Topping up oil

**jonesy_ni** · 15th December 2007, 17:58

Hi all
Checked my oil today and noticed its a bit low, so i bought some 10w/40 fully synthetic to top it up.

If it might have Vauxhalls own 5W/30 in it will it be a problem?

It has not had a first service yet, so should have the factory oil, but bit worried about mixing them and F-ing it up

**Triple Trouble** · 15th December 2007, 18:04

Can't see how it would hurt at all to mix them, personally I wouldn't worry about it and put it in. I'm running fully synthetic coach oil in my car at the moment.
Got it free from my mate who runs the garage there. 0w/40, they change the oil every 100 000 miles with this stuff so 20k in my car won't hurt it much!!

**Gsi3.2** · 15th December 2007, 18:24

Jonesy..how much did you add??..

**jonesy_ni** · 15th December 2007, 18:26

none yet mate

**Gsi3.2** · 15th December 2007, 18:27

alright them..

..how much down the dipstick is it?..

**jonesy_ni** · 15th December 2007, 18:30

Close to the low level

**Gsi3.2** · 15th December 2007, 18:33

so it wants about a litre....that level of dilution (25% ) means that i'd shorten the next service interval...rather than 20,000 i'd drop it to 12,000..just to be sure.

I know some will knock me for it, but if it's a brand new car , it's all still tight and the oil takes a real beating...I'm well known for being no fan of extended drain intervals as our cars are always paid for by us, so why ruin the 2nd biggest investment you ever make for the sake of an oilchange?..

**jonesy_ni** · 15th December 2007, 18:43

got 17k on it, booking it in for the 20k service

**Gsi3.2** · 15th December 2007, 18:46

well, in that case , it isn't going to hurt it a bit...in it goes..

...

Top Tip...ask them what oil grade they refilled it with when you get it serviced...a popular 'dodge' is to refill it with 10W40 semi synthetic, reset the service indicator to 20,000 and let you have it back...the problem??..10W40 semi synth is only good for 10-12,000 miles.....it's not longlife...But it's dead cheap for the dealer to buy, so increasing their margins on the service...

If they use 10W40, make them drain it and change the filter again..

..

**jonesy_ni** · 16th December 2007, 23:05

Update, checked oil again, and it was halfway between min and max.

Was at a mates lockup tonight and he is in the vaux trade club, going to get 20 litres of fully synth 5w30 and 4 oil filters for about 70 quid and do interim services in between the 20k ones