Oil Question to Fred about my engine

A General Discussion forum for cars and other topics, and a great place to introduce yourself if you are new to NICO!
User avatar
elwesso
Posts: 30810
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT
Location: Indiana
Contact:

Post

Fred and others,This just recently dawned on me... The other day, when i fired up my car from cold the oil light only stayed on for a couple seconds (normally around 6)... However, when I started it from heat soak (1 hour of sitting hot, in 50* weather), and the oil light stayed on slightly longer.

This seems to me that it doesnt build pressure fast enough when the oil is hot...

Question: Should I switch to a thicker oil for summer time? Im running a 5w30 (durablend), would a 10w40 be better for summer??


User avatar
PalmerWMD
Posts: 14329
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

Post

elwesso wrote:Question: Should I switch to a thicker oil for summer time? would a 10w40 be better for summer??


Yes and Yes.

Fred...:)

User avatar
elwesso
Posts: 30810
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT
Location: Indiana
Contact:

Post

Would you say Id be safe switching it now....

I am starting to notice A TAD bit of tapping (valves) when sitting overnight or longer. Would 10w40 make this worse??? I wanna keep using my durablend (cheap and good)

(thanks Fred, I bow to your oil knowledge)

User avatar
PalmerWMD
Posts: 14329
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

Post

elwesso wrote:1)Would you say Id be safe switching it now....2)I am starting to notice A TAD bit of tapping (valves) when sitting overnight or longer. 3)Would 10w40 make this worse??? 4)I wanna keep using my durablend (cheap and good)


1) Do you have consistent spring like temps in Indy by now? If yes the time is right... But..2)Keep up your short OCI's and alternate Seafom with MMO with ATF addtions just previous to drain.You can leave the Seafoam or MMO in for a few days of driving ( not to exceed a work week) just prior to oil change, 3) Not if its warm enough. <But> If you have issues like that I would stick with a Durablend 10w-30, its higher flow at operating temps vs a 10w-40 will help a bit with the cleanout.4) Go ahead and keep up those frequent oil changes.

Fred...:)

User avatar
elwesso
Posts: 30810
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT
Location: Indiana
Contact:

Post

MMO and Seafoam... 1 can of each, 1/2 of each, one of either, or what.. I dont remember hearing about that.....

I would presume I would throw in the seafoam maybe 3 days prior to a oil change, drive easy, and then just a bit before I go to have it drained, i would add ATF.....

I think this 5w30 is a bit thin for what I want.....

its been about 1500 miles since I did my oil flush, so Ill go ahead and give the ATF/seafoam trick a try... Probably change it in a week or so.. Maybe I'll DIY this one and rip open the filter......

User avatar
PalmerWMD
Posts: 14329
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

Post

elwesso wrote:1)MMO and Seafoam... 1 can of each, 1/2 of each, one of either, or what.. I dont remember hearing about that.....2)I would presume I would throw in the seafoam maybe 3 days prior to a oil change, drive easy, and then just a bit before I go to have it drained, i would add ATF.....3)I think this 5w30 is a bit thin for what I want.....4)its been about 1500 miles since I did my oil flush, so Ill go ahead and give the ATF/seafoam trick a try.


1)! can each 1st application, one can next time2)Yes3)10w-304) Do it soon keep up those short OCI's

Fred..:)

User avatar
PalmerWMD
Posts: 14329
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

Post

So in summary I w/d my original 10w-40 recommendation I forgot your engine was still dirty.

The 10w-30 will be the better choice in your case as the slightly faster flow will help to clean and less VII's in a 10w-30 vs a 10w-40 leave more room for otehr additves in the oil ( sucha s detergents)

Fred..:)

User avatar
elwesso
Posts: 30810
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT
Location: Indiana
Contact:

Post

Ok so the 10w30 is what I should go with for summer time?

I would think that the 40 weight would be better for warmer temps, since i get a slightly longer oil light time when the oil is warm.

Wouldnt a thicker oil help clean things out since its under higher pressure. As you can imagine, I drive my car VERY hard at ALL times. I would think with the increased pressure that it would help aleviate some of the junk in there.....

User avatar
PalmerWMD
Posts: 14329
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

Post

Depends on the nature of your problem varnish is better removed with a faster flowing oil and sludge well we just dont know.

If you think your pressure problems go awau with the 10w-40 by all means.

You are kinda a grey area in that which oil.

Fred...:)

User avatar
elwesso
Posts: 30810
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT
Location: Indiana
Contact:

Post

Id like to give the 10w40 a try...

Application question.. Sometimes I go up to my shop which is about 100 miles away... 2 hours of highway driving...

Would this be too long to use the ATF trick...?? As long as I didnt exceed 3000 RPM??

User avatar
PalmerWMD
Posts: 14329
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

Post

elwesso wrote:Would this be too long to use the ATF trick...


yes.

User avatar
elwesso
Posts: 30810
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT
Location: Indiana
Contact:

Post

What about the seafoam...

User avatar
PalmerWMD
Posts: 14329
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

Post

elwesso wrote:What about the seafoam...


you can drive that all week if you really want, just not so long it evaporates out cuz then stuff will just redeposit.

remember seafoam is mostly for varnish not sludge

User avatar
elwesso
Posts: 30810
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT
Location: Indiana
Contact:

Post

Alright so its something that shouldnt stay in for a long time...

Would it be better (IYO) to use it in a long road trip or shorter trips (but getting to operating temps)

nuQ
Posts: 1659
Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2003 1:39 pm
Car: 2003 Infiniti M45
2009 Dodge Caliber SXT
Location: Bethlehem PA

Post

maybe a stupid question,,,,,,what is the difference between varnish and sludge????

User avatar
elwesso
Posts: 30810
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT
Location: Indiana
Contact:

Post

Sludge is the black stuff (caked on crap that I have)... Varnish is more of the by products, meaning varnish turns into sludge later...

If Im wrong let me know.. Varnish is much easier to clean as its not bonded to the metal.....

User avatar
PalmerWMD
Posts: 14329
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

Post

Sludge is generally from decomposing base lube stock.Varnish generally come from hydrocracking Viscosity Index Improvers.

Fred..:)

User avatar
PalmerWMD
Posts: 14329
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

Post

elwesso wrote:Alright so its something that shouldnt stay in for a long time...


The ATF should stay in for an hours worth of idling even though light driving around teh block is ok.

The Seafoam is totally safe but you will take its utility away if you put it in too long before teh drain as varnish will start re-depositing.

Fred..:)

nuQ
Posts: 1659
Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2003 1:39 pm
Car: 2003 Infiniti M45
2009 Dodge Caliber SXT
Location: Bethlehem PA

Post

got it! thanks guys

User avatar
elwesso
Posts: 30810
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT
Location: Indiana
Contact:

Post

Fred, which do you think is more effective.....? I realize both is best, but if you had to choose one which would it be???

nuQ
Posts: 1659
Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2003 1:39 pm
Car: 2003 Infiniti M45
2009 Dodge Caliber SXT
Location: Bethlehem PA

Post

i've done both at the same time wes,,,,kept the sea-foam in for a few days of light driving, then put the atf in right before the change,,,,idled for almost an hour then drove around 5 blocks to the firestone place for the oil change.......

User avatar
elwesso
Posts: 30810
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT
Location: Indiana
Contact:

Post

http://www.valvoline.com/pages...ct=29

I was looking at this stuff, and looking at the MSDS it looks like its safe. Maybe I could use this stuff for like 3 weekly oil changes??? Too harsh???

User avatar
PalmerWMD
Posts: 14329
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

Post

page wont come up.

F..

User avatar
elwesso
Posts: 30810
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT
Location: Indiana
Contact:

Post


User avatar
PalmerWMD
Posts: 14329
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

Post

Do not use this product on your engine, too harsh for this application

User avatar
Rex
Posts: 16845
Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2003 6:50 pm
Car: None
Location: South of ATL
Contact:

Post

They PUSH that stuff hard at the Valvoline Instant Oil Change.

User avatar
Touchdown038
Posts: 1928
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2002 1:55 pm
Car: Computers, cars, sports
Contact:

Post

I know this is the wrong forum for this, but I take it the 5-minute Pyroil flush wouldn't be good for a 150k-mile 240?

User avatar
PalmerWMD
Posts: 14329
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 3:14 pm
Car: 2004 350Z

Post

Every single one of those 5 minute flushes are kerosene based.You'd do as well putting an equal volume of kerosene or diesel in your oil.

They are safe if used w/in directions and they all say on fine print that in engiens suspected of ebing heavily sludged the oil pan may have to come off and get cleaned.

A $400 proposition on a Q using shop labor.

In some cases the oil pan may have to come off few couple days for a while.

Expensive, ..its a lot cheaper to just change your oil often.

Fred...:)

kblast523
Posts: 81
Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2003 2:42 am
Car: Bikes with motors, golf, woodworking, car restoration

Post

Pyroil will clean up an engine that has run on dino oil all its life and has LIGHT "sludge" or minor deposits. Last year I acquired a 1988 Oldsmobile Cutlass with a 3.8l v-6 with "only" 64K on it. I do honestly believe it had at LEAST 50K on the Pennzoil that was run in it. The stuff was cacked up so bad, I could scrape the deposits with a blade and pic up more than I could gather in one hand....with latex gloves on of course. I filled two one gallon containers with scrapings from this motor. Ended up using a different engine because of the cylinder wear....bores were out by .090, well beyond boring range. Just another reason for using synthetics...AND CHANGING OIL. If you can see the crud in the engine, this stuff will plug the sump with it and ruin what is left...keep changing. You will never get it all, but you may get most of it.

User avatar
elwesso
Posts: 30810
Joined: Sun Feb 23, 2003 4:52 pm
Car: 94 Infiniti Q45t 5 spd
2007 BMW M Coupe
2007 Infiniti G35 S 6MT
Location: Indiana
Contact:

Post

Did you use the pyroil in this engine.....???

If so, mine is only a tiny film.....


Return to “General Chat”