I recently changed oil (2nd time) for the winter layup of the ram. I used PP 5w30 which Mopar states is recommended when combined towing is 14000 or greater. In hindsite I should have just dumped in some dino for the winter then switched to syn when towing season starts, oh well... Anyway, Im thinking that I will just stick with 5w30 for all oil changes. Any thoughts on that. The truck is a 2011 2500 ram with the 5.7 and gets about a third of its miles towing yearly.
5.7 Hemi 2500 (non mds) oil ?
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I don't see any issue with 5w30 all the time. The fractional increase in fuel economy of 5w20 isn't worth it to keep two different oils on hand. Of course a 5w20 will have better cold flow characteristics but you are good to go with PP 5w30 in that department.
Originally Posted By: beast3300
I don't see any issue with 5w30 all the time. The fractional increase in fuel economy of 5w20 isn't worth it to keep two different oils on hand. Of course a 5w20 will have better cold flow characteristics but you are good to go with PP 5w30 in that department.
It is obvious if you look through all the oil recommendations versus models of vehicle using the same engine.
No one needs a 20w. It's for max economy.
Originally Posted By: t05ks
Thanks guys, I don't see any real mechanical or wear advantages of the 5w20 over the 5w30. xx-20 weights must be for maximizing mpg?
'that 5W30 is so thick'... I can't bite on that one. I have a 96 ram that spec's 10w30, which I've been using since day one. The engine in that truck is still like new. Living in Mn I am a fan of syn for the cold temp properties. I don't think that my 96 has several thousand hours of run time with no oil reaching the bearings.
I have the 2012 Ram 2500 4x4 Crew with the Hemi...and here is what I have decided to do.....
OCI's are 8,000 miles or 6 months, therefore I will be changing every 6 months, as I will unlikely surpass 6-7k miles per 6 months.
From April 1 to Oct 1 (summer), I will run 5w30
From Oct 1 to April 1 (winter) I will run 5w20
Interesting side note, but my oil cap calls for 5w20.
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"For 2500/3500 Trucks with a 5.7L engine operating under a gross combined weight rating of 14,000 lb or greater, SAE 5W30 engine oil is recommended for all operating temperatures."
Thats out of my 2010 manual. The wording is a bit ambiguous. It depends on whether you take "operating under" or "rating" as the operative word.
With the word "rating" removed it would be 5W20 unless loaded to 14,000 lb. With the word rating I take it to mean if the engine is installed in a truck with a GCWR of 14,000 lb or more you would use 5W30. However if that was the intention then they could have made it much clearer using "with" instead of "operating under".
Ambiguous.
Most likely the Oil Life Monitor will come on before you hit 8,000 miles. OCI is 8,000 miles, 6 months or when the Oil Life Monitor illuminates whichever occurs first. If your truck doesnt have EVIC the "Change Oil" Message will be in the Odometer Window along with a chime when starting the truck.
PS If the local dealer is on the Mopar Oil Purchasing Program the Mopar Oil is the same as PYB.
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Here's my 2010 2500 Hemi. Current oil is whatever the dealer filled it with when I bought it used a month ago. Gonna run PP 5-30 and never look back! It has a 7+ qt sump so probly run it 6-8 months and 6-8,000 miles OCI and do a UOA.
Originally Posted By: Gene K
"For 2500/3500 Trucks with a 5.7L engine operating under a gross combined weight rating of 14,000 lb or greater, SAE 5W30 engine oil is recommended for all operating temperatures."
Thats out of my 2010 manual. The wording is a bit ambiguous. It depends on whether you take "operating under" or "rating" as the operative word.
With the word "rating" removed it would be 5W20 unless loaded to 14,000 lb. With the word rating I take it to mean if the engine is installed in a truck with a GCWR of 14,000 lb or more you would use 5W30. However if that was the intention then they could have made it much clearer using "with" instead of "operating under".
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Originally Posted By: t05ks
I recently changed oil (2nd time) for the winter layup of the ram. I used PP 5w30 which Mopar states is recommended when combined towing is 14000 or greater. In hindsite I should have just dumped in some dino for the winter then switched to syn when towing season starts, oh well... Anyway, Im thinking that I will just stick with 5w30 for all oil changes. Any thoughts on that. The truck is a 2011 2500 ram with the 5.7 and gets about a third of its miles towing yearly.
You will be fine running 5w30 in that rig year around. Nice to have a manual that acknowleges different weights may be appropriate or OK for different uses - seems like that logic had gone out the window.
And as you already know, 5w30 will work fine in the winter here. 0w30 would be better, but not a requirement either.
The only conclusion anyone can reach by examining all the recommendations is that as duty cycle increases oil viscosity should also be increased.
Originally Posted By: t05ks
I recently changed oil (2nd time) for the winter layup of the ram. I used PP 5w30 which Mopar states is recommended when combined towing is 14000 or greater. In hindsite I should have just dumped in some dino for the winter then switched to syn when towing season starts, oh well... Anyway, Im thinking that I will just stick with 5w30 for all oil changes. Any thoughts on that. The truck is a 2011 2500 ram with the 5.7 and gets about a third of its miles towing yearly.
And if there's no warranty involved that's just more baloney.
Originally Posted By: BigJohn
Originally Posted By: Gene K
"For 2500/3500 Trucks with a 5.7L engine operating under a gross combined weight rating of 14,000 lb or greater, SAE 5W30 engine oil is recommended for all operating temperatures."
Thats out of my 2010 manual. The wording is a bit ambiguous. It depends on whether you take "operating under" or "rating" as the operative word.
With the word "rating" removed it would be 5W20 unless loaded to 14,000 lb. With the word rating I take it to mean if the engine is installed in a truck with a GCWR of 14,000 lb or more you would use 5W30. However if that was the intention then they could have made it much clearer using "with" instead of "operating under".
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