The wrong oil?????? HELP

Hi guys a little help is needed,

I have just done a long journey back from newquay to southwales, and when i filled up the petrol for work tomorrow at the services, i thought i would check the oil.

I normally check every 600miles, but to my horror, the dipstick had hardly any oil on it!!!!!!

I went straight to the shop but they didn't have any 10w-40, all they had was 5w-40.

Now i don't know alot about the different kinds of oil, but i do no that it needs it. Now my thought it was, to be safe it would be better to buy the 5w-40 rather than continue with no oil. So that's what i have done.

Now is this going to cause huge problems???? Or can i just slowly mix the 10w-40 with the 5w-40 other a few weeks?????

Any answers are muchly appreciated

5w40 is grand but if I was you I'd go ahead and get a full change so your not mixing. Even though modern synthetic based oils are supposed to mix ok.

All modern oils will mix ok, and It it certainly safer to add the other oil than to run it low on the existing oil and risk engine damage.

The difference in grade between 5w-40 and 10w-40 is not that great.

If it bothers you too much drain the oil when you get chance and refil it with just one type, but I would say it would be ok until your next change.

I just hope the low oil pressure warning light hadn't come on when you run it low, as that generally means damage has already occured to the crank, and its only a matter of time before the big ends start knocking.

Thanks all for your replies,

There were no warning lights at all, so im guessing there was just enough in there at the time.

I still had an extra 60miles to go after stopping, and that went without a hitch, I checked it again when i got home, and all seemed well, I will probably leave the oil in there as apart from being expensive, it will need refilling in another 600-700 miles anyhow, which should be in a week.

On a seperate note,

Does anyone know if the old Black and White number plates are legal on new cars??

Originally Posted by woodsfordp

Does anyone know if the old Black and White number plates are legal on new cars??

Totally illegal on anything registered after 1973

The different grades of oil only come into play at temperature extremes.Using a 5-40 will be fine until the winter and only a problem then if we get a cold one.

I personally would just not take it to the red line so much if I were really worried. There is much greater tolerence in oil grade than in an empty sump!

Paulus

Originally Posted by Paulus

The different grades of oil only come into play at temperature extremes.Using a 5-40 will be fine until the winter and only a problem then if we get a cold one.

Sorry, but that doesn't make sense.
A 5W40 would be better in a cold winter than a 10W40.

In the UK it won't make much difference at any time of the year.

Originally Posted by David C

Sorry, but that doesn't make sense.
A 5W40 would be better in a cold winter than a 10W40.

In the UK it won't make much difference at any time of the year.

YESSSSS

Sorry

Wrong way round.

It's half eight on a Monday Morning and you want perfection already!

As I've already stated on another current oil thread, I always ran my 1.8 Twinny on 5w 40 fully synthetic oil with no problems whatsoever.

Originally Posted by Roswell

As I've already stated on another current oil thread, I always ran my 1.8 Twinny on 5w 40 fully synthetic oil with no problems whatsoever.

Same here. In fact my cars seemed to run quieter and smoother than on 10w-40 semi.

Originally Posted by symonh2000

Same here. In fact my cars seemed to run quieter and smoother than on 10w-40 semi.

I run on Unipart 5W-40 fully synthetic,mainly cause my mate gets it for £21.60 for 10 ltrs trade!.

I've been using Mobil1 full syn on my 2l TS for 7 years, and just opened it up to do a head gasket, and found that 3 exhaust cams are GONE. Experienced ALFA mechanics have told me this is because I haven't been using Selenia oil. Personally, I don't believe it. Several people have suggested that we should be using 10W-60 in all our engines. Does any one hve any similar stories.

Chers,
david

Woodsfordp how long have you had your car for? Is the amount of oil its used recently abnormal?

My dad had it since new from 2004 and i brought it off him last year.

He's always had to top it up every 1000miles, but since i brought it off him i do drive it very hard indeed, so i do top it up every 600-700miles.

Originally Posted by downunder

I've been using Mobil1 full syn on my 2l TS for 7 years, and just opened it up to do a head gasket, and found that 3 exhaust cams are GONE. Experienced ALFA mechanics have told me this is because I haven't been using Selenia oil. Personally, I don't believe it. Several people have suggested that we should be using 10W-60 in all our engines. Does any one hve any similar stories.

What Mobil1 did you use?
There are many different versions.

it appears low ZDDP content can result in worn cam lobes or cam followers... I'll be switching to DIesel oil for that reason, they SL and SM API standards are restricting the ZDDP content even more... Diesel oils don't have the same restrictions.

note, that's what I'll be doing, with my own engines

EDIT: racing oils and others that don't have to have api certification might also have a higher zddp content

I'd be a bit concerned if its been run that low to be honest...