I may switch to 15w50 when I move back south to warmer temperatures. Either viscosity would protect a large range of temps. The temperature here in Colorado does not get very high, even in the summer. If I put a significant amount of miles on my motor or the lifter tick becomes louder I may switch to 15w50.

Cheers,

Pete

 

I thought that the ticker oil was not recommended on Rover engines because of poor oil circulation which is rendered even worse with thick oil. Something about gumming up the pick up tube also, or something along those lines.

But this is just hearsay, which I usually don't repeat ( check my sig!!!), but am curious about the subject.

I did however notice that 10W40 made my engine tick and 10W30 didn't. So I almost concluded that thissupposition made sense.

What is your experience?

 

My lifter tick went away after a 15 minute ATF engine flush. 5w30 or 10w40 does not affect how noisy my engine is (it is quiet).

Thinner oil will flow more volume than the thicker stuff. The trade off is the sheer strength of the oil. The quality of the oil matters (synthetic PAO v. dino oil) as much as the viscosity. Newer engines are built with tight tolerances and can get away with a high quality low viscosity oil (as long as you change it often).

Ford and Honda recommend 5w20 oil in their engines. I ran 5w20 in my 5.4L F150 with no problems.

The Buick design Rover V8 is not really a modern engine. Sticking with 5w30 or above is a safe bet. Higher mileage should use thicker oil as the engine has worn and loosened up a bit.

Cheers,

Pete

 

You may be right, after going to 10w30 in the summer and 5w30 in the winter, I had no ticking and never considered re-trying a thicker grade oil. But maybe I should cause I have this annoying what seems to be rear main seal leak !?! ( front gasket which also means the pan one, and head gaskets which means all but the rear main seal have recently been done) The leak is very slow, and maybe a thicker oil would diminish if not stop it ?!?

 

That is one of the reasons that I like thicker motor oil, better protection in hot weather, no leaks and a quiet engine.

 

Using an oil like Mobil 1 is going to offer a magnitude more protection than conventional oil, even if you go with a thicker blend. I will run 0w40 next oil change and see if I can tell a difference (probably not). From what I've read Rovers engines are tough on oil (especially off road driving) so changing it around 3000-5000 miles should work for me.

Cheers,

Pete

 

I agree Pete, that using any lab oil is far better than dino oil.
It is just my personal preferance to run a thinker oil, especially after working at FedEx for 2 years. Oil comsumption soars in the summer, extremlyhot crankcase temps, fully loaded van, hard stop and go driving, engine running for 12 hours a day...I used dino 20w-50 in my E-250 with over 200K and changed it every 5,000 miles and only used a quartevery 2weeks. (1,000+ miles per week) If I used 10w-30 I used a quart every 2 days.
After I got my brand new Sprinter it came with Mobil 1 0w-40, I changed it every 10,000 miles and 60,000 miles later when I left there it only used a quart every 2 weeks. (it holds 10 quarts)
I think you are making a good choicein motor oil, my truckhas more miles on it than yours and it gets alot of city miles, sitting in traffic with the A/C cranking away in 95 degree heat. Same thing when I used to beable to afford to off road, the hood would get so hot you couldnt rest your hand ontop of it.
Sorry for rambling.

 

Thanks Spike555. I know Mobil says it is a European formula but I have not heard any examples of it being used so far. I can believe Michigan gets a little warmer than Colorado and having those extra miles warrants using thicker oil.

Cheers,

Pete

 

I case anyone doesnt know, the Sprinter van , weather it has the Dodge or Frieghtliner badge is a Mercedes Benz. Mine was made inGermany and had the 5 cylinder turbo diesel. Dodge put their name on it though. But everything on the van said MB. Even the brake calipers. Oil filler cap, everything. It was a really good van too.r

 

NO !!!!!!!!! Valvoline Maxlife is a highmileage oil and has additives to help seals Mobil One
0w40 does not and you will end up with leaking seals.

I used Mobil One Delvac 5w40 syn oil in my Disco once.
I use Delvac in my diesel so I have a lot of it and have used in other
gas cars with good results but it was not good,, leaks.
The 5w40 in my OEM service book it shows the temp range that covered
by the 5w40 for the EU and the UK but the US has different ratings without the
5w40 going as high in temps.

I now use Mobil One Highmileage 10w30 or 10w40 and no leaks or much fewer.