Engine Oil Grade

Submitted: Saturday, Feb 21, 2004 at 20:43
ThreadID: 10696 Views:5973 Replies:5 FollowUps:11
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Hi guys,

I was looking through my maintenance manual (and under the bonnet) the other day and noticed that the recommended oil for my 1HZ diesel 100 series L/C is 10W-30. Now I've bee changing the oil and filter every 5,000 km with 15W-40.

The manual says that 15W-40 is an acceptable grade of oil (I can use anything from 10W-30 to 20W-50 for the temperatures I encounter). A sticker under the bonnet however says to use 10W-30.

Whilst I'm happy to use 15W-40, I wanted to try out some 10W-30 and see if it has any effect on fuel economy etc. I wouldn't mind giving it a go over the upcoming winter in any case.

As I've been meandering around I haven't bumped into any 10W-30 diesel engine oil, despite keeping an eye out for it.

Does anyone know where I can get some from so that I can give it a go?

Many thanks from the now Perth-based Stephen J.
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Reply By: Member - JohnR - Saturday, Feb 21, 2004 at 22:06

Saturday, Feb 21, 2004 at 22:06
Stephen, not sure of the fuel economy change you could expect at all, but thought there was a push towards lighter oils to get the lubrication at engine start up and getting longer engine life. The lighter oil gets to the job faster being more viscous at cooler engine temperatures, getting to the nooks and crannies.

Don't know where you will get it though, sorry, think i need to look more closely too.Regards

JohnR - Not enough of the right travelling, some here..... some over there.......
AnswerID: 47546

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen (WA) - Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 at 00:19

Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 at 00:19
Yes John, I was thinking along the same lines as you - having a thinner oil for quick circulation at startup - esp. in cooler weather.

Cheers
Stephen J.
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FollowupID: 309565

Reply By: Martyn (WA) - Saturday, Feb 21, 2004 at 22:18

Saturday, Feb 21, 2004 at 22:18
Stephen,
BP Vanellus C6 global PLUS is a 10 /40 W oil that's as closee as I could get for you. Make sure it is C6 PLUS the standard C6 is 15 /40 W. And yes I am affiliated.Keep the shiny side up
AnswerID: 47547

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen (WA) - Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 at 00:23

Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 at 00:23
Thanks for the lead Martyn. I'll check it out when I'm near a BP outlet next.

I was also hoping that a 30 oil might make some difference to fuel economy. The 10 however would be good for those cool morning starts.

Cheers
Stephen J.
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FollowupID: 309566

Follow Up By: Member - Andrew(WA) - Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 00:00

Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 00:00
Martin...

Being 'affiliated' what oil do you use in your vehicle??

cheersFraser Island
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FollowupID: 309651

Follow Up By: Martyn (WA) - Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 22:46

Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 22:46
Andrew,
Interesting question, I use Global C6 in the engine at the moment and I'm changing to Global C6 PLUS at the next change, I use an array of Royal Purple oils in the transmission and axels. Autran DX3 in the power steering, I'd use DX 2 but I can't get it any more, DX 2 has lower foaming tendancies that the DX 3 but thats moving on for you. Keep the shiny side up
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew(WA) - Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 23:49

Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 23:49
Martyn

I was told that for warranty purposes, C6 is not recommended in the 3.0TDi. I think they said I had to have a C4 but had none in stock at the time....
Have you heard this before???Fraser Island
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FollowupID: 309761

Follow Up By: Martyn (WA) - Wednesday, Feb 25, 2004 at 00:47

Wednesday, Feb 25, 2004 at 00:47
Andrew,
Both the C6 and C4 are 15W/40 PLUS is 10W / 40 as long as the oil meets the GL 5 standard it should be right, I was under the assumption that C6 is a "better" oil, I will chase this up, it was only an assumption and you know hat they say about assumptions!!!! I did check with Nissan when I bought the vehicle there didn't seem to be a problem, I also checked with the extended warranty people and they also said it was fine, I checked when I was asking about using Royal Purple. As I say I'll post a reply in here when I get one. Interesting.Keep the shiny side up
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Reply By: Phil G - Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 at 10:31

Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 at 10:31
Stephen,

I think you'll find that for the 1HZ, 15W40 is what most people will use in our climate. Just looked up Castrol and Valvoline's recommendations,. and virtually all are 15W40.

Castrol Magnetec is 10W40, and Valvoline XLD Lo-Vis is 10W30, both are CF.

I don't think it will make any difference on a 1HZ. I don't think any of the Toyota diesels fall into the high tech category that need an extra thin oil. Haven't seen a 10W30 sticker under the bonnet of a Toyota diesel before.
AnswerID: 47575

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen (WA) - Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 at 14:36

Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 at 14:36
Thanks for the leads Phil.

You never know until you try - so I thought I'd give it a go.

The sticker thing may be a blanket thing they now do to all diesels they put out. My truck is a 2000 GXL 105 series LC.

I've only just replaced the oil with 15W-40 and I'll may get another change in before the cooler weather is upon us.

Cheers
Stephen J.
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FollowupID: 309604

Reply By: Jol - Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 at 21:56

Sunday, Feb 22, 2004 at 21:56
Check the temp for 10W30. The under bonnet temp not ambient, if its zero great. Its great in the US winters. Check your engine wear after a few thousand km's. Its ok for home to wrk but do a big trip, take a tow rope, and a pair of ear plugs for the rattles.

Cheers Jol
AnswerID: 47630

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen (WA) - Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 03:36

Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 03:36
Jol,

Thanks for your input. You make a fair point.

I was going to try it out just rattling around Perth. I imagine if I was to do a big trip I'd go back to what I know works (15W-40).

According to my manual:
10W-30 can be used from -18degC to no upper limit
15W-40 can be used from -12degC to no upper limit
20W-50 can be used from -7 deg C to no upper limit
here's where it gets interesting
5W-30 can be used from no lower limit up to 10 degC
40 monograde can be used above 10 degC only
30 monograde can be used above 4 degC only

I just feel like giving the lighter grade oil a go to see what happens.

Cheers
Stephen J
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FollowupID: 309653

Follow Up By: Wayne (NSW) - Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 07:55

Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 07:55
Some thing else to think about, when the oil heats up it tends to get thinner and oil pressure drops. Check oil pressure gauge when cold at idle and latter when hot. With our climate I would tend to go a grade heaver than recommended for the cooler climates. I would stick to the 15w 40.

Wayne Always Out'N About
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FollowupID: 309658

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen (WA) - Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 16:33

Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 16:33
Thanks Wayne,

Part of the reason in wanting to try it out in the cooler months is so that I could get some "low-risk" experience with it in my truck before I even consider switching to it full time.

Cheers
Stephen J.
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FollowupID: 309701

Reply By: Member - Bradley- Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 10:19

Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 10:19
In wa try f.u.c.h.s lubricants, they have a Titan cargo mc 10w40 mineral, a Titan super gto 10w30 synth, and a titan supersyn 5w50 synth. All for light diesels . Bear in mind that synthetics are very stable in viscosity compared to minerals. give the 5w50 a try as it covers the whole spread of temps, available in 5L and 20L . F.u.c.h.s. just took over all of express oil in wa so thay should be easy to find. ( yeah kind of affilliated ) cheersJust killin time till easter...............go and play in the dirt, instead of workin in it......
AnswerID: 47686

Follow Up By: Member - Stephen (WA) - Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 16:29

Monday, Feb 23, 2004 at 16:29
Thanks Brad,

I'll look into it.bleeps took over from Mobil for supplying the mines in Broken Hill just as I left the place late last year.

Cheers
Stephen J.
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FollowupID: 309699

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