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Noticed a huge difference in engine noise after switching oil viscosities
Honestly, I ran 10W-30 in my 2004 Silverado for like 5 years and just dealt with the lifter tick. Switched to 5W-40 last month after a buddy at the shop in Nashville told me to try it, and the ticking is almost gone now. Anyone else had a similar result from just changing oil weight?
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the_robin4mo ago
Yeah @the_viola is right, thicker oil can really help with that. I ran 10W-30 in my old Silverado for years and the lifter tick drove me nuts. Switched to Rotella T6 5W-40 and it damn near disappeared after about a week of driving. That extra viscosity seems to cushion the lifters just enough to quiet them down. Did you notice any difference in cold starts though?
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abby_cooper4mo ago
How many miles were on that Silverado when you switched? Did you notice any leaks from the thicker oil?
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the_viola4mo ago
Makes sense, thicker oil quiets those old lifters right up.
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the_robin3mo ago
I read somewhere, maybe it was on Bob Is The Oil Guy, that the zinc and phosphorus additives in Rotella are what really help those older flat tappet cams. It's not just the viscosity, it's the anti-wear package that these modern oils don't have as much of anymore. A lot of guys running 10W-30 are actually starving their lifters of that protection because the newer formulations cut back on it for emissions stuff. That's why you hear about guys switching to a diesel oil and getting results even if the weight isn't that much different. It took my truck about two weeks of daily driving before I really noticed the tick was almost gone. Now I just stick with it and change it every 3,000 miles like a dinosaur.
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