With multi viscosity oils mixing different viscosities is not a linear
process. You won�t know what you got. The 5w-30 should be fine for most
operation. If you do nay extended high speed driving you may get introduced
to the oil pressure warning buzzer. When you go back to the 15w-50 in summer
you will notice that the engine will be noticeably quieter then with the
5w-30. 

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
John Meeks
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 7:51 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Oil dilemma

So, I drained my oil last weekend but when I grabbed the jug of 10w40
Mobile1 off the shelf, to my great dismay,  found a jug of old used oil.

With no vehicle to get new oil I borrowed some 5w30 synthetic and have been
nervously driving with it for a week.

The engine is a 2.1 with 250k miles on the odo. Even fully warm, no flicker
of the oil light at idle.

Can I just drain a couple of quarts and add 15w50 synthetic ?

Van is in Northern Michigan where it gets below 0�F maybe 10 days a year but
mostly 20's. Driven about 150 miles a week.

I'd rather not spin a rod bearing so any advice is fully appreciated.

John Meeks
'91 Multivan Phoenix
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