15W-50 Synthetic Motor Oil

[asdf1234]

So lets say a "friend" of mine accidently put this in his turbocharged camaro. How bad would this be?

[Dominic]

Not horrible, but I would run a 30 or 40 in it. No need for a 50 weight. Try a 5W-30 synthetic, it definitely will be sufficient.

[pivot]

when I had 10w-30 in my car the lifters starting tapping. I had read that it is a common thing when you use anything other than 5w-30.

[terminaldegree]

Originally posted by pivot:
when I had 10w-30 in my car the lifters starting tapping. I had read that it is a common thing when you use anything other than 5w-30.

[img]graemlins/bs.gif[/img]
I don't know where you heard that, but you will notice that most 3.8 f-bodys actually SPECIFY 10w-30 right on the oil fill cap. There's some pre-existing issue there, or you're driving in really cold weather. Running 5-30 won't hurt anything, but it may shear out of grade faster.

As to the original question, you did no harm to anything by running 15-50 synthetic. Worst thing that happened is you probably lowered your gas mileage a smidgeon.

[95DGcamaro]

Just a little heavier/thicker oil, but you will be fine.

[Dominic]

FWIW: I get my best wear numbers on 5W-30. A good synthetic 5W-30 will not shear vey much under normal conditions [img]smile.gif[/img]

[badbird02]

ok isnt 15w 50 a deseil oil? is there a diff?

[NOS2006]

Also FWIW: I always use the normal, cheap Valvoline 5W-30. Runs fine...

[venom]

5w-30 definately helps during start-up (when most engine damage occurs)

[TraviepooCmro]

15w-50 is sometimes used as a diesel oil, but not normally, diesel oil is normally a 15-40, with an "advanced soot control aditive" and even then, it should not harm anything in a gasoline engine

[95DGcamaro]

A lot of people use 15w-50 oil when at the race track because of the high temperatures and the change in viscosity of the oil at those temperatures and hard work on the engine. The numbers don't mean it is a diesel oil over gas. The number is basically just the cold start rating (first number) and the max viscosity allowed (second number).

If you want to read up about oil, a good article can be found here: http://www.texacoxpresslube.com/carc...viscosity.html