Engine oil question

xcessive · 1 May 2006 at 17:00

Hi

My friend bought his car round today (Ford Fiesta X reg) and i pointed out that his engine oil level was low.
The only engine oil i had in my garage is Castrol GTX Magnatec 10W-40. In the Fiesta handbook it states that it is recommended to use 5W-30 engine oil.
My friend topped up engine oil with the 10W-40 Castrol stuff and said it should be fine. It even says on the bottle 'recommended for modern engines' and his car is fairly modern.

Will his car be ok?

I have always been under the impression that you can't use different grade engine oil in the same engine. I assumed his car had already had 5W-30 in it so surely topping it up with 10W-40 is a bad idea, isnt it?

Thanks

xcessive · 1 May 2006 at 17:06

So, i take it it shouldnt be a problem in the short term but i will tell my friend that he would be better off getting a oil and filter change soon though ?

xcessive · 1 May 2006 at 17:14

He hasnt got an oil leak.
He just doesnt ever check his fluid levels!

xcessive · 1 May 2006 at 17:30

agw_01 said:
Well that oil is going somewhere

When was the last time he checked/had it checked/oil changed?

He bought the Fiesta about 5 months ago and since then it hasnt been serviced.
The oil was only 2 notches above the minimum mark so i suggested it would be good to top up the oil so it doesnt fall below the minimum level.

He has never mentioned an oil leak so i assume there isnt one.