do you guys switch to a thinner oil in winter? I am running 10w-30 right now... should i switch to 5w-30 or 0w-30 next oil change? in my 95 i ran 10-30 year round since it had oil pressure issues.

Go by your manual's recommendations which would be 5w-30 for winter conditions.

i have never switched oil strictly for winter. Different Climates such as the OP being in MN may dictate it tho

I use 5w-30 in the winter as well.

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-Joshua-

I run 10w-30 year round because thats what my oil cap says.

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Andrew - owner/operator of Bonnevilles Unlimited

2004 Bonneville GXP | 60k | White Gold Tricoat | custom built supercharged 3800 hot rod | garage queen
1997 Corvette | 55k | Silver Metallic | Z06 wheels | Date-night Hauler/Parts runner
2014 Town & Country Limited | Cashmere Pearl | 95k | Family Hauler
2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab Sport | Black| 260k | Official Bonneville Hauler

agree, I never even heard of people switching oils for winter, always thought it wasn't good and just to stick with what the oil cap says

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R.I.P 2001 Se :(

Your owner's manual will go into greater detail of what oil is recommended at which temperatures.

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*Gone, but not forgotten* - Black 2000 SSEi, HIR Headlights, Angel Eyes fogs, 3rd brake light overlay, hi-flo cat, 180 degree thermostat, HS 1.9 rockers, LSx yellow springs, Intense FWI, PCM, shift kit, push rods, and 3.4 Pulley. ZZP Power Log.

it gets a lot thicker in the winter. watch your pressure gauge when it gets cold.

i never even thought of the manual

Yeah, my cap on the 03 says 5W-30, and that's what i run anyways. (00 cap said 10W-30). Just use a good quality oil and filter, and you will be fine.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

I run 5w30 or 0W30 full synthetic in mine all winter, as it gets very cold here. -40 is not uncommon.

I will make this really simple.

10 (weight of oil when cold) W 30 (Weight of oil at operating temp.)

5W30 does everything 10W30 does, and a bit more. It circulates better at very cold temps.

Both oils are 30 weight (and identicle viscosity) at operating temp.

Easy experiment. Take a jug of 5W30 & 10W30 place them in your freezer overnight.
(A freezer is about -10C) Then try to pour each of them the next day. You will understand why 5W30 is a good idea in winter.

If you live in a warm climate where it does not dip much below freezing 10W30 is fine. Where I live, You will not start you car on some days with 10W30 in the crankcase as it turns to molasis in -40.

Ditto. Oil pressure gauge isn't complaining either.

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Jerry /// Past: 95 SSEi (June 2010 COTM) -- 04 GXP (July 2011 COTM)
91 Honda Civic Wagon DX 2WD (fuelly) -- 208,000km -- 92hp -- Autocross Warrior
09 Lexus LS460 AWD -- 94,000km -- Daily Driver
09 White Hot G8 GT -- 155,000km (fuelly) -- LS3 Cam -- GM LS3 CNC Ported Heads -- Kooks 1 3/4" Long Tube Headers -- Solo Catback Midsection -- Hooker Maxflow Mufflers -- Pat G Tune -- Rotofab Intake -- Tein S-Tech Springs -- GXP FE3 Dampers -- BMR Subframe Cradle Inserts -- BMR Subframe Connectors -- Forgestar F14 Gold 18x9 +40 -- Michelin Pilot Super Sport 245/45/18 -- Maverick Man Carbon Fiber Spoiler

I live in MA and use 5-30 year round. I go with Amsoil's full synthetic and change every 10-12K (which is about every 3 months). I've got over 200K on the car and the only oil related problem I've ever had was the valve cover gaskets going around 150-170K and leaking oil. Replaced gaskets, all set now.

i use 10-w30 year round but then again it never gets below 20 around here in the coldest winter

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2000 ssei gone but not forgotten

Current fleet:
2009 G8 v6, 2009 Avalanche LTZ, 2013 Volt

I say stick with with what the oil cap says. If the engineers who built the car recommend 10W-30 then thats what you stick with.
IMO, you shouldnt ever switch oils in your car.

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- Zin

*SOLD* 2000 SSEi | Midnight Blue Metallic | 120k
Supercharged decal 3rd brake light | Mostly stock| black leather interior | One of a Kind Tails | Custom SSEi Overlay | Painted Grille | Tints 20%(back) 35%(front)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** NEW PIC's **----->: http://pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=12985

I would recommend 0W30 for winter temps less than 20F and 10W30 for summer temps over 80F.

Because I don't see either extreme, I use 5W30 as recommended for my oil pressure/volume upgrade.

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2000 SSEi - SilverBullet - 78,000 kms, 4" "straight shot" custom headlight ram air inlet, TOGs, 1.9's, Lsd, 2.9-3.4"MPS 10-15 psi, Ported GenV, EGR eliminated, OR pushrods, oil volume kit, trani cooler & shift kit, Titanium retainers, 90 lb springs, 160 Stat, 42# injectors, Fuel pump voltage increase, Wideband O2, 3" to dual 2 1/2" Magnaflows, Snow Meth/water injection, after SC temp gauge, 255/50WR17, timing commander set 15-18*@WOT, 2 speed Fan over-ride, disabled DRL, Solid motor mount, Meziere Electric water pump, adjustable fuel pressure regulator, Drilled & slotted rotors/ceramics, GXP sway bars and STB, Upgraded and rebuilt transmission with ZZP 2500 rpm stall TC, Pioneer Bluetooth stereo with sub and 800 W amps, PB 13.5 quarter, (April 2014 car of the month)

I use 5W-30 all year round. Did in my 2k, and do in my 03. I might switch to 0W-30 in about 3k, when I change the oil after the LIM job to Amsoil.

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Bye Bye:

RIP sandrock

When I had my Bonneville, I ran 10W-30 all year round using store-brand synthetic oil

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