2012 Dodge Hemi Engines....different oils....

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BigJohn

BigJohn

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The 1500 Rams call for 5w20 The 2500 Rams call for 5w30 The SRT's call for 5w40 (yeah, I know a bigger engine) That seems like a lot of difference. Should I open up the can of worms that the 30wt and 40wt oils are really better for our engines...but the fuel economy demands are pushing manufacturers to 20wt oils for a tiny increase in gas efficiency? I am really glad my 2500 Hemi calls for 30Wt.
 
popcorn2 This is where I love the thinner oil battle. Same engines a bit more HP but design is the same, but we go from 5-20 to 5-40 per the manufature. But GOD FORBID somebody run 5-30 in a ford. Give me break
 
Originally Posted By: Smokefan1977
popcorn2 This is where I love the thinner oil battle. Same engines a bit more HP but design is the same, but we go from 5-20 to 5-40 per the manufature. But GOD FORBID somebody run 5-30 in a ford. Give me break
Ford recommends 5w30 for the ecoboosts.
 
contrary to most beliefs ford reccomends 5-30 in all of their engine, CAFE does not. Im not going to argue that point again on this forum. I should have phrased it as except the eco boost.
 
Is it so hard to believe that depending on the application, a different oil may be beneficial for one reason or another? Could it be that the 1500 if worked within its specifications doesn't need a 5w30 but the 2500 could benefit? Everyone is so bent on if a heavier oil is specified for any application, it is automatically "better". I find it amusing that a decade after 5w20 became a mainstream grade that we still even have a debate like this. Must be since engines with 5w20 are grenading all over the place... smile
 
It all started because some people, strict owner manual followers, will not even listen to any argument or exert any common sense to the matter of 5w20, 5w30 or 10w30. they act like its apples versus's oranges when its simply oranges versus's smaller oranges versus's even smaller oranges. I have had the nerve to run all three regardless of the owner manual, yeah, a real rebel-huh? Any way, I can not tell any difference and actually got the best fuel milelage on 10w30, so go figure.
 
Originally Posted By: Panzerman
It all started because some people, strict owner manual followers, will not even listen to any argument or exert any common sense to the matter of 5w20, 5w30 or 10w30.
You haven't heard??? Common sense has been outlawed in the 21st century... When my old '93 Grand Marquis was using oil due to bad valve stem seals I ran 10W-40 year round, never any issue... Sold it to a buddy who replaced the seals and it's still going strong at over 200K mi...
 
Originally Posted By: MNgopher
I find it amusing that a decade after 5w20 became a mainstream grade that we still even have a debate like this. Must be since engines with 5w20 are grenading all over the place... smile
Darn, I noticed the same carnage on the roads and driveways of vehicles using 5W-20 grin! Follow the manufactures recommendations of viscosity and you should be fine unless you operate under unusual conditions. I used the previous gold bottle Castrol Edge 5W-30 in my wife's 2005 4.6 Explorer. It spec's 5W-20, it worked fine now it's going to get Mobil 1 0W-20 with the onset of winter. Nothing wrong with manufactures spec'd oil and nothing wrong with using 5W-30 oil in most engines spec'd for 5W-20 unless there is some valve train reason. In general 5W-20 will provide thinner oil for winter starts than 5W-30, even though both are 5W. Whimsey
 
Originally Posted By: 11Mopar
Does the 2500 Ram have MDS? I know the 1500 ram does so that is why it specs the 5w20.
No, the RAM HD's w/ the HEMI do not have MDS. Nor do the Power Wagons. Only the 1500's have it.
 
Originally Posted By: Panzerman
It all started because some people, strict owner manual followers, will not even listen to any argument or exert any common sense to the matter of 5w20, 5w30 or 10w30. they act like its apples versus's oranges when its simply oranges versus's smaller oranges versus's even smaller oranges. I have had the nerve to run all three regardless of the owner manual, yeah, a real rebel-huh? Any way, I can not tell any difference and actually got the best fuel milelage on 10w30, so go figure.
For the most part people who are strict OM followers have new vehicles with warranty's to protect. It has nothing to do with common sense or any kind of lack of automobile knowledge. IMO it is common sense NOT to stray from the OM while under waranty. With even simple automotive repairs costing what they do these days, never mind the thousands and thousands an engine repair would cost, annd the fact I only drive new vehicles now I have become an OM follower for no other reason than to ensure I have no warranty issues if I ever need it. Just not worth it, to me, to go off and do my own thing at the expense of my warranty. I know my rights under the MMA and what I can and can't do and still have warranty and it is not as much as so many on here claim. You are right that at times an engine may be spec'd for a 20 weight oil for no other reason than to achieve the best MPG possible( CAFE )and that it will run just fine on other weights. However, you do have situations, such as the 5.7L HEMI's w/ MDS from Chrysler, that call for a 20 weight due to mechanical reasons( i.e. proper operation according to the mfg ). There are times that a heavier gear oil like a 75W-140 is called for in a differential as they have heat issues that would mean a 90 weight is not the best option. Certain transmissions and/or t-cases need a special fluid. The point is there are times that what the mfg spec's is for a REASON and a valid one at that. For the most part a person won't go wrong if they follow their owner's manual. You can certainly go off and do your own thing if it makes you happy. There are times when mfg spec's and requirements are not just whimsy, to make extra money for the dealer in un needed services, or for something like MPG. There are times what they say is for a very good reason.
 
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I suspect I will go about 6k-7k miles every 6 months, so I will change the oil every 6 months, per Dodge's recommendations to stay on the 100k warranty. (8k miles or every 6 months) I will also stick with the 30wt. The question is....which oil. I tend to do some short trips to the store and such, quiet often....so I think I will go with a synthetic. And during the winter here in Colorado I want the cold flow properties in the winter. We had a -25 degree morning last year, but normall stay between 15 degrees to -5 degree in January and February. I don't know though.....7 quarts of SN Yellow Bottle 5w30 is very tempting.
 
Originally Posted By: BigJohn
I suspect I will go about 6k-7k miles every 6 months, so I will change the oil every 6 months, per Dodge's recommendations to stay on the 100k warranty. (8k miles or every 6 months) I will also stick with the 30wt. The question is....which oil. I tend to do some short trips to the store and such, quiet often....so I think I will go with a synthetic. And during the winter here in Colorado I want the cold flow properties in the winter. We had a -25 degree morning last year, but normall stay between 15 degrees to -5 degree in January and February. I don't know though.....7 quarts of SN Yellow Bottle 5w30 is very tempting.
On those short trips, a synthetic will not protect your engine more from fuel dilution more than a conventional would. Short trips would qualify you for a "severe service" schedule so I would use a cheaper dino for the summer months and shorten the OCI a bit. The synthetic would be more justified though, for those -5F days. As for which 30wt, Pennzoil yellow bottle is good and should easily hold up for 5k. I would also look into Motorcraft 5w-30. If you insist on synthetic, Castrol Edge or Pennzoil Platinum should fit the bill. 2cents
 
What NHHEMI said above ^^^ is probably the most spot-on explanation I have ever read on this subject. Bravo. The only further comment I can make is re: the following
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
There are times when mfg spec's and requirements are not just whimsy, to make extra money for the dealer in un needed services, or for something like MPG. There are times what they say is for a very good reason.
The problem is that it's increasingly difficult to tell WHEN to believe them.
 
An interesting twist to this story. In my owners manual (2012 Ram Hemi 2500), it states that I should follow the oil recommendation that is printed on the oil cap of the engine. Printed on the cap is.... 5w20 But in the manual for the 2500 Hemi, it specs 5w30 .....????? Today I poured out the Factory Fill (with 750 miles on the truck) and it was obviously a very thin, 20wt. In its place, I poured in Yellow Bottle 5w30. I will run it for 3 months and about 4k miles and then I will permanently move to PP 5w30.
 
Originally Posted By: BigJohn
An interesting twist to this story. In my owners manual (2012 Ram Hemi 2500), it states that I should follow the oil recommendation that is printed on the oil cap of the engine. Printed on the cap is.... 5w20 But in the manual for the 2500 Hemi, it specs 5w30 .....????? Today I poured out the Factory Fill (with 750 miles on the truck) and it was obviously a very thin, 20wt. In its place, I poured in Yellow Bottle 5w30. I will run it for 3 months and about 4k miles and then I will permanently move to PP 5w30.
Haven't looked at the 2012 manual but it used to be under 14,000 GVWR used 5W20 and over 14,000 GVWR used 5W30 in the HD's with the HEMI( 2007 and on ).
 
as stated previously the warranty in the owners manual is the bible for ensuring you can get warranty coverage if needed. But myself and many, many hundreds of new gen Hemi owners have been actively researching this since late 04 and it is a fact that the oils as spec'd mean little to the operation of MDS, cam phaser or any other system or component. New gen Hemis run well on almost ANY oil, and for a LONG time. The 6.1 SRT's actually spec 15w-50 via a TSB! That's all the way from 20 to 50 weight in one engine family! That one tidbit really exposes what all the fuss is about. Much ado about nuttin'.
 
Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
Originally Posted By: BigJohn
An interesting twist to this story. In my owners manual (2012 Ram Hemi 2500), it states that I should follow the oil recommendation that is printed on the oil cap of the engine. Printed on the cap is.... 5w20 But in the manual for the 2500 Hemi, it specs 5w30 .....????? Today I poured out the Factory Fill (with 750 miles on the truck) and it was obviously a very thin, 20wt. In its place, I poured in Yellow Bottle 5w30. I will run it for 3 months and about 4k miles and then I will permanently move to PP 5w30.
Haven't looked at the 2012 manual but it used to be under 14,000 GVWR used 5W20 and over 14,000 GVWR used 5W30 in the HD's with the HEMI( 2007 and on ).
Yeah, the Max Towing Rating for my truck is 10,550 lbs. If I had 4.10 gearing it would be 13,550 lbs. The only way I can see to get over 14,000 lbs is to have a 4x2 truck and 4.10 gearing. So am I to assume that the only Hemi 2500 trucks that can use 5w30 are two-wheel drive with 4.10 gears. Funny....... .
 
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