2014 Jeep Wrangler Red Line? 5-20 or 5-30?

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Hey guys,

I am at 800 miles on my new 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon. I have run Red Line 5-30 in my past Land Rover Defender which had flat tappet style engines with great results. Transitioning to this much more modern 3.6 penstar V6 I am wondering what synthetic oil I should use. I really use the Jeep in extremely cold and hot environments off road and slow speed so the engine gets hot. I would really like to get the best oil for this Jeep. Starting in 2013 the manual started to call for 5-20 but I feel that is only to improve the gas millage for the CAFE standards. In my 2014 manual it states the following:

Quote:
Engine Oil Viscosity — 3.6L Engine
MOPAR® SAE 5W-20 engine oil approved to Chrysler Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil®, Shell Helix® or equivalent. is recommended for all operating temperatures. This engine oil improves low temperature starting and vehicle fuel economy.

The engine oil filler cap also shows the recommended engine oil viscosity for your engine. For information on engine oil filler cap location, refer to the “Engine Com- partment” illustration in this section.

NOTE: MOPAR® SAE 5W-30 engine oil approved to Chrysler Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil®, Shell Helix® or equivalent may be used when SAE 5W-20 engine oil meeting MS-6395 is not available.

Synthetic Engine Oils
You may use synthetic engine oils provided the recom- mended oil quality requirements are met, and the recom- mended maintenance intervals for oil and filter changes are followed.


The Red Line oil website doesn't specifically state compliance with the MS-6395 but I know that neither does Mobil 1 and obviously tens of thousands of users have been using Mobil 1 for ever. So my question to you experts is, should I use RedLine motor oil? Should I use 5-30 or 5-20? What provides the best protection and longevity for the engine? Thank you!
 
While under warranty, I would only use something that specifically states it is MS-6395 approved. There are plenty of choices, so why would you use something that isn't approved?
 
Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
While under warranty, I would only use something that specifically states it is MS-6395 approved. There are plenty of choices, so why would you use something that isn't approved?


So you would rather use a [censored] conventional oil knowing it's worse for you car just because they spent the money to certify the oil when you know that the RedLine or premium synthetic grossly outperforms it? I do my own oil changes so I doubt the dealer would ever really know what's in there.
 
Originally Posted By: Billy007
Just use the recommended 5W-20. Chrysler switched the 3.6 from 5W-30 to 5W-20 in 2013.


Can you back this up with a reason that's beyond just the CAFE standards reason? Is the 5-20 really better for the engine then the 5-30?
 
I have the same engine. Last time the dealership put in 5W-30 instead of the 5w-20. I did not bother to take it back to the dealership. The engine is still going strong. If you are doing your own oil change, you need to use what Chrysler recommends in case you have an engine problem.
 
Red Line is a fine oil you can run it for 10000 miles without a single issue. My oil gets changed every 5000 miles by the dealership. They use Pennzoil conventional.
 
I don't see any reason why 5w20 wouldn't protect the engine. There are plenty of uoas of 5w20 in newer cars that produce single digit wear numbers. Let the engine break and uoa yourself the 5w20 vs 5w30.
 
I'm sure Redline 5w-20 can handle the heat. Redline oil's heat resistance is pretty well established. If you want a 5w-20 in there, Redline is it.
 
More importantly, what happened to the Defender? I wanted one of those so bad when I bought my first Jeep in 97. Been looking at them the last five years, they are expensive!
 
Redline is a fine oil, but i thought it has been well established it falls short during longer extended drain intervals? That being said, 10,000 mile probably isn't going to push its limits, but that is one good reason to uoa the oil, so you can check TBN retention of your oil in your application.
 
Originally Posted By: Nomad110
Originally Posted By: Billy007
Just use the recommended 5W-20. Chrysler switched the 3.6 from 5W-30 to 5W-20 in 2013.


Can you back this up with a reason that's beyond just the CAFE standards reason? Is the 5-20 really better for the engine then the 5-30?


There is a design flaw in the engine. 5w-20 cools the left head better and stops the left head from ticking.
 
There is a design flaw in the engine. 5w-20 cools the left head better and stops the left head from ticking. [/quote]

Wow! Good job spreading false information. 5w20 is being used for CAFE numbers. The head issue has been resolved it was explained as a quality control casting issue and a need to tweek the head design.
To the OP. I recommend using an approved oil just in case there is a warranty issue. I have a 3.6 in my Jeep and mine calls for 5w30. The Pentastar is easy on oil. This past summer the highest oil temp I hit was 190° in a traffic jam in late July. My UOA came back with all wear metals below universal averages. I use Ultra because I got a bunch on clearance. I would recommend Ultra, Platinum, QSUD, Kendall GT-1 or Kendall synthetic blend. Any of these oils would
serve you well. Enjoy your Jeep!!
 
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If it was my choose i would stay with the 5w-20. I have been using 20weight for close to a decade now, that including gm and older vehicles too. the 93 escort wagon. has 435+k, 5w-20 exclusively used after 75k. MC synblend ran out to 10k oci's most of its life. Usually only half quart low at oil change.
5W-20 is more then sufficient.

ken
 
Originally Posted By: The_Captain




There is a design flaw in the engine. 5w-20 cools the left head better and stops the left head from ticking.

Quote:

Wow! Good job spreading false information. 5w20 is being used for CAFE numbers. The head issue has been resolved it was explained as a quality control casting issue and a need to tweek the head design.
To the OP. I recommend using an approved oil just in case there is a warranty issue. I have a 3.6 in my Jeep and mine calls for 5w30. The Pentastar is easy on oil. This past summer the highest oil temp I hit was 190° in a traffic jam in late July. My UOA came back with all wear metals below universal averages. I use Ultra because I got a bunch on clearance. I would recommend Ultra, Platinum, QSUD, Kendall GT-1 or Kendall synthetic blend. Any of these oils would
serve you well. Enjoy your Jeep!!


So ... left head ticking causing many vehicles to have left heads replaced didn't happen?

Someone made a post in another topic about there being people who claim Ford can do no wrong. You must have the same blinders on, but for Chrysler.

The switch to 5w-20 was not for Cafe - if it was ,the engine would have come with 5w-20 since introduction.
 
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Originally Posted By: Miller88
Originally Posted By: The_Captain




There is a design flaw in the engine. 5w-20 cools the left head better and stops the left head from ticking.

Quote:

Wow! Good job spreading false information. 5w20 is being used for CAFE numbers. The head issue has been resolved it was explained as a quality control casting issue and a need to tweek the head design.
To the OP. I recommend using an approved oil just in case there is a warranty issue. I have a 3.6 in my Jeep and mine calls for 5w30. The Pentastar is easy on oil. This past summer the highest oil temp I hit was 190° in a traffic jam in late July. My UOA came back with all wear metals below universal averages. I use Ultra because I got a bunch on clearance. I would recommend Ultra, Platinum, QSUD, Kendall GT-1 or Kendall synthetic blend. Any of these oils would
serve you well. Enjoy your Jeep!!


So ... left head ticking causing many vehicles to have left heads replaced didn't happen?

Someone made a post in another topic about there being people who claim Ford can do no wrong. You must have the same blinders on, but for Chrysler.

The switch to 5w-20 was not for Cafe - if it was ,the engine would have come with 5w-20 since introduction.


Apparently you did not read my post word for word. I said they did have to work "tweek" the head design. Yes they had to replace some heads due to inferior metal casting. I stand by the statement that 5w20 is for CAFE numbers. I run 5w30 and my oil temp stays in the 170 to 188°. Water temp just over 200°. So yes this engine is easy on oil. Oil has nothing to due with the engine head ticking problem. Poor quality in a series of head castings is the culprit. They did a minor head design improvement. Oil has nothing to do with it.
 
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I understood that the head ticking issue was solved in 2013. I didn't hear that the issue was the oil. So all I have gathered so far is that RedLine is appropriate for the JK but jury is still out on 5-20 or 5-30. I think we all pretty much agree that the lack of MS-6395 call out is not a factor is choosing a premium synthetic since not a single preimum synthetic oil (Mobile 1, RedLine, Royal Purple, etc) shows compliance. Right?
 
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