Engine oil for a v6 lantis - Can anyone explain what...

[chuky]

[color=#FF0000:post_uid0]hey guys, just curious... engine oils are given codes...

eg for the V6 lantis, the manual reccomends either 5W/30 or 10W/30 depending on the external temperatures the car is to be operated in...

can anyone tell me what the two series of digits refer to...

what happens if someone was to use 10W/40 for example or 15W/30 ???

any light to be shed on this would be appreciated...[/color:post_uid0]

[BigMal]

[color=#000000:post_uid1]Its a cold and hot reading so when the engine is
cold it will act as a 5W oil to get around the motor quickly
but when warm acts as a 30W in providing lubrication to
moving parts. Going heavier on the cold side means the
oil is glugier and will take longer so you will have more
tappet noise on startup ie take longer to go away.
Not sure the impact of going above recomendations on
the hot side has suspect same that oil takes longer to
get round the motor. Hard decision between having a thick
coating on your moving parts against slow circulation
round the motor.

Mal[/color:post_uid1]

[chuky]

[color=#FF0000:post_uid0]cheers mate, thanks for clearing that up... amazing how many mechanics couldn't tell me, not very reassuring ??? all they kept saying was that i might want to use a semi-synthetic oil cos my car was a V6 and when i asked them y they replied.."cos thats what you do..."..

anyways thanks again, Chuky[/color:post_uid0]

[BigMal]

[color=#000000:post_uid1]Even knowing what I said above I still have problems with
oil. *Rattly tappets. *Is that because of too thin an oil not
allowing the tappet to hold oil pressure or too thick an oil
not allowing enough oil in to fill the tappet with oil ??

Usually I try to follow the specs on the hot side to the
mazda specs and then try different brands as 1 brand will
tap and another same weight doesn't. *I used to run Mobil 1
but the price is a bit inhibitive. *Have been trialing other
brands but not yet totally satisfied.

Regards

Mal[/color:post_uid1]



Edited By BigMal on 1044532263

[ABC]

[color=#000000:post_uid0]Hi guys,

I put some Penrite oil in my car last time and it seems to work really well - much nicer than the stuff that Mazda put in it especially when its hot and under heavy load but yeah, its pretty exxy. I think its one of those get what you pay for deals unfortunately. :(

Andy.[/color:post_uid0]

[RedTop]

[color=#000000:post_uid0]I changed to "Total *quartz 9000, 0 W40 fully synthetic oil for my 2.0L V6 ('96)

It's due for an oil change *in 1000ks and I'll be putting more of the same in... interesting to note as Mal has already said about the tappets. I get that noise when the car idles after about 1 hours drive when its getting pretty hot.

RedTop[/color:post_uid0]

[Cosmo Dude]

[color=#000000:post_uid0]Chucky,
I believe your climate is a bit cooler than that in the 'wide brown land', hence the oil rating. If most of your driving is short distance I may be tempted to stick with the thinner 5W-30W oil. If the engine spends lots of time warm then go thicker 10w-40w :D

Penrite is an Aussie brand and my choice as I also care for a pair of rotaries and avoid synthetics (rotary thing) :;):

Listen for the clatter of tappets and adjust your oil as needed (they should be a little noisy when started but be OK within 20 seconds). When oil is low they will also clatter, reminds me I need a top-up.

See ya Slideways
Rod[/color:post_uid0]