Posted by Charlie (IP: 209.253.9.11) on December 23, 1999 at 19:56:53:
In Reply to: Oil Question??? posted by Craig Selvey on December 23, 1999 at 18:28:29:
I think I can help here, Craig, I worked for over 2 years at a Pennzoil Quick lube, and attended a few training seminars that Pennzoil and Castrol gave. The ticking is caused by wear, but also the cold weather. Your clearances are greater, so it makes more noise before the oil gets there. This is why it is only when you start the car. When oil finally gets through the engine, the noise stops because the clearances are lubricated.
Now, here is the most important part. Dont change to 15W40!!!! The 15 weight is how thin the oil will get. (15 viscosity). the 40 is how thick it will get (40 viscosity). This means when the engine is cold, the crankcase oil is 30 viscosity with 10 or 5W30, and 40 viscosity with 10 or 15W40. Because of what I explained earlier, you obviously don't want a thicker oil at startup, because it will take longer for the oil to get to the engine's vital parts, and the noise will last longer and more wear will occur.
New cars, especially imports (like your "Ford," sorry..) need 10W30. Notice that 5W30 and 10W30 are the only oils that have a "seal" on the cover. These are the only weight oils that manufacturers reccomend. New engines have really tight clearances, and if your Aspire is not burning a lot of oil then DONT go thicker. It will shorten engine life.
There is a really bad "wive's tale" that thicker is better, mainly because racecars use thick oil. This is because they run at high temps for short periods of time. Thicker oil increases oil pressure, but this is NOT necessarily a good thing. Increased oil pressure only means your oil pump is having a harder time pumping the oil. Thicker oil can ruin a worn-out oil pump (and you know what next...)
Hope this helps, just stick with 5W30 or 10W30, especially up north. Only use thicker oil when your car is burning oil very badly. Then go to 10W40 at the most. -CP
: I have a question about my "daily driver", but I am sure everybody can benefit from the answer.
: I drive a 1995 Ford Aspire (OK, OK...get up off the floor). It has 145,000 miles on it. The engine is starting to "rattle" a little bit when I first start the car. I think with the miles, that the engine is geeting a little "loose" with wear.
: I was wondering what you would recommend as far as motor oil for this 4 cyl car with this many miles on it. I have been using 10W30 Valvoline Semi-Senthetic, but somebody recommend using a 15W40 oil.
: I guess I am ignorant when it comes to oil "weights" and was wondering what I should use. Keep in mind, it gets cold here in Indiana.