2004 Saturn Vue - what oil to use?

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- Papillion
  
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posted
19 years ago

Wed, Aug 25, 2004 6:00 PM

I had the oil changed today for the first time on my Chili Pepper Red

2004 Saturn Vue V6 FWD. My husband told me to have them put in 10W40

- that's what he's always used in our cars. He also puts a bottle of STP in.

He drives a 1996 Ford Crown Victoria with 216K miles on it - great car, runs well.

Well, the dealership said they recommend the 5W20; that the 10W40 is too heavy for the engine. I had them put in the 5W20.

When we picked up the Vue, he talked to one of the service writers who told him the same thing. Husband got snippy and said we'd take our business to Firestone and see what they say.

My question - has anyone used 10W40 in their Vue - what have the results been? Does anyone have any good arguments to convince my husband that the 5W20 is the best to use?

Thanks for your input - first time poster - lurker in many groups.

PR

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- Napalm Heart
  
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posted
19 years ago

Wed, Aug 25, 2004 8:28 PM

10W40

Hardly any manufacturers recommend 10W-40 anymore. In fact, in a lot of cases it will void the warrantee. While your Vue is under warrantee I would use what Saturn recommends.

Ken

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- A. Guy
  
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posted
19 years ago

Wed, Aug 25, 2004 8:32 PM

You should use what the manufacturer recommends. Your Vue actually has a Honda engine. Honda has switched all their US engines to 5W20 (Ford has also for most of their engines). People have the mistaken idea that thicker oil is always better. This is simply not true. The 5W20 oil that you can buy is usually produced to a more stringent standard than 10W40 oil (at least if it is qualified for Ford and Honda engines). I've read a number of SAE paper related to the subject of

5W20 oil and none of the papers showed any adverse wear related to the use of 5W20 oil. It is a fact that for engines in good condition, the oil thickends with age (becomes more viscous). Starting out with an oil thicker than necessary is not going to protect anything. And it might lead to oil starvation during start-up, or oil bypassing the filter media becasue of excess pressure. You husband is definitely living in the past. Tell him your VUe is not his Father's Oldsmobile.

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- Blah Blah
  
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posted
19 years ago

Wed, Aug 25, 2004 8:33 PM

The only reason I would use 10w40 is if it had a lot of valve train noise or piston slap (I never had either). The "thinner" viscosity oil (5w10) is used to reduce drag which increase mpg and hp. It also supplies oil through the system faster on a cold start. You're better off using what the manufacture suggest unless you live in a extreme cold or hot climate. Besides its a Honda, those motors are picky.