5w-20 in my beater.

Pennzoil motor oil
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oggb

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I figured I would use 5w-20 in my beater because it would never see oil temps that would necessitate a 5w30 (that's a separate thread). I was using Mobil Super 5000.

After a 3-mile drive in rural town traffic (which is to say virtually no traffic) this stuff was much, much thinner than any Xw-30 oil I've ever drained "should've waited longer" hot.

Am I just imagining things, or has anyone else noticed this? I've since switched the car back to 5w30. Yes, it makes me sleep better at night and yes, I am wearing my tin-foil hat.
 
Originally Posted By: glum
I run straight WD-40 and I swear by it.


laugh.gif


This one got a chuckle

- thin is in.
 
Originally Posted By: glum
I run straight WD-40 and I swear by it.


I'm going to have to give that a shot. Maybe I'll try 3-in-1 instead.
 
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I'd run thicker oil because it's going to thin out from fuel dilution


Can you explain that???

As long as the computer/fuel system is functioning normally, that's totally false, miles don't mean Jack... Vehicles that have problems in these areas don't pass emission testing...
 
Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
I'd run thicker oil because it's going to thin out from fuel dilution


Can you explain that???

As long as the computer/fuel system is functioning normally, that's totally false, miles don't mean Jack... Vehicles that have problems in these areas don't pass emission testing...


Lots of short trips can and will cause fuel dilution. I'm not in an area that does emissions testing in any case.

Originally Posted By: FMC
What does the car spec ?


5w30, but because of the service it sees I figured I'd give 5w-20 a shot. Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. Back to 5w30 for me.
 
Last edited:
engines run rich (more fuel) until they get up to temperature. They do this to help the engine get up to temp quicker. So these low temps and extra fuel causes fuel dilution in the oil. Not much but if you repeadily take short trips then the oil never gets hot enough long enough to evaporate any fuel/moisture in the engine oil.
 
Originally Posted By: JRed
Originally Posted By: glum
I run straight WD-40 and I swear by it.


I'm going to have to give that a shot. Maybe I'll try 3-in-1 instead.

So, what do you have against liquid Wrench?
 
Originally Posted By: johnachak
Originally Posted By: JRed
Originally Posted By: glum
I run straight WD-40 and I swear by it.


I'm going to have to give that a shot. Maybe I'll try 3-in-1 instead.

So, what do you have against liquid Wrench?


Clean it out with liquid wrench then maintain it with Triflow.
 
Originally Posted By: Sunnyinhollister
Originally Posted By: johnachak
Originally Posted By: JRed
Originally Posted By: glum
I run straight WD-40 and I swear by it.


I'm going to have to give that a shot. Maybe I'll try 3-in-1 instead.

So, what do you have against liquid Wrench?


Clean it out with liquid wrench then maintain it with Triflow.

I am using dow performance 100% teflon . I can use 1 quart and no oil. The engine runs better than if I used prolong.
 
Originally Posted By: JRed
I figured I would use 5w-20 in my beater because it would never see oil temps that would necessitate a 5w30 .

After a 3-mile drive in rural traffic this stuff was much, much thinner than any Xw-30 oil I've ever drained hot.

Am I just imagining things, or has anyone else noticed this?


Okay, just so that I know I have this straight:

You realized that your driving habits cause your oil to not normally get fully up to temp, so you decided to choose an oil that will be thinner, and provide better oil flow and protection when its cold, and not up to temp.

Then, after a drive in hot weather, you decided to drain the oil out of the engine pan, and noticed it was thin, and quick draining.

And you panicked, because of how thin the oil is.

What I don't understand is how you wanted a thinner oil due to perfect logic, and then when you saw how a thin oil operates, that you would panic over it?

Exactly what do you think is or isn't going to happen to your motor by using the 5W-20 oil instead of the 5w30?

BC.
 
Originally Posted By: Bladecutter
Originally Posted By: JRed
I figured I would use 5w-20 in my beater because it would never see oil temps that would necessitate a 5w30 .

After a 3-mile drive in rural traffic this stuff was much, much thinner than any Xw-30 oil I've ever drained hot.

Am I just imagining things, or has anyone else noticed this?


Okay, just so that I know I have this straight:

You realized that your driving habits cause your oil to not normally get fully up to temp, so you decided to choose an oil that will be thinner, and provide better oil flow and protection when its cold, and not up to temp.

Then, after a drive in hot weather, you decided to drain the oil out of the engine pan, and noticed it was thin, and quick draining.

And you panicked, because of how thin the oil is.

What I don't understand is how you wanted a thinner oil due to perfect logic, and then when you saw how a thin oil operates, that you would panic over it?

Exactly what do you think is or isn't going to happen to your motor by using the 5W-20 oil instead of the 5w30?

BC.


The 5w-20, after three miles, was much thinner than any 5w30 I've ever drained after much longer drives in a car that creates much higher oil temps. I don't feel like investing in an oil pressure gauge (assuming that's even a valuable indicator of bearing protection) for such a cheap car.
 
Originally Posted By: JRed

The 5w-20, after three miles, was much thinner than any 5w30 I've ever drained after much longer drives in a car that creates much higher oil temps. I don't feel like investing in an oil pressure gauge (assuming that's even a valuable indicator of bearing protection) for such a cheap car.


If your oil, any commercially available oil, was actually thinner after 3 minutes of driving than any 5W30 at full operating temps, you have stumbled across some magical motor oil which is yet to be known to man.

I'm sorry, but your perceptions don't match reality. I realize you'll be mad at me for saying this, but they just don't. No oil is going to be close to operating viscosity in 3 minutes unless the ambient temps are in the 150-160's or so.
 
Originally Posted By: JOD
I realize you'll be mad at me for saying this...


Somebody thinks they're awfully important.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: JRed
Originally Posted By: JOD
I realize you'll be mad at me for saying this...


Somebody thinks they're awfully important.


Not really, but my experience on this forum is that if you ever question someone's perceptions of what they feel or hear, they tend to get mad about it in response. I apologize if that doesn't apply to you.
 
Nope. I just honestly wondered if, in other's experience, 5w-20 was really *that* much thinner than 5w30. I realize that on paper it is not.
 
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