Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

a strange thing

Discuss anything non Z4 related here
User avatar
road warrior
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2287
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 2:12 pm
Location: Burton On trent

a strange thing

Post by road warrior » Wed Aug 14, 2019 9:32 am

For many years i have put 5-30 oil in my fiat ducato motorhome , this year i was advised to put in 5-40 as it goes abroad, while checking the spec of the offered oil i noticed it was also ll04 so made a mental note of this and did the oil change.
Imagine my shock to find that my mpg dropped immediately by 5 mpg from a healthy 33 mpg to a maximum of 28 now.
the motorhome is taxed to 3850 kg so no lightweight like a zed, but it must affect it. Before you ask nothing has been changed in any way it also made no discernible difference whether the ac was on or off.
I cannot imagine that this oil was in any way different to another 5-40 to affect such a huge swing. This of course is immensely annoying to me and my wallet as in a couple of weeks it will be doing couple of thousand miles. I considered doing another oil change back to 5-30 but this would cost roughly the same as doing nothing and taking the fuel hit, and besides I'm curious to see if anything changes on the continent in warmer weather.
If you ever think I'm off my rocker.. Just put me back in it and walk away... It's the kindest thing
My wife says I never listen - or something like that.
gone but not forgotton -Mean Steve - made a sound like a bear with his nuts in a trap.

Keith96

a strange thing

Post by Keith96 » Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:45 am

I’m sure you know this already but the W in the oil description, in your case 5w30, means winter. This is all to do with the viscosity of the oil. So the idea is to reduce the viscosity of the oil in low temperatures and increase it in high temperatures. 5w30 is used in temperature from -25°C to 25°C and 5w40 from -25°C to 35°C.
With this in mind it may or may not explain your predicament. Did you get this mpg running the camper at optimal temperature?

User avatar
buzyg
Legend
Legend
Posts: 26421
Joined: Fri May 20, 2011 6:11 pm
Location: Cornwall

a strange thing

Post by buzyg » Wed Aug 14, 2019 5:19 pm

33 down to 28 is a big difference. Are you sure there are not other factors at work here. :?
Image

User avatar
Chris_D
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 6615
Joined: Thu Apr 21, 2016 11:41 pm
Location: Mostly Holland. Sometimes UK.

a strange thing

Post by Chris_D » Wed Aug 14, 2019 7:53 pm

Did you put on some weight?
Come on now, tell the truth :poke:
:lol:
E85 3.0i roadie (03) 'Benny'. E93 320d M-Sport Cabrio (11) 'Bob'.
Image
'Always different, always the same.' John Peel on The Fall.

User avatar
road warrior
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2287
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 2:12 pm
Location: Burton On trent

a strange thing

Post by road warrior » Wed Aug 14, 2019 9:26 pm

Chris_D wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 7:53 pm Did you put on some weight?
Come on now, tell the truth :poke:
:lol:
wot - in a day ?? :rofl:
If you ever think I'm off my rocker.. Just put me back in it and walk away... It's the kindest thing
My wife says I never listen - or something like that.
gone but not forgotton -Mean Steve - made a sound like a bear with his nuts in a trap.

User avatar
Mr Tidy
Legend
Legend
Posts: 23608
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
Location: North West Surrey

a strange thing

Post by Mr Tidy » Wed Aug 14, 2019 9:28 pm

Maybe you've got a stowaway or two on board? :lol:
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black

User avatar
road warrior
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2287
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 2:12 pm
Location: Burton On trent

a strange thing

Post by road warrior » Wed Aug 14, 2019 9:30 pm

buzyg wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 5:19 pm 33 down to 28 is a big difference. Are you sure there are not other factors at work here. :?
yes im sure otherwise i would not have mentioned it
If you ever think I'm off my rocker.. Just put me back in it and walk away... It's the kindest thing
My wife says I never listen - or something like that.
gone but not forgotton -Mean Steve - made a sound like a bear with his nuts in a trap.

Keith96

a strange thing

Post by Keith96 » Wed Aug 14, 2019 9:44 pm

Was it running at top temperature???

firebobby
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 9529
Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2015 9:09 am
Location: South west Buckinghamshire

a strange thing

Post by firebobby » Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:18 pm

:worthless:
You know the rules by now :poke: :wink:
BMW Z4 30i 2003 auto 107's Whippy Toledo Blue
Beige M sport seats, wood dash
Toyota MR2 NA 1995
Triumph GT6 1972 (project)
Land Rover Discovery 1994 TDI (Tow car)
Mini 1000 1981

User avatar
road warrior
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2287
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 2:12 pm
Location: Burton On trent

a strange thing

Post by road warrior » Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:20 pm

Keith96 wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:45 am I’m sure you know this already but the W in the oil description, in your case 5w30, means winter. This is all to do with the viscosity of the oil. So the idea is to reduce the viscosity of the oil in low temperatures and increase it in high temperatures. 5w30 is used in temperature from -25°C to 25°C and 5w40 from -25°C to 35°C.
With this in mind it may or may not explain your predicament. Did you get this mpg running the camper at optimal temperature?
based on your figures you cant run 5-30 in the uk - presumably you park up your car when the sun comes out :)
If you ever think I'm off my rocker.. Just put me back in it and walk away... It's the kindest thing
My wife says I never listen - or something like that.
gone but not forgotton -Mean Steve - made a sound like a bear with his nuts in a trap.

User avatar
road warrior
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2287
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 2:12 pm
Location: Burton On trent

a strange thing

Post by road warrior » Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:21 pm

firebobby wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:18 pm :worthless:
You know the rules by now :poke: :wink:
what- you want a pic of my van ?
Attachments
IMG_20190808_145417.jpg
IMG_20190808_145417.jpg (254.67 KiB) Viewed 1009 times
Last edited by road warrior on Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
If you ever think I'm off my rocker.. Just put me back in it and walk away... It's the kindest thing
My wife says I never listen - or something like that.
gone but not forgotton -Mean Steve - made a sound like a bear with his nuts in a trap.

Keith96

a strange thing

Post by Keith96 » Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:41 pm

road warrior wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:20 pm
Keith96 wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:45 am I’m sure you know this already but the W in the oil description, in your case 5w30, means winter. This is all to do with the viscosity of the oil. So the idea is to reduce the viscosity of the oil in low temperatures and increase it in high temperatures. 5w30 is used in temperature from -25°C to 25°C and 5w40 from -25°C to 35°C.
With this in mind it may or may not explain your predicament. Did you get this mpg running the camper at optimal temperature?
based on your figures you cant run 5-30 in the uk - presumably you park up your car when the sun comes out :)
http://www.differencebetween.net/object ... -and-5w40/
Here is a bit of reading for you. Maybe when you are asking for advice it would be good manners not to jump all over the people willing to take the time to assist.

User avatar
patriot66
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3467
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2015 2:59 am
Location: Mawdesley, Lancashire

a strange thing

Post by patriot66 » Wed Aug 14, 2019 11:15 pm

Did you leave the handbrake on ? :D
Sterling Grey '03 2.5i SE / Infinitas Supercharger / S.M.G / Hardtop / Gloss Black 162s / Bilstein B4s / 3.0i Brakes / DLV De-Cat & Silencer / Rebuilt VANOS / Sonar 2Xcite Lights / Carbon & Alcantara Trim / M-Sport Seats / ...& Side Covers !

User avatar
NickDE
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1170
Joined: Sat Oct 01, 2016 12:21 pm
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

a strange thing

Post by NickDE » Wed Aug 14, 2019 11:17 pm

The key bit from the link is
"Both oils are 5 grade when cold, but 5w30 is 30 grade, and 5w40 40 grade at operating temperatures. 5w40 with higher temperatures in summer has a higher viscosity than 5w30, which contributes to uninterrupted functioning of the motor".
So when the engine is cold, on a cold winter morning, both oils are pretty much the same from a viscosity viewpoint. When your engine is hot (whatever the outside temperature, the cooling system is thermostatically controlled to hit and maintain an optimal temperature) the 30 oil is thinner than the 40. Good if you want to save fuel, bad if you want to protect an older engine.
Darkness gone, go Darknes2, go Frozen, go Tronic

User avatar
road warrior
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2287
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 2:12 pm
Location: Burton On trent

a strange thing

Post by road warrior » Thu Aug 15, 2019 12:34 am

Keith96 wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:41 pm
road warrior wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:20 pm
Keith96 wrote: Wed Aug 14, 2019 10:45 am I’m sure you know this already but the W in the oil description, in your case 5w30, means winter. This is all to do with the viscosity of the oil. So the idea is to reduce the viscosity of the oil in low temperatures and increase it in high temperatures. 5w30 is used in temperature from -25°C to 25°C and 5w40 from -25°C to 35°C.
With this in mind it may or may not explain your predicament. Did you get this mpg running the camper at optimal temperature?
based on your figures you cant run 5-30 in the uk - presumably you park up your car when the sun comes out :)
http://www.differencebetween.net/object ... -and-5w40/
Here is a bit of reading for you. Maybe when you are asking for advice it would be good manners not to jump all over the people willing to take the time to assist.
Oh don't be so po faced, it was a lighthearted comment, moreover I'm not asking for advise. This post is more an observation shared. Try not to look for insults where none exist. Lighten up will ya? I mean thanks for posting but let's not get too serious here.
Last edited by road warrior on Thu Aug 15, 2019 12:40 am, edited 2 times in total.
If you ever think I'm off my rocker.. Just put me back in it and walk away... It's the kindest thing
My wife says I never listen - or something like that.
gone but not forgotton -Mean Steve - made a sound like a bear with his nuts in a trap.

Post Reply