I've used Mobil 1 5W30 oil in my Max for the last 15K miles and this weekend changed the oil with 10W30 for the 1st time. Had some extra M1 10W30 I wanted to use up.

I couldn't help but notice how much quieter the engine sounded when idling. There isn't too much viscosity difference between those weights of Mobil 1, so I'm not sure if there really is a significant difference or its just the affect of fresh oil. If it's more than mind games I may stay with the 10W30. Anyone else experience this?

 

its just beacuse u put fresh oil

 

Yeah, you may be right. But I've never noticed it before like this.

 

i may try this...when i switched over from regular oil to synthetic, i did so partly because everyone said the motor would run quieter. i used 5w30 like you did, but i honestly didn't notice any change (i know it isn't supposed to get quieter until at least a few hundred miles, but i at least TRIED to be as attentive to this as i could). maybe i'll try 10w30 next time.

 

no changes in the max, but startup clatter on my pathfinder was drastically reduced with 10w30 mobil instead of 5w30 mobil.. however, my Pf is a 2000 with the 3.3L engine, not a VQ.

 

There is a difference in low temperature flow characteristics. The 10W30 is slightly thicker at cold temperatures, thus does not flow as easily as the 5W30. If you're speaking of idling at initial start-up, this may be why it seems quieter when idling. Look-up flow specs at www.mobil1.com

 

young04 I noticed a big difference in engine noise switching from dino to Val SynPower, but, like you, nothing when I switched from Val SP to Mobil 1.

ebmaxse I went ahead with the 10W30 because it will soon be summer and it gets hot here in Arkansas. You may be on to something about the cold cranking viscosity. Not much difference at the higher temps however.

 

well, I'm in AR as well.. and have run mobil for several summers with Mobil 5w-30, Blackstone labs showed below average wear.. Thing is with mobile1 (and being that both are 30W when warm) there is very little difference between 5W and 10W. If you want alittle extra flow at start up, stay with 5w-30.

If youre really worried about the heat and say, like driving flat out thru TX at 90+ mph, you need to worry more about a tranny cooler and better tires.

 

I have used Mobil 1 10w30 with the 1st oil change, I'm a firm believer in synthetic oil products. Its in my Max's engine, transmission, brake lines, and power steering. I will not go back to conventional oil. A little clarification from my previous post,...the lower flow/thicker low temp viscosity of the 10w30 weight (in theory), means the oil will remain on the metal instead of running off when cold, thus leaving a coat of oil at start-up, hence less clatter & a quieter idle. At op temp, both 10w30 & 5w30 are equivalent. I'm sure there are naysayers on this, it's only my take on it.