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New guy with old questions I'm sure

B

bpm4x4

New member
Just got a 08 Grand Prix 3.8 NA and right before my first oil change on it, the check oil light comes on.......it's 1.5 qts low!! is that normal?? We traded in a Buick Regal 02 (very similar under the hood) with 167,000 miles on it and it didn't use more than 1/2 quart of oil between oil changes. I ran Shell 10-30 in the Buick, but this one says to use 5-30, Why?? It's not getting better gas mileage than the Buick, so whats up with this car?? (it has 29,000 miles on it now) I also just noticed a small oil leak--something else that Buick did not do.
 


You can, but as they're both 30 weight oils, it won't make a difference unless you're running really cheap oil, and even then it really isn't much different if it's SM rated. There is something else going on with this engine. There are only a few places it could be going, leaking into the combustion chamber and getting burnt, leaking out onto the ground, or leaking into the cooling system. You need to figure out which one we're talking about.
 


meh, i run 10w-40. :p

on 5w30 my motor probably would have less than 5 psi of oil pressure at idle. with 10w-30 i would have maybe 8 psi at most at idle.

my motor has taken quite a beating from me driving it everyday. :D
 
Next oil change I am switching to 10-30, I talked to the dealer (its nice to have a warranty) and they are going to look at it on Tuesday. I asked them about the oil and was strongly cautioned about running 10-40, but 10-30 was fine. The service manager might just be covering his @$$, so it's 10-30 summer and 5-30 winter for me.

I really think it's just leaking around the pan, or valve cover. Do these engines need to "wear in??" this is the lowest mileage car I have ever owned.
 
If you want a thicker oil, be careful, as I pointed out earlier, 10W30 isn't always thicker. Hell, I run a 0W-30 that's thicker than just about any other 30 weight on the market.
 
Just a little update, they put in dye and want us to bring it back. They also said I did not have the drain plug tight enough, so I may get a 3/8 torque wrench (I have never torqued a drain plug and have never had one come out, so I think it is a little silly to get one). Whoever did the last oil change had the drain plug so tight I had to use my foot (size 13) to get it loose.:confused:
 
the oil drain plug is supposed to be a little over hand tight. quick oil change places use air tools. DO NOT GO TO THEM.
 


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