Ok to use 10w-30 instead of 5-20 ?

[dannyg40]

Hi everyone, couldn’t find the search feature and I’m sure its been discussed but I’m wondering. I have an 02′ Escape V6 with 72,000 miles only, but I been keeping track of the oil. It’s strange, I have no leaks at all, and see no obvious smoke from the tail pipe, but I change my oil with the recomended 5-20, and have noticed the following. I kept the oil to the top mark on the dipstick, after 230 miles I added 12 oz. of oil. 195 miles after that I added 22 oz. of oil. I been using Castrol 5-20 but I’m wondering is it ok to use a 10w-30 instead ? I dont know why this thing with low mileage is seeming like its burning to much oil, and Its not worth ripping an engine apart in this thing. 200 miles and sometimes I have to add 12 oz of oil, sometimes almost a quart. I used Penzoil in my other cars but didnt like it because on hot days the oil pressure would drop real low because it would thin out so much. Im wondering if it would be ok to use 10-30 and hopefully the consumtion would lessen. Ok to use the 10-30 ?

Topic

[John B Kobberstad]

I don’t see why you couldn’t use the 10W-30 weight oil especially in warmer weather. I run that weight in all my vehicles. In fact this summer I changed to Castrol 10W-40 for 2 months during the heatwave but have moved back to the 10W-30 for the fall and will go to 5W-30 in the winter.

[mckrishes]

I would check with your owners manual. My Odyssey said it was ok to use 5w-30 or 10w-30 temporarily if 5w-20 was not available. This site has excellent information regarding oil grades, etc.: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com

[dannyg40]

The Escape calls for 5-20 also. I remembered something and not sure if it would apply to newer cars. I had a brand new 1991 Camero back in the day and I figured since it was new I would take it in for the 1st few oil changes to the dealer. That car called for 5-20 and when they changed it they put in 10-30 cause thats all they used. I mentioned it to the service manager and he said it was ok to use 10-30 nothing would happen and it wouldnt void the warrenty.

[dreamer2355]

I would stick to what it calls for in your owners manual or oil filler cap.

For all things oil related, this is a great website – http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=cfrm

[moparfan]

look it up in the owners manual. normally there is a weight VS temp chart in them. but i don’t think thicker oil will fix your problem of oil usage. i would start pulling spark plugs and look for signs of oil first.

[dannyg40]

[quote=”moparfan” post=30911]look it up in the owners manual. normally there is a weight VS temp chart in them. but i don’t think thicker oil will fix your problem of oil usage. i would start pulling spark plugs and look for signs of oil first.[/quote]

I have been wanting to change the plugs anyway. Maybe this weekend I will pull the 3 easy front ones and check them real quick. The back ones, the upper intake has to come off to get to them.

[moparfan]

[quote=”dannyg40″ post=30965]

I have been wanting to change the plugs anyway. Maybe this weekend I will pull the 3 easy front ones and check them real quick. The back ones, the upper intake has to come off to get to them.[/quote]

yea let us know what you find. it has to be burning it or leaking it. some times engine wont smoke when burning oil such as the dodges with the magnum engines will not smoke sucking oil threw the intake. you mite check the radiator for oil and the tranny for gaining oil aswell.

[W00DBar0n]

[quote=”johnbkobb” post=30829]I don’t see why you couldn’t use the 10W-30 weight oil especially in warmer weather. I run that weight in all my vehicles. In fact this summer I changed to Castrol 10W-40 for 2 months during the heatwave but have moved back to the 10W-30 for the fall and will go to 5W-30 in the winter.[/quote]
Pretty much what i do through the year with my car too, only in winter i run 0W30… it gets down below -35C(-31F) in the winter and +30C(+95F) in the summer.

[moparfan]

[quote=”W00DBar0n” post=31000][quote=”johnbkobb” post=30829]I don’t see why you couldn’t use the 10W-30 weight oil especially in warmer weather. I run that weight in all my vehicles. In fact this summer I changed to Castrol 10W-40 for 2 months during the heatwave but have moved back to the 10W-30 for the fall and will go to 5W-30 in the winter.[/quote]
Pretty much what i do through the year with my car too, only in winter i run 0W30… it gets down below -35C(-31F) in the winter and +30C(+95F) in the summer.[/quote]

i my self run 10-30 in my cars and 15-40 in my trucks year around. i do it this way because if i start a vehicle in the morning it normally runs most the day never really getting a cool down. so in the end i get a little more wear at start up but much less the rest of the day when the oil gets hot and thin. plus i use good oil! not cheap stuff. mostly the trucks because they are working when they run. many times i use a oil heater on the trucks to during the winter so the oil is already at 100F at start up. most on this forum go by the oil cap or owners manual so i just go along with it. i must not be hurting the engines this way because most of them live 250-300,000 miles before i get rid of them. infact my main work truck is just at 300,000 miles and don’t show any signs of that kinda milage. the last truck run 537,000 miles before i sold it and still see it running around now and then pulling a car trailer. banana:

[dave]

I’d do a compression test just to see if you are burning oil, and if so which cylinder(s) are affected.

[Author]

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