What Does Oil Weight #s Mean?

[rico05]

I am getting the usual timing chain click, and I want to run heavier oil. Currently, I put in 10W-30 and I get the clicking. What I was wondering is what the numbers mean, and what would be a heavier oil to run? 10W-40? 20W-40? Thanks!

[Rex]

I'm sure Fred will weigh-in (pun intended) with his wealth of knowledge of things pretol based, but until then..

Here's a great thread with a link within that goes to another great post with another link within.

<happy reading>

[elwesso]

The numbers are the weight when cold and when hot...

For instance, when cold, a 10w30 has a viscosity of a 10 weight oil, and a viscosity of a 30 weight oil when hot...

Basically, youll probably want to run a 10w40, which acts thicker when its at operating temps.....

[Bronze MFP]

i started running valvoline synthetic (synpower i think) 10W30, and most of my engine noise (minus the timing chain ) has gone away. Some oil is starting to leak out between some of the engine gaskets, but it's not much at all... and my engine runs 10x better over all

[PalmerWMD]

rex:

Good job on those links.

Nothing to add.

Fred...

[MaineExport]

The timing chain problem will not be fixed with a heavier oil. It won't be fixed by oil at all.

[hudy]

I'm pretty sure "W" means "winter". And like Doc said to Marty "Weight has nothing to do with it." It is thickness that is the issue here. See this link to valvoline. http://www.valvoline.com/carca...101ovMaybe that page can answer some of your questions as well.