2000-2005 Discuss your 2000-2005 Bonneville SE, SLE, and SSEi Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.

Question about my newly purchased 03 SLE!!

Old Aug 13, 2005 | 06:27 PM
  #1  
MikeD's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Posts like a 4 Banger
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Union County N.J
MikeD is on a distinguished road
Default Question about my newly purchased 03 SLE!!

The oil filler cap reads 5w 30. The owners manual recommends 10w 30. What gives? :?:
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2005 | 07:34 PM
  #2  
1fatcat's Avatar
Senior Member
Posts like a Supercharger
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 198
Likes: 0
From: Zimmerman, MN.
1fatcat is on a distinguished road
Default

5W-30 in cold weather, 10W-30 in hot weather. Break point is a matter of oppinion but I would say 40 F.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2005 | 08:27 PM
  #3  
toastedoats's Avatar
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,837
Likes: 3
From: Fitchburg Ma _ToastedRice_
toastedoats is on a distinguished road
Default

its all subjective... there is no need for 10-30 in the summer time... 5-30 is just as good at 10-30 in warm temperatures, however 5-30 will not get as thick when cold and better for winter months...

The first number refers to the thickness in the cold and the second number refers to the thickness in hot conditions.... but it is all relative
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2005 | 08:36 PM
  #4  
MikeD's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Posts like a 4 Banger
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Union County N.J
MikeD is on a distinguished road
Default

That'* not what I'm refering to. The oil filler cap is suppose to read the recommended viscosity. Why does it say 5w 30??
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2005 | 08:59 PM
  #5  
toastedoats's Avatar
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,837
Likes: 3
From: Fitchburg Ma _ToastedRice_
toastedoats is on a distinguished road
Default

because that is recommended... if you read deeper into your owners manual i believe is gets more elaborate in one section on viscosity...
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2005 | 09:01 PM
  #6  
Ol' Timer's Avatar
Senior Member
Posts like a Corvette
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 3
From: New Jersey - Most of Our Elected Officials Have Not Been Indicted
Ol' Timer is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by MikeD
That'* not what I'm refering to. The oil filler cap is suppose to read the recommended viscosity. Why does it say 5w 30??
Ya know it is remotely possible that the oil filler cap is a replacment. Or maybe someone installed the wrong one at the factory. In any event, if you have to believe in something than I would go with what the Owners Manual says. Personally I run 5W-30 in my engine from December through Februalry even though my cap reads 10W-30. It'* just a personal preference.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2005 | 09:33 PM
  #7  
DarkShadow's Avatar
Senior Member
Posts like a Corvette
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 0
From: Berkeley, IL
DarkShadow is on a distinguished road
Default

blah, i use 0w30 castrol syntec (the green stuff) or amsoil 0w30 when it gets around fall, i think im gonna start using it year round tho instead of going to 10w30 synthetic in the summer, cuz castrol 0w30 is acutally a heavy 30wt in regular weather, i like the best of both worlds and id reccomend it to anyone
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2005 | 09:38 PM
  #8  
MikeD's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Posts like a 4 Banger
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Union County N.J
MikeD is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by Ol' Timer
Originally Posted by MikeD
That'* not what I'm refering to. The oil filler cap is suppose to read the recommended viscosity. Why does it say 5w 30??
Ya know it is remotely possible that the oil filler cap is a replacment. Or maybe someone installed the wrong one at the factory. In any event, if you have to believe in something than I would go with what the Owners Manual says. Personally I run 5W-30 in my engine from December through Februalry even though my cap reads 10W-30. It'* just a personal preference.
Thats what I'm trying to find out. What does everyone else'* filler cap read? Why would something like that get replaced? Plus, the dipstick reads overfill. I'm wondering if that is the factory dipstick. What color is everybody'* tranny dipstick? Mine is black.
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2005 | 10:14 PM
  #9  
Gumball's Avatar
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 15,342
Likes: 0
From: Quincy, Ma
Gumball is on a distinguished road
Default

mine reads 10w 30 and my dipstick handle is Yellow
Reply
Old Aug 13, 2005 | 10:27 PM
  #10  
MikeD's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Posts like a 4 Banger
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Union County N.J
MikeD is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by Gumball
mine reads 10w 30 and my dipstick handle is Yellow
Damn, so mine was replaced for some reason or it came from the facory by mistake. I wonder if I can order the right one. It'* important because when I take it for oil changes I don't want them putting in the wrong viscosity. Now, your oil dipstick is yellow. What about your tranny?
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:25 AM.