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Just my 2 cents worth on the oil change discussion.
I think it's important to remember that the engines in most of our MV's
were manufactured before the advent of synthetic and for the most part
even multi grade oil. Tolerances were looser and heavier oil was
required. I remember in the "good old days" then we ran 30 wt in the
summer and 20 wt in the winter and hoped it didn't get down to zero so
that yo had to run 10 wt. If we started "burning oil" we just went to
40 wt or a grade heavier for a quick fix.
In today's higher temperature, higher revving closer tolerance engines,
we now run multi grades, usually 5-30 or 5-40. I just bought a new '00
Saturn LS-2 with the Opel-derived V-6 and have been very pleased with
the performance and fuel mileage. On a recent trip to Florida with
around 5000 miles on the odometer, an intermittant warning light came on
the dash. I checked the oil, coolant and everything I could think of
under the hood and all was OK. The car ran fine and when I got home I
took it in for service at 5200 miles, including oil change and warranty
on the reason for the light. The answer I got was "the oil has thinned
out". I replied, "You're the one's who recommend 5 wt oil - I never
heard of this." "Well, you should change at 3000 miles, and you went
5200"
I replied, "The book calls for 7500 miles" whereby the reply was "I
wouldn't go that long". I'm wondering if this was just a stock answer,
if the oil had really thinned out (and why - gas getting into it or
what??) and if I really should change at 3000. I've always changed at
5000 miles under normal service just for ease in remembering when it's
time even though most of my newer vehicles are recommended for 6000 and
higher. Since then, however, the light has not come back on so maybe
that was the deal.
I have a friend who had a recent rebuild on his M-37 engine and was
experiencing low oil pressure when hot using 30 wt. He went to 5w-50
and says he holds higher pressure even when hot - I guess I still don't
trust multi-viscosity oils to do the job, but am thinking about trying
it in my M-37 at the next change.
Steve Shaw
'51 M-37 s/n 80011547
MVPA #20317
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