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Old 07-13-2005, 01:36 PM   #1
kg2128
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Member#: 63698
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Placentia, CA
Vehicle:
2015 Bmw 535i
Alpine White

Default Questions about Oil Change

I just got an oil change from a shell gas station, the owner is a "family friend" but I don't know he charged me 65 for the whole oil change using mobil one synthetic. Im a newb when it comes to synthetic/oil changes so when he asked me if I wanted 5w-30 or 10w-30 i said i didn't know. The manual recommended 5w-30 so we agreed upon that. My question is, is it okay for me to go to 10w-30 at the next oil change? I heard your supposed to stick with one. Also a lot of people recommend 10w-30 for warm areas, and I live in socal. Is there a performance difference between the two? It seems like 10w-30 gives some sort of benefit because otherwise people would just use 5w-30 everywhere since it starts up easier. Please help me out, thanks.
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Old 07-13-2005, 03:58 PM   #2
eltrouble
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Member#: 79493
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: Cerritos, CA
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2003 WRB WRX Wagon
5 doors > 4 doors

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Quote:
Originally Posted by kg2128
I just got an oil change from a shell gas station, the owner is a "family friend" but I don't know he charged me 65 for the whole oil change using mobil one synthetic. Im a newb when it comes to synthetic/oil changes so when he asked me if I wanted 5w-30 or 10w-30 i said i didn't know. The manual recommended 5w-30 so we agreed upon that. My question is, is it okay for me to go to 10w-30 at the next oil change? I heard your supposed to stick with one. Also a lot of people recommend 10w-30 for warm areas, and I live in socal. Is there a performance difference between the two? It seems like 10w-30 gives some sort of benefit because otherwise people would just use 5w-30 everywhere since it starts up easier. Please help me out, thanks.
$65 for an oil change? ouch...

5w-30 is perfectly fine, although the Mobile1 stuff flows like olive oil, so I intend to switch to 10w-30 or somebody with 10w-40 if I can find it. Living in socal (as I do), I would go with 10w-30. Or if you want, you can go with 5w-30 in the winter and 10w-30 in the summers.

10w-30 offers better protection at higher temps...ie...racing. 5w-30 offers better protection in cold weather, and has slightly better fuel economy.
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Old 07-13-2005, 04:41 PM   #3
kg2128
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Alpine White

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ic, thanks a lot
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Old 07-13-2005, 08:46 PM   #4
Baja Jim
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5W30 is the correct oil. The W stands for "Winter", the weight of the oil when cold (i.e. starting temp) is in front of the W. The number after the W is the weight when fully hot.

So ... 5W30 can modify to a fuller range than 10W30 and is actually better for your vehicle as long as it isn't too thin for the passages (which it isn't). It actually lubricates your engine quicker from a "cold" start than the 10W30 will - since it moves twice as fast cold. When your car has been sitting, the oil is down low and this "thinner" oil will get up top to the camshaft, etc. much quicker - therefore, less wear.

Both offer equal protection from hot temperature conditions - the 30 weight aspect.

And your mechanic was correct to recommend synthetic, it is a far superior product. Just be sure to change it at the same interval - 3,750 miles.

Take Care!
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Old 07-13-2005, 10:21 PM   #5
eltrouble
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Location: Cerritos, CA
Vehicle:
2003 WRB WRX Wagon
5 doors > 4 doors

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Baja Jim
5W30 is the correct oil. The W stands for "Winter", the weight of the oil when cold (i.e. starting temp) is in front of the W. The number after the W is the weight when fully hot.

So ... 5W30 can modify to a fuller range than 10W30 and is actually better for your vehicle as long as it isn't too thin for the passages (which it isn't). It actually lubricates your engine quicker from a "cold" start than the 10W30 will - since it moves twice as fast cold. When your car has been sitting, the oil is down low and this "thinner" oil will get up top to the camshaft, etc. much quicker - therefore, less wear.

Both offer equal protection from hot temperature conditions - the 30 weight aspect.

And your mechanic was correct to recommend synthetic, it is a far superior product. Just be sure to change it at the same interval - 3,750 miles.

Take Care!
Depends on his needs, obviously if he's going to track the car, he's going to need a thicker oil grade. But in general 5w-30 is the way to go for most applications.

in hot temperature conditions, 40 weight would do the ticket.

Synthetic is a superior product...yes...but it doesn't need to be changed at every 3,750 miles. You can stretch it out to 5-7k miles. But if you want an exact number...then send a sample over to Blackstone Labs, they'll analyze your oil for $20+shipping and tell you what's wrong, what you should do, and when you should change your oil.
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