

Plain 30W oil will work. The lower number isn't very important in a hot
climate.

10W-40 probably works too but I've heard that it's more prone to burning
than 10W-30 unless it's synthetic.

 

You certainly don't need 5W-30, but those wide viscosity range oils
have a bad reputation for breaking down. 10W-30 would be acceptable.
What is the lowest temperature you ever see? I am guessing that your
teeth start chattering at 18C ;-) If that is the bottom you could
even try 20W-40 as long as you don't hear any noise at start-up.

I doubt if you notice any drop in mileage. I guarantee you will get
better mileage than running 5W-30 in Chicago next weekend when the
temp hits -20 C.

 

You certainly don't need 5W-30, but those wide viscosity range oils
have a bad reputation for breaking down. 10W-30 would be acceptable.
What is the lowest temperature you ever see? I am guessing that your
teeth start chattering at 18C ;-) If that is the bottom you could
even try 20W-40 as long as you don't hear any noise at start-up.

I doubt if you notice any drop in mileage. I guarantee you will get
better mileage than running 5W-30 in Chicago next weekend when the
temp hits -20 C.

 

Today it's a 'freezing' 26C (79F), people are already saying it's too
cold
Thanks for all the advice. After reading your replies, I went out and
got
a 10W-50 synthetic (Top1).

I've never tried synthetic before, but I know better than to start a
thread
about synth vs. dino.

Thanks again!

 

Today it's a 'freezing' 26C (79F), people are already saying it's too
cold
Thanks for all the advice. After reading your replies, I went out and
got
a 10W-50 synthetic (Top1).

I've never tried synthetic before, but I know better than to start a
thread
about synth vs. dino.

Thanks again!

 

Hummmm... Good luck. Generally, switching to synth oil after 12 years
of
running dino oil can lead to problems.. Also, there is really no
problem with a
10w-40 as long as it's changed regularly. I've run 10w-40 in many cars
for
years without any trouble at all. But I change my oil on a regular
basis.
MK

 

really? problems like what? be specific.

 

Well, there is the persistent idea that synthetic will damage oil seals in
an engine that's used to dino. I am told this is not true; it may have been
true at one time, but no longer.

I've been using Mobil1 5W-30 for over a year now in a 16 year-old car that
never had anything but Castrol GTX before that. Some of the seals are over
ten years old. I observe no leaks or seepage of any kind, so my seals
evidently don't mind synthetic.

 

A truly wise man!

 

A truly wise man!