Oil Thickener ?

[scooby_doo_do]

Checked my oil last night and it seems very runny.... In fact too runny... The engine was hot after a run. The only reason i was checking it was that i had the car serviced recently, and since then i've noticed some smoke from the exhaust when i start the car up in the morning (Hard to say what colour but seems a bluey white - Only does it for about 5 secs or so just after the car starts up.. So i thought i'd check the oil levels first. They all seem fine... So i'm wondering if the chap has put a really thin oil in the car? (Told me he's used Shell fully synthetic) and if so can i make it slightly thicker ?

 

I'm waiting for the ... DON'T do it posts.......... :-)

 

Thanks in advance..

[dude]

Ask him what viscosity he used ie 10/40 or 0/30 etc

 

Dude:flame Dev

[scooby_doo_do]

Thanks Dude, I think he said it was 5-40 ??

 

Sounds like a BMW to me, rather than an oil.....

[dude]

A bit thin really !!!!

 

Dude:flame Dev

[scooby_doo_do]

Is there a way i can thicken it ? Or should i just get the oil changed for something else?

[michael]

Cornflour?

 

(PLEASE DON'T LISTEN TO ME)

 

It should be OK until your next change, while it's a little thin it should still be doing the job it's intended for.

[scooby_doo_do]

Cornflour..........hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....You've been watching way too much Gary Rhodes... lol..

 

But then again....

[Alex]

Try Mobil1 Motorsport 15/50 next time...or Silkolene 10w50 Pro S

[Zed]

I wouldn't bother doing anything as long as it's shell 5w40.

 

I was using Valvoline 5w50 and at the last change thought i'd try millers 10w60 but when the engine is fairly warm they are both similarly runny looking.

 

I would definitely avoid any viscosity improvers, those are for clapped out Cavaliers and suchlike !!

 

The puff of smoke at startup is most likely the famous 'Worn valve stem seals' issue which shouldn't really cause any major concern.

 

Hope this helps:)

[dangerous brain]

Its an easy enough job to do just drop the oil out and put new in yourself, treat this oil as a flush. It won't be wasted money as a drain and flush is a better way of doing an oil change anyway. Its what we do on aero engines to prolong their lives.

[oilman]

Read this, hopefully it will help to explain the consquences of using the wrong viscosity oil.

 

Surely the thicker the oil the better!

 

This isn't always true - even when using a petroleum oil. Although it is true that heavier viscosity oils (which are generally thought of as being thicker) will hold up better under heavy loads and high temperatures, this doesn't necessarily make them a better choice for all applications.

 

On many newer vehicles only 0w-40, 5w40 or 10w40 engine oils are recommended by the manufacturer. If you choose to use a higher viscosity oil than what is recommended, at the very least you are likely to reduce performance of the engine. Fuel economy will likely go down and engine performance will drop.

 

In the winter months it is highly recommended that you not use a heavier grade oil than what is recommended by the manufacturer. In cold start conditions you could very well be causing more engine wear than when using a lighter viscosity oil.

 

In the summer months, going to a heavier grade is less of an issue, but there are still some things to be aware of.

 

Moving one grade up from the recommended viscosity is not likely to cause any problems (say from a 10w40 to a 10w50 oil). The differences in pumping and flow resitance will be slight. Although, efficiency of the engine will decrease, the oil will likely still flow adequately through the engine to maintain proper protection. However, it will not likely protect any better than the lighter weight oil recommended by the manufacturer.

 

Moving two grades up from the recommended viscosity (say 10w40 to 10w-60) is a little more extreme and could cause long term engine damage if not short term. Although the oil will still probably flow ok through the engine, it is a heavier visocosity oil. As such it will be more difficult to pump the oil through the engine. More friction will be present than with a lighter viscosity oil. More friction will be present than with a lighter viscosity oil. More friction means more heat. In other words, by going to a thicker oil in the summer months, you may actually be causing more heat build-up within the engine. You'll still be providing adequate protection from metal to metal contact in the engine by going with a high viscosity, but the higher viscosity will raise engine temperatures.

 

In the short run, this is no big deal. However, over the long term, when engine components are run at higher temperatures, they WILL wear out more quickly. As such, if you intend on

keeping the vehicle for awhile, keep this in mind if you're considering using a heavier weight oil than the manufacturer recommends.

 

The best advice is to is to stay away from viscosity grades that are not mentioned in your owner's manual or seek professional advice before you buy.

 

Cheers

Simon