lordfinesse

Hi,

i will change the oil & oilfilter on my ´91 Camaro, V6, 191CID.

in the manual is this written:
if neither sae 5w-30 nor sae 10w-30 grade oils are available, sae 30 grade may be used at temperatures abouve 40 degrees (4 degrees C).
do not use 10w-40 grade oil or any other grade not recommened.

my problem: here in germany i don´t get 5w-30, but i think 5W40
which is available here can i use too, or am i wrong ? ?

thanks in advance

rezinn

Willkommen!
What brand is it? I'm sure that would work fine, as long as it has the correct sae rating (the letter code, not the numbers) for your car. The two letter could should start with an 'S,' and will probably be on the back of the bottle. The second letter is a quality rating. You need a specific quality, over SF or something. I can't remember, but I think SH is current. You want the highest letter you can find for the second letter.

Gumby

20-50 is what I would use.

V8Astro Captain

iTrader: (1)

I don't think you'd want to use that in Germany.

Just put the 5w-40 in, it'll be fine. I got a new engine and they say to use 5w-30, which I did for the break-in. Now I use 10w-40, 5w-30 is too thin to be using when it's 100+ degrees outside.

IMO

redbird_400

Yeah....Same here in Dallas Texas. Just last month it was around 106 outside. Now its down to the high 90s. Can use the thin shat here.

ede

i'd run 30w in the summer or 20w-50 and 10w-40 or 5w-30 in winter. besides the small increase in milage gm went to the thinner oil because of some engine replacements it had to do few years back when the temp dropped to -20 or so. the oil was too think to lubricate anything. it isn't that big a deal if the oil isn't exactly what gm says in the manual.

lordfinesse

OK, i think i will use 5W40, and the grade in the manual was "SG"

but what the hell- i don´t get the 5W30 here in germany, i don´t believe it. we fly to the moon, but don´t get 5W30

Philip

82-T/A [Work]

I could go on and on about this....

But unless 30 weight oil is NOT available in your location, anyone with a V6, that's not using 30 weight oil, is just plain wrong, and ill-informed.

The GM V6/60 was SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED for 30 weight oil. The bearings, oil journals, hydraulic lifters, everything.. was designed SPECIFICALLY for 30 weight oil. General Motors spent millions of dollars designing this motor. I believe that GM engineers know a LOT more about flow viscosity than some guy that works at a local gas station repair garage.

It REALLY makes me mad when I hear people say..

"Oh, your engine has fairly high mileage, you should switch to 50 weight oil now!"

That's the stupidest thing in the world, damn...

The ONLY thing that happens when you put 50 weight oil in your engine is... the oil has a harder time passing through the oil passages (which were designed for 30 weight oil) which of course is why the increase in oil pressure.

You are actually doing MORE harm than good by switching to a higher weight oil.

I REALLY wish people would understand this...

for the V6/60, you should ALWAYS use 30 weight oil.

40 or 50 weight oil does NOT, I repeate... it does NOOOT provide more protection.. AT ALL....

It's merely a heavier weight oil that was designed for larger motors with larger oil passages.


Honestly, I read some of you guys who say.. "I use 20-50 in my V6/60!" and it doesn't suprise me that soo many people have spun bearings and rattling top ends.

Damn.... honestly, I don't care who I **** off in this forum... but using heavier weight oil in a car that it wasn't designed for is just as stupid as doing a neutral drop in an automatic tranny.


Todd

Ricktpi

5w-30 & 5w-40 are both 5 base weight oils the 5w-40 will hold it's 5 weight viscosity at a higher temp than 5w-30 because of the additive in it. Either one will be fine. GM designed it's V-6 for 5w-30 or 10w-30 depending on temp, not 30w.

TomP

True, but he cannot GET 5w30 or 10w30! I don't think he has much of a choice!

82-T/A [Work]

Yeah, I said...

"But unless 30 weight oil is NOT available in your location, anyone with a V6, that's not using 30 weight oil, is just plain wrong, and ill-informed."


Which meant him actually.

If he can't get it. Go with 40 weight oil.


5W-40 or 10W-40.... SYNTHETIC.


Todd

lordfinesse

Ok,

i´ve done it! :lala:

i have used 5w40-oil!
sure, if i get 5w30, than i would use it, but i don´t can buy it here in germany!!!
and i think "5w" is the same at both oil´s, the only diverence is, that the higher grade ("40" - that i have used) can bear more heat. this should be better.

so, i hope my engine don´t blow up.

Kevin Johnson

Warum nicht Shell Helix Ultra X 0W-30?

http://www.shell-helix.de/ek/artikelsubp_ek_472.html

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

I've said it so many times, I'm about blue in the face, too. But, people don't understand the two numbers SAE uses to rate multi-viscosity oils, or how an oil gets to be multi-viscosity.

The first number, with the "W", is a cold temperature viscosity rating. For that rating, the oil must fall within a certain viscosity range at that temperature - 0W will generally be thinner than 5W, 5W thinner than 10W, 10W thinner than 20W, etc. But, there is a little overlap in the ranges, so it actually possible for a 5W to be thinner AT THE RATING TEMPERATURE than a 0W.

Now, the second number, after the "W" (or, you could say, "without the W"). That is the high temperature viscosity rating, meaning the oil must fall within a certain viscosity range when at that higher temperature. Same overlap, etc., as is the case with the "W" rating ranges.

Okay, how does an oil get to meet both the cold and high temperature ratings? Since the 50's, that's been done with "viscosity index improver" additives, a polymer (long chain molecule, also known as "plastic"). What happens is this polymer expands as the oil gets warm, taking up more space between the oil molecules, effectively making the oil "thicker" than it would be without the additive. So, a SAE 5W-30 oil would be SAE 5 without the VI improver, SAE 10W-30 would be SAE 10 without it, etc.

IN THEORY! In fact, since the two temperature tests are run independantly, it is possible for a particular oil to fall within different viscosity ranges even without the VI improver. In fact, several synthetic oils do that, because of the better thermal stability of the synthetic base vs. a typical petroleum base - no VI improver used, but still meet the multi-viscosity rating.

Another fact: 5W oils must pour at -20 degrees F, while 10W and above oils don't have any such requirement. GM (and the other two Big 3's) bought a bunch of warranty engines in '83-'84 during a cold snap, when people started up their cold-soaked engines and took off without worrying about whether they had any oil pressure. The pour-point was imposed right after than, and THAT's why they want you to use 5W oils in cold weather now (because warranty claims is what they really spent millions on, not R&D).

Yet another fact: The first thing to break down in an oil is typically the viscosity index improver. How do you get a 5W-30 oil to be a 5W-40 oil? By putting in more plastic! GM also bought a bunch of warranty diesel engines due to VI improvers gumming up their roller lifters, so they banned the use of high viscosity index oils (like 10W-40) in their diesels, and carried that over to their gasoline engines for general principles.

One final fact: The "typical" synthetic doesn't use as much VI improver as the same rating petroleum base oil, so it's "typically" safe to use a 10W40 synthetic oil in an engine that calls for 10W30. I would only apply that to the "premium" synthetics, though, like AMSOIL, Mobil 1, and Redline. I wouldn't trust any of the other "majors" synthetics (Pennzoil, Castrol, Valvoline, etc.) for this property, however.

Kevin Johnson

Serious question: Where did you get the info on the engine warranty replacements? I ask because I did a little research project on engine failures due to oil failures and that kind of info is tough to find casually.

Aside: besides Shell offering a 0w 30 synthetic product in Germany, the local GM dealer in Germany should be able to provide private labled oils that satisfy their own warranty requirements (probably under "GM Goodwrench").

lordfinesse

-Warum nicht Shell Helix Ultra X 0W-30?
Ich war erst bei meinem autohändler, und der ist sein Shell-Katalog durchgegangen, und fand dieses Öl definitiv nicht, war auch bei der Shell-Tankstelle, same problem!

-my local GM dealer in Germany would change the oil for me (exactly 5e30, what i need!)- but don´t sell it to me.
And because i have problems in the past with my local GM dealer, i don´t want to let him screw at my car!
i´ve asked another GM dealer further away for 5w40, and he said to me it would be fine, too- he means it should be no problem, rather better!

Where did you get the info on the engine warranty replacements?
-in my SERVICE MANUAL is this written:
if neither sae 5w-30 nor sae 10w-30 grade oils are available, sae 30 grade may be used at temperatures abouve 40 degrees (4 degrees C).
do not use 10w-40 grade oil or any other grade not recommened.

Danno

5.7 covered it all. I remember those early 80's well. My dad worked for a Chrysler dealer and I saw so many cams in the trash it was mind boggling. The advent of small displacement overhead cam engines is what really brought about the specific requirement of a 5W oil. The problem is this, since it is a light base stock the engine will tend to consume more oil between changes. GM specifies in a TSB 1qt./4k miles as being normal consumption. Many professional mechanics took it upon themselves to use heavier grade oils and what 5.7 said was true, lot's and lot's of warranty claims. Use a synthetic 5-30 and there is almost no oil consumption at all. Got 4 GM cars from 4cyl to V-8 running 5-30.

Kevin Johnson

Originally posted by lordfinesse:
-Warum nicht Shell Helix Ultra X 0W-30?
"Ich war erst bei meinem autohändler, und der ist sein Shell-Katalog durchgegangen, und fand dieses Öl definitiv nicht, war auch bei der Shell-Tankstelle, same problem!"

Well, that would be frustrating, I agree. I found it by simply plugging into Google: 5w-30; motor; de; deutschland. Shell might not have released this product to the marketplace yet.

Castrol also has a similar product, though:

"Castrol FORMULA SLX SAE 0W-30 - Die intelligente Eco-Vollsynthese

"Leistungsklassen: Übertrifft API SL/CF - ACEA A3/B3/B4 - Freigegeben nach VW 503 01 (9/99), 502 00 und 505 00 (1/97) - MB 229.3 -BMW (Longlife-01)"


Also a 5W-30:

"Castrol TXT SOFTEC PLUS SAE 5W-30 - Der Bodyguard für den Motor

"Leistungsklassen: Übertrifft API SJ/CF - ACEA A3/B3/B4 - Freigegeben nach VW 502 00 und 505 00 (1/97) - MB 229.3 - Freigaben von Porsche und
BMW (Longlife-98).

"Castrol TXT SOFTEC PLUS 5W-30 - Ein Bodygard muß zuverlässig sein, gut trainiert und in jeder Situation richtig reagieren. Genauso verhält sich
TXT SOFTEC PLUS 5W-30, der Bodygard für den Motor: Zuverlässiger und ausdauernder Schutz des Motors durch hervorragende Fließ- und Schmiereigenschaften für die problemlose Funktion und Werterhaltung des Autos.

"Castrol TXT SOFTEC PLUS 5W-30 sorgt durch seine Schmier- und Fließeigenschaft für einen zuverlässigen und ausdauernden Schutz des Motors.

"Castrol TXT SOFTEC PLUS 5W-30 ist eine spezielle Entwicklung für die neuen verlängerten Ölwechselintervalle mit ihren wesentlich höheren Anforderungen an Motorenöle.

"Castrol TXT SOFTEC PLUS 5W-30 sichert hohe Motorensauberkeit und verhindert die Bildung von Ablagerungen - wichtig für eine dauerhafte und problemlose Funktion des Motors."



http://www.castrol.de/produkte/a_aut...angzeittest.de



"-my local GM dealer in Germany would change the oil for me (exactly 5e30, what i need!)- but don´t sell it to me."

Jerks.


"And because i have problems in the past with my local GM dealer, i don´t want to let him screw at my car!"


I understand that. Been there.


"i´ve asked another GM dealer further away for 5w40, and he said to me it would be fine, too- he means it should be no problem, rather better!"

Get him to put that statement into writing. If your engine fails, you can bet that suddenly the higher viscosity will void your warranty. They probably won't care why the failure really occured if they have that to seize on.

"Where did you get the info on the engine warranty replacements?
-in my SERVICE MANUAL is this written:
if neither sae 5w-30 nor sae 10w-30 grade oils are available, sae 30 grade may be used at temperatures abouve 40 degrees (4 degrees C).
do not use 10w-40 grade oil or any other grade not recommened."

In my 1991 RS manual, it says the same thing except the last sentence (exactly: it doesn't call out 10w-40).

Well, next time around you should be able to find it.