Thinking about changing for 5w40 to 10w60 ... thoughts

[rossyl]

Hi All,

During my next service I was thinking of requesting that the garage use 10w60 oil rather than 5w40.

The 10w60 is thicker at higher temps, though provides arguably less protection at colder temps. 10w60 is Ferrari spec. It is also said to be good for any noisy tappets which i think I've heard previously: http://www.giallo.co.uk/31-faqs/faqs/111-noisey-tappets-4200gt.html

Any thoughts?

Thanks
R

 

[beau]

i disagree, a jump from the recommended 5w40 to 10w60 is too far, they are completely different oils.

if you want to use a thicker oil, i would recommend going for a 5w50 (best of both worlds in regards to cold/hot protection)

this would be a really good choice:

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-60214-m...0-full-synthetic-engine-oil-formerly-xfs.aspx

 

[Emtee]

I don't think you need to worry about 5w v 10w, as the difference is down at between minus 20 as opposed to minus 25, so not really applicable in the UK.

Why do you want 60 as opposed to 40 at the top end Ross? Tappet noise isn't going to be cured by a thicker oil and it can be argued that it's more difficult for the oil pump to lift a thicker oil up to the tappets anyway.

I do run 10W60, but it's because I do business runs to London fairly regularly - long motorway run followed by an hour or more of cr***y London traffic. The oil gets stinking hot and is like water. I also feel the Shell Helix (in my experience) sheers quickly in these driving conditions, and so the car struggles to maintain pressure over the supposed life of the oil. That said 10W60, if you read the bumph, is more likely to sheer due to the VI's, but this hasn't been my experience.

 

[Parisien]

I am not sure Miles...surely it only truly track type driving that will destroy the Shell oil......after all this oil is recommended for a high performance supercar engine which they know will occasionally be used at high speed and a variety of conditions?

P

 

[rossyl]

My concerns are that, admittedly over the course of over a year, I've had a short amount of tappet noise. Once when being sat in a long queue at Rockingham towards the end of the day doing the drifts. Secind time when being stuck in a lot of traffic. Third time was after the car had been sat stationary for ages.

It didn't last long in all cases and Maranello were never able to replicate it.

I've read on the USA Masser forum that 10w60 helped? I'm not sure though.

Performance Dynamics sells it as standard for 4200s as part of their service kit.

 

[Emtee]

All those conditions point towards stinking hot oil, but for the tappet noise I think I'd be wondering whether the gallery non-return valve was leaking. Perhaps only a slight leak, and only when the oil is at it's thinnest, but enough to starve the tappets. Yes a 10W60 may cure this if it doesn't go quite as thin, but the cause is still the leaking valve, if that is indeed the culprit.

 

[Emtee]

I am not sure Miles...surely it only truly track type driving that will destroy the Shell oil......after all this oil is recommended for a high performance supercar engine which they know will occasionally be used at high speed and a variety of conditions?

P

But there are many places that, rather than 5W40, recommend moving to 10W60 (both for Maserati's and Ferrari's). Just in this thread there are two that post it on their web sites.

My experience was not great with Shell Helix, as I never had it hold it's pressure. That said I tracked the 4200 on numerous occasions and I agree that if anything is going to shred the oil, it's red-lining the first three gears around Llandow.

I have no particular axe to grind either way, just my own experience and the reasoning behind my decision to go with 10W60.

 

[beau]

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/pdfs/tech-articles/10w-60-oil.pdf

i really wouldnt go higher than a 10w50.

as said in that article, at 100 degrees (which is roughly what it would run at when driven a bit hard) 60 grade is 70% thicker than a 40 grade, that is way too much of a 'jump' in my opinion.

at 90°C (every day running about) an SAE 40 is 15cst, an SAE 50 is 20cst but an SAE 60 is 30cst!

 

[Emtee]

Don't disagree Beau, but oil goes higher than 100 degrees...regularly.

Interesting that Shell Helix Ultra Race is a 10W60.

 

[rossyl]

I don't think Shell make Shell Helix in 10w50 and so that would mean moving to a difefrent type of oil.

I've actually noticed that a number of people have used Mobil 1, thought I am unsure the consistency

 

[Parisien]

I would still say......the engine is designed to use the Shell Helix oil....................do ask an indie Autoshield or McGraths about a change


P