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[quote=”AHB” post=134917]Hello everybody!
I bought a car (mitsubishi). But I dont know what type of engine oil should I use.when I checked the manual i found thisIts not mentioned to use a specific viscosity.[/quote]
I couldn’t read your picture very well, but it looks as if it’s laying out which viscosity is best for certain climates/temps. The picture on the document was a little hard for my terrible eyes to see. Another resource is to look up your specific model online. For example, just good what oil weight does a (insert year and car make and model) use? You should get an answer, and another option is just simply popping your hood and looking at the oil cap itself. In most cases it will tell you what oil weight you should use.Thank you.
I live in the middle east where temprature ranges from 30 to 50 C in summer and never reaches zero C in winter. Nothing is stamped on the oil cap.The car is mitsu Pajero. Dealer says 20w50, but I thought that viscosity is too thick.That’s why I refered to the manual and asked this question .Its my fault the image was not clear
:cheer:In the US, the Pajero is a Montero, which we have been putting 5w20 in since model year 2004. Before that year, it was 5w30. It gets down to -25*C in the coldest days of winter here, so we have to be using oil that is ok with all those conditions. In your climate, that chart clearly states 20w50 is acceptable. Does it really get down to 30 C at night? I thought deserts get quite cold at night compared to day. Running the 50 as your high number is fine. Your low number should match your lowest temps you will see at night. Around here I can get 5qt jugs of Mobil1 15w50, which is what I would get if I had to go buy oil for your car right now.
I use 15w50 in a old German car I have as a summer only car that is used only in temps between 10- 35 C. I would absolutely be running synthetic oil in that heat, it’s definitely a severe service maintenance schedule there.
5W20 synthetic is your oil, if your vehicle is not taking, or consuming, oil excessively. You always want to stay with oils with the lowest difference between the 2 values, so 5 – 20 is better than 5 – 30. If not available 10 – 30 is choice.
Btw, what year is your Mitsu? Older cars do better off with heavier oil, so 10-30 is likely the choice for something made in 90s. But ever since early to mid 2000 practically all cars went down to 5 20 or 5 30.
As barneyb said, use the temp range in the manual. You do want to go with the lowest range possible and I believe 20w-50 is too thick for your application. At most, I’d use a 40 weight. Try a 5W-30 and monitor oil consumption and pressure. If all is good, continue to use it.
[quote=”ukrkoz” post=134933]5W20 synthetic is your oil[/quote]
In this case, 5W20 is way too light for this vehicle and in the climate it will be operated. 20W50 would work (it is listed as an option on the diagram in the manual), but I would probably go with 10W30 or 10W40 for the best thermal properties and hot oil pressure. As a desert dweller myself, I know that using oil that is too light will cause oil pressure issues, faster viscosity breakdown, and less thermal protection in the engine.[quote=”cap269″ post=134956][quote=”ukrkoz” post=134933]5W20 synthetic is your oil[/quote]
In this case, 5W20 is way too light for this vehicle and in the climate it will be operated. 20W50 would work (it is listed as an option on the diagram in the manual), but I would probably go with 10W30 or 10W40 for the best thermal properties and hot oil pressure. As a desert dweller myself, I know that using oil that is too light will cause oil pressure issues, faster viscosity breakdown, and less thermal protection in the engine.[/quote] My thoughts exactly. 5W-20 is not even on the OP’s viscosity chart. Using it in the desert would be detrimental to the OP’s engine. According to the chart, the minimum viscosity that should be used is a 30 weight. 50 weight in the most extreme conditions. Personally, I would start with the 30 or 40 and monitor the oil consumption/pressure as I’ve stated above and go up or down from there.20w50 may sound extreme to all of us, but understand the OP is driving this thing in sandy conditions, 120*F temperature, under unobstructed direct sunlight, and likely the AC on all the time. That makes Death Valley seem average or maybe even a little mild.
Death Valley is mild compared to Phoenix, I’ve lived in both places, and have been in Phoenix since 1989. Most folks around here don’t use 20W50 except in heavy duty (hauling/towing) vehicles or in old engines. The military train here in southwestern AZ because of the similarity in weather and terrain to the deserts of the Middle East. 20W50 oil is okay for the OP to use, is listed on the posted diagram, and he mentions that the dealer uses it. However, I still maintain that 10W30 or 10W40 is also adequate, and probably preferable, for passenger cars. Also, it isn’t just the summer temps. The deserts get bitter cold in the winter (below freezing), and 10W30 or 40 will serve all seasons.
[quote=”cap269″ post=134981]Death Valley is mild compared to Phoenix, I’ve lived in both places, and have been in Phoenix since 1989. Most folks around here don’t use 20W50 except in heavy duty (hauling/towing) vehicles or in old engines. The military train here in southwestern AZ because of the similarity in weather and terrain to the deserts of the Middle East. 20W50 oil is okay for the OP to use, is listed on the posted diagram, and he mentions that the dealer uses it. However, I still maintain that 10W30 or 10W40 is also adequate, and probably preferable, for passenger cars. Also, it isn’t just the summer temps. The deserts get bitter cold in the winter (below freezing), and 10W30 or 40 will serve all seasons.[/quote] I can attest to this, I was also in Arizona for a bit. Tucson and Phoenix specifically. Arid dry heat that reaches 110 degrees often. Engines regularly overheat in AZ and your cooling system must be up to snuff. This includes your oil and as we all know, oil is part of the cooling. A thick oil like 50 can hold more heat but takes more time to dissipate said heat. A 40 weight was normally used there when I was there. Older engines prefer thicker oils and hauyling/towing applications require it to prevent oil shearing under heavy load and heat.
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