Switching from Shell Helix HX5 10-40 to HX3 20-50

[pwuser150469741418]

I will be leaving for a road trip this Sunday and my vehicle spilled some oil due to distributor ring malfunction. The oil reduction was visible on the dip stick but I believe it could be due to the ring fault which is now fixed. My mechanic is saying that the vehicle has started to reduce oil hence I should switch to a thicker oil while I believe the oil reduction is due to the oil leakage.

How can I know in such a short-time span whether the vehicle is reducing oil or not? I need to leave by the end of this week on a trip and I seriously don't want to switch to a thicker oil. Please note that the guy we're talking about is a friend first and mechanic 2nd.

My vehicle is definitely old (cultus 2002) but kept with care therefore so far 10w40 was doing fine. I did a trip back in April on the same vehicle and the same oil viscosity.

[capsat]

there are several reasons if there is no visible leaks for oil loss, 1 being valve seal leakage which result in morning puff of smoke. without compression test no body can ascertain what are causes of oil loss.

stick to 10 W -40 as cold weather is closing in, chill & relax use vehicle as usual. when you change brand & viscosity change the oil filter as well.

[ashbal]

Just keep a spare pack of oil with you and check it every 500km on the way and if you see any reduction then just top it up....you will know if there is any reduction and can do the trip

[pwuser150469741418]

The main thing I am concerned if vehicle is really eating up oil, would it be safe to take it for a road trip? I highly doubt my vehicle is reducing oil but it could be as well. I don't have time otherwise I would have taken it for a 600-700 KM long drive at the weekend.

I can get the compression test done very easily. Should I go for it? @capsat

[ashbal]

As i said earlier just leave for the trip with a pack of oil ...if you see and major reduction then top it up

[pwuser150469741418]

Abe bhai kitna top up karta rahunga

This happened when I was on a trip with friends the vehicle was Mira and man it made our trip one hell of an experience. First oil changed at Bahawalpur, which vanish almost completely while on LHR-ISL Motorway we topped it to full. Then on our way back from Naran we changed the oil again at RYK and then late night in Sindh had to add 1 liter at some random pump.

The thing is it would add a lot of cost to the journey if I had to keep it topping. It is better if something needs to be fixed I get it fixed.

[wrangler79]

The thing is it would add a lot of cost to the journey if I had to keep it topping. It is better if something needs to be fixed I get it fixed.

Ok, get the engine overhauled before leaving.

[pwuser150469741418]

Yes gari deker araha hun 1 hour baad poora engine overhaul kar k miljayega (Y)

Thanks

[RehanBhatti]

Go for compression test first then let us know the readings of all 3 cylinders.
Bytheway, 20W50 is too thick for carby cultus hydraulic lifters.

[pwuser150469741418]

Exactly that is what I told my mechanic that it's too thick. But his point is if vehicle is eating 10W40 then 20W50 due to thickness won't burn. But yea I will get compression test today.

[RehanBhatti]

Thicker oil is not solution to reduce oil burn. Plz, check the compression first. Dry and wet both.

[ashbal]

Its not necessary k waisa hi ho...sometime a car will only eat upto 500ml after 5k kms...so you have to try your luck...btw you wont have any gurrantee after overhauling that may prove even worse than topping up...hav efaced this issue on motorway once the pistons left their position after arnd 500kms of overhauling

[pwuser152533991444]

If the car is not giving blue smoke then it will only reduce a small fraction on your trip.

[pwuser150469741418]

Han yaar aisa hi lag raha hai talked with my mechanics brother who is also a mechanic and he does compression test. He also insisted 20W50 daalo or mazay se chalao kam nahi karegi oil gaari. Btw that overhaul thing was a joke. I know my car doesn't needs one. At worst it would require valve seals to be replace but thats also very unlikely at this moment I believe.

[sayedgulhassan]

Bhai koi khas farak nae parne 20 w50 se meri gare ka emgine bhi weak tha jaha 1000km ma wo 1 litee 10 40 kam kr re the 20 50ma 1000kms ma 800 to 900ml kam kr re the... Ap sab se pehla leakages tu band krwaye distributer ki tu rings wale seals hoti hain wo 10 min ma change ho jati hain our baki jab gare fully heated ho tu 5 sec kay leya neutral ma. Full accelrator de kr check kre kay gare smoke de re hai kay nahi our phir yaha a kr bataye...

[pwuser152533991444]

Always buy oil from Shell Pump because they are always original. These shops sometimes keep fake oils which also produce smoke. Also check your PCV valve

[pwuser152533991444]

If your oil is fake and is producing smoke then when you will chnage to genuine it stop smoking after few KMS drive.

[sayedgulhassan]

My car model is 2001cultus carby and i have been using shell oil from F6 islamabad from tthe past 15 years recently when i changed my engine assembly i opted for havoline this time and in my next oil change i will go for zic x7000 which i will buy from zicoil.Pk
Just wanted to say it doesnt makes a lot of difference in oil consumption while going from 10w40 to 20w50 shell it will just make engine more heavier especially in winters so its better for you to stick with 10w40 shell and keep filling it up during the journey if your car doesnt smoke on full throttle then it will not consume too much oil.

[pwuser150469741418]

Distributor ring seal already fixed bro the day I made this thread. I think you didn't get what I was saying.

Mera kehna hai k oil jo dipstick per kam hua hai wo oil leakage ki waja se hua hai. Mera mechanic keh raha hai nahi gaari oil burn karna shuru hogai hai is liye 20w50 use karo.

But I will just buy a 4 litre Shell 10w40 and top it up to full I think it will use up around 300-400ML. and keep the rest of the oil for next change.

[pwuser150469741418]

Yup mine is 2002. I buy oil from a very trusted source so I am confident the oil isn't the culprit.