Mixing Oil

[robertisaar]

anyone see any issues with it? let's say i acquired some 5w-20 and 20w-50 of the same brand and type and mixed them in equal proportions, would that essentially make a 5w-50 oil? it's something i've always pondered but have never dug into far enough to figure it out.

[[ChaosweaveR]]

I've never thought about it, but I dunno if it would work. I have a feeling the thicker oil would disproportion the lighter oil, and it might just be like 10W-40 in the end, but that's just my take on it.

[pocket-rocket]

I've never thought about it, but I dunno if it would work. I have a feeling the thicker oil would disproportion the lighter oil, and it might just be like 10W-40 in the end, but that's just my take on it.

I think that is the way it works.

[[ChaosweaveR]]

Just curious, why not use actual 5W-50 oil? The Castrol Syntec stuff is rather nice. Although it's manily used to European cars (as is the 0W-30 I use lol) but it's excellent oil.

[robertisaar]

Just curious, why not use actual 5W-50 oil? The Castrol Syntec stuff is rather nice. Although it's manily used to European cars (as is the 0W-30 I use lol) but it's excellent oil.

2 reasons: price and availibility.

it would be nice to use a synthetic oil, or even a synthetic blend, but the funds are not there to allow such "luxuries".

AND it's not real easy to find near me, and is usually out of stock when i can find a place that sells it.

i'm now very interested to know if it would work properly, or what ratio i would need to mix to allow it to act as such.

[[ChaosweaveR]]

I know most Autozones carry Syntec, and the majority of the different weights.

Not to mention, I don't even think that type of weight oil is made conventionally.

As for themix, the 20W-50 just seems way too thick, I could see maybe the 5W-20 and 10W-40 mixing in a bit better.

[asylummotorsports]

Why do you think you need that heavy of an oil to begin with?

[1988GTU]

C'mon... Mix some 90 weight with some 0w10. GREAT oil pressure, that cam will snap into action!

[robertisaar]

Why do you think you need that heavy of an oil to begin with?

i never said i needed it, just that the idea of mixing oil like this to create another grade of oil is possible or not.

"C'mon... Mix some 90 weight with some 0w10. GREAT oil pressure, that cam will snap into action! "

i think the snapping would be the REaction, but i'm sure it would!

the autozones near me are tiny(and understocked). there is like one NAPA, and that's about it for chain stores. there is a decent sized local store but the prices there are worse.

[[ChaosweaveR]]

That sucks then, Autozones and other chain stores like that usually have good oil change deals with Syntec. On average, when they go sale of course, the Syntec is usually sold $35 for 5 quarts with a K&N filer.

[robertisaar]

the Syntec is usually sold $35 for 5 quarts with a K&N filer.

my Pennzoil is 12.50 for 5 quarts... that would almost triple the cost of an oil change for me.

[[ChaosweaveR]]

Compared to how much by itself, it's a nice deal.

The Syntec is $6.99, five quarts is around $37.96 with tax. The K&N filter is $14.11 with tax, so the deal is well...a deal for $35 uŃstead of +$55 together. lol

[dskopek]

I have been using a brand by the name of Mystic, It is a semi-synthetic in either 5-30 or 10-30 weights. It is made for diesels and tractors for the most part and has higher levels of additives for lube and heat. I have not had a oil related problem yet, At least that I did not create myself! I get it thru Farm & Fleet up here in Wisconsin. $15 per 2 Gal jug.

[geldartb]

i hope with that 20-50 oil you dont plan on using it in cold weather. i had a jug of 15-40 from when i put the cam in sitting on the bench and in the colder months that stuff was wicked thick.

i know its heavy duty diesel oil but they also have heaters and stuff on the trucks.

[geoffinbc]

You can mix any brand, type and weight of oil and it will mix and work just fine. As for the resulting viscosity well I don't think there is any math you can use to figure it out since there are so many types of additives and different qualities that re qualifying the resulting oil is the only way to figure it out.