What are the symptoms of using the wrong oil in your car?

[Orrex]

Like using, say, 10W 30 instead of 5W 30?


Post silly answers if you wish, but only if you post a serious answer as well, or I'm telling.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Probably no really obvious, immediate symptoms.

But the engine will wear more quickly and may produce less power.

[Orrex]

2. Might it produce a different sound?

Shortly after my last oil change, I noticed that the engine in my 2003 Impala had a more "growly" sound.

It could be a problem with the muffler/exhaust system, I suppose, but the timing was so conspicuous that I couldn't help wondering if it had something to do with the work I'd had done.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. The only sound I can think of that could be oil-related

is valve tappet clicking, which could happen if your oil quantity is too low, or if you have a bad oil pump causing low oil pressure, or if the weather is really cold you might hear the clicking when the car starts because the oil is thick. Don't know what would cause a growly sound.

[Orrex]

6. Ah, yes--familiar with the tappet sound.

No longer much of an issue, but I recall the very distinctive metallic "flapping" character of it.

Maybe growly's not the best word, but the car simply sounds more guttural than it used to.


What does it sound like when there's a small hole in a muffler?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. You might want to get your exhaust system checked.

Or maybe the car has a problem with phlegm.

[flvegan]

3. The smell of french fries?

[Orrex]

4. You didn't read the rules.

:spank:

[flvegan]

15. Oh, but I did.

[Orrex]

16. You just blew my mind

Or something.

[Chan790]

7. At this time of year...

not much. I'm not going to try to explain it because I'm not a mechanically-inclined person nor a scientific one. There is a great article I found that explains it superbly if you have the time to read the whole thing. It's written in layman's terms.

http://www.upmpg.com/tech_articles/motoroil_viscosity/

[petronius]

8. if you'd kept your mouth shut there would be no symptoms, but now I'm afraid

the Car Talk guys are coming to rip out your entrails and use them as polishing rags. Sorry...

Serious answer: my guess is nothing if it's just the W number that's different. Maybe a tiny bit more wearing right at startup at most, if I understand this explanation correctly.

[madinmaryland]

9. Actually there is a bit of flexibility as to what you use.

If your manual recommends using 5W-30, you will be ok to use 10W-30 during the summer. The higher the "W" number the thicker the oil (i.e. during the summer you can get away with using a slightly higher number, as the heat will thin the oil). It's a temperate vs. viscosity graph.

Now I would not suggest using the KY schedule of lubrication on your automobile!!

:D

[rurallib]

11. Like everybody said no symptoms

especially in today's cars.
That is such a slight difference that I would not expect any.

[oneshooter]

12. When you use a heavier oil the bearings reset to the heavier oil.

Not recomended to go back to the thinner oil. Could cause bearing problems.

[rug]

13. Oil? My Jeep runs on mansweat.

[kwassa]

14. Your car smells like Chinese takeout?

[Gold Metal Flake]

17. I would add to madinmaryland's post...

The only real difference is thicker oil during warm up, which might cause a slight decrease in your fuel mileage.

[krispos42]

18. I'm hoping none...

... my first oil change I put in 5W-30 instead of 5W-20. In a car with an engine that's known for small oil passages.



Well, I'd say make up for it next time by using 0W-30 next time, so it balances out.


And while you're under the hood you should probably top off the halogen in your headlights.

[Lance_Boyle]

20. Is that a typo in your second paragraph?

You should use a 20 weight oil if that's what the engine calls for. If it's the Toyota 4-cyl I think it might be, 30 weight oil is also fine. Maybe a bit more wear protection from it and ever-so-slightly reduced mileage (probably not even measurable).

[krispos42]

21. Pssst.

I think you missed the part about posting silly answers ;-)

[sarge43]

19. It'll either smell like The Olive Garden or

burst into flames, implode, tip over and fall in the swamp.

So you won't have to tell: Quick and dirty, the numbers measure the viscosity of the oil, higher number, more viscose. First number, degree of viscosity in normal use; second number base viscosity. So a 5W30 would make for an easier cold weather start, but give slightly less protection and break down quicker. Many many factors here, best check your owner's manual.