ultrataco

iTrader: (2)

I have 20w50 in now, but it's cold now so i was going to use 10w30 to top it off, or should I just change the oil?

i guess my question really is, will mixing oil of different weight cause any problems?

ultrataco

iTrader: (2)

i have searched and found lots of useful info about oil but not the answer i'm looking for.

spot_skater

No, you'll be fine.

MazterDizazter

iTrader: (5)

I dump all kinds of oil in my car; it's leaking so badly it doesn't last for more than a week anyhow

'85GSL-SE

iTrader: (2)

If you mix viscosity grades such as a 10W30 low-viscosity oil and a 20W50 higher-viscosity oil, it is reasonable to expect that the resulting product will have viscosity characteristics which are thicker than the 10W30, but thinner than the 20W50. This change does not reflect incompatibility - it's simply a re-balancing of the viscosity characteristics. In all other ways, the product should work as expected. But there's absolutely no danger about incompatibility resulting from mixing engine oils.

mort2002

iTrader: (1)

i think that ^ was abou the best answer you could have gotten well done

ultrataco

iTrader: (2)

ok, great. thanks!

manslayerx9

just dont mix brands b/c some times their additive packages are nont compatible.

loskeezy

we took a trip with my buddys ooold ford escort, just for the hell of it; he couldnt remember what kind of oil was in it so we topped it off with 20w50.... On the way back, the engine started to knock rediculously and theenn, it blew up haha. It was Awesome, but shitty for him/pos escort......anyways we always wondered if it was due to us probably mixing viscosity and/or brands or just the "last leg" of the escort.

micah

^^ Maybe he had synthetic and you put SAE in?

ericgrau

iTrader: (1)

Correct. But this only means that you have to change your oil earlier, since the addtivies - detergents and corrossion protection - won't last as long.

As a general rule you can mix any brand and any weight with any other brand and weight. And you can mix synthetic with dino, etc. You can mix any motor oil with any motor oil. It only becomes an issue if you mix in a large amount of a different brand (e.g., 50% or some significant portion), then that might shorten the life of your oil if the brands are incompatable. Even then you'll be fine for a long time as long as you change your oil early. Different weights shouldn't matter.

If I had the option I wouldn't do it myself. I'd just wait til my next oil change. You aren't really gaining or losing much no matter what weight you use, unless you live in an exceptionally cold or hot climate. As it happens I just switched from 20w50 to 10w30 on my last oil change.

87_rocket

lol. well done.

bradenscreed

why 20w-50 ? what are the requirements for runnin that stuff?!

mikiefc328

telling that the ford escort is only designed to use a 10w30, 5w30, or5w20 oil adding 20w50 is what probably killed that motor. The Oil journals in an engine such as that are not large enough to be pumping such a thick oil through them which is going to cause oil pump failure first, then the engine goes due to no oil. You see our cars (the beloved RX) can handle almost any type of oil because it is equiped for this. little pissant piston fourbangers are not. In short Im gonna blame the engine failure on the fact that it was a F.O.R.D. and he tried to pump pudding through a coffee straw.

bradenscreed

still didnt answer the question!

cptpain

iTrader: (1)

double post

cptpain

iTrader: (1)

no it wont but why risk it? just keep 20/50 in it

ultrataco

iTrader: (2)

I put 20w50 in it when it was getting above 90 F outside this summer. Now it is winter and and temps are dropping below freezing, getting very close and possibly beyond the minimum for 20w50 and i'm afraid that it could hurt the engine running with such thick stuff in this cold weather.