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If you would have read the thread you would know that is what I did. My quandary is that it is 12 miles one way, and not just a block or 2.
My bad, I saw the post about your dad recommending using the 10-40. I missed the next part of the post cuz my brain was thinking you'd listen to your old man, haha.
MY issue with this is the fact you drained the oil without having the oil your owner's manual says to use ON HAND.
Yes, this was an error on my part, so you must be perfect? Dad always said the only perfect person he ever meet was a perfect A#@$%^&. However, I had the wherewithal to rectify the situation. I was interested in opinions rather accusation, but congratulations on being perfect. You deserve a star.
If on the jug says motor oil and it is slippery you are fine. I have yet to encounter someone who said his engine failed because he put the wrong grade oil in it.
I could refer you to my friend who sells Crown Vics on occasion. Putting God knows what in place of the spec'd oil for the 4.6L will kill them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by don1945
You will be fine. I run 25-40 in my one car and the only difference I see is a few pounds more oil pressure,
Don
You best hope the far reaches inside are getting oiled.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nlambert
I've been warned by a couple of my friends that are mechanics not to do this. I've heard some new vehicles even have sensors that know if you put the wrong weight oil in it (haven't researched this). Tolerances now are a lot tighter than they were in the older pushrod engines and it can cause damage to the engine from lack of lubrication over time. I'm not a professional mechanic but it does make sense. I'd drive the 12 miles to get it myself.
Your friends need to leave the tin foil hats alone. Otherwise, you are right. Though, older OHC engines were sloppy, too. I probably could get away with heavier goop with my old Ranger and it's 70s era 2.3L.
I just drained the oil from my truck thinking I had everything and I don't have 5-20 oil. I've got 10-40 for the 350 Chevy, and Mobil 1 for the LS1. Would you put 10-40 in a vehicle that calls for 5-20? Parts store is 12 miles away!
I'm guessing you have a pretty new and likely DOHC truck such as the Ford 3.7 V6 or 5.0 V8 if the manual specs 5W-20. Ford first specced that weight of oil in the late 1990s/early 2000s in the Duratec V6s. There are lots of reports of lack of lubrication-related damage over the long term when people put 5W-30 or 10W-30 instead of that "newfangled" and initially difficult-to-get 5W-20 in the Duratecs. I'd imagine the problem would be at least as bad with an even newer, likely more close-tolerance engine with things like cam phasers and such that the early Duratecs largely didn't have.
I suppose what you really have to weigh is the hassle of getting the correct oil vs. the cost of not getting the correct oil. If it were me, I'd absolutely drive the 24 miles to the parts store and get the correct oil. I'd take the Corvette to make it fun Otherwise you could put the 10W-40 into your truck and then later go get the right oil when you're in town, but you'd want to get that thick stuff out of the engine pretty quick and put the correct oil in. I would really cuss at pitching two gallons of oil (what my 5W-20 requiring 5.0 takes) after only a few dozen miles instead of the usual ~10,000 miles. Also consider engines aren't cheap if you leave the thick stuff in there and roach an engine. A crate 5.0 goes for about $7000 last time I checked and then you have to put in the in the truck. A half-hour in the Corvette to get some oil and bring it back sounds better and better to me. Put on some good music and enjoy the ride
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Otherwise you could put the 10W-40 into your truck and then later go get the right oil when you're in town, but you'd want to get that thick stuff out of the engine pretty quick and put the correct oil in. I would really cuss at pitching two gallons of oil (what my 5W-20 requiring 5.0 takes) after only a few dozen miles instead of the usual ~10,000 miles. Also consider engines aren't cheap if you leave the thick stuff in there and roach an engine. A crate 5.0 goes for about $7000 last time I checked and then you have to put in the in the truck. A half-hour in the Corvette to get some oil and bring it back sounds better and better to me. Put on some good music and enjoy the ride 
