5W20 - Any concerns about the lighter weight?

[HokieRich1]

My new car calls for 5W20. For some reason it just freaks me out a little to NOT use 5W30. Any concerns about 5W20? Thanks.

PS: I apologize in advance for a question Im sure has been asked repeatedly. But I just found this board over the weekend.

 

[MADMIKE]

Uh oh...

 

[simple_gifts]

quote:

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Im sure has been asked repeatedly.

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I'm sure too. If it is any consolation, I am using 5W-20 in a car specifying 5W-30. I wouldn't worry.

 

[ekpolk]

Hokie:

to BITOG.

I hope I don't sound short, but please understand that this very issue has been the subject of one pitched verbal battle after another here for a couple years. Your best bet at this point will be to use the SEARCH feature to refine what aspect of this vastly broad question is really of interest to you. Having done that, you'll be in a much better position to ask a question that hasn't been mashed flat several dozen times over already.

Check out our UOA section. There you will see plenty of objective proof that if your engine specs a 20 wt oil, it will thrive thereupon.

 

[Rodbuckler]

I have a 1996 Ford 4.6L that is back-spec'd to 5W-20. The owners manual says 5W-30 is preferred, but there weren't readily available good 20 weight oils offered back then.

You will have to trust me when I say that the engine runs MUCH MUCH MUCH better on the 20 weight oil than on the 30 weights. And I have tried alot of different oil viscosities in the engine. It runs smooth and quiet as a dream on Pennzoil Platinum.

Having an engine designed around 5W-20 oil is a good thing. You should take full advantage of it.

 

[m2200b]

1/2 your miles have been with 5-20 oil with sheared 5-30 oil. Now you are 100% 5-20 but usually more shear resistant 5-20.

 

[buster]

NO

http://www.carwashmag.com/pdf/sept_2005/thicker.cfm

Read the link.

 

[HokieRich1]

Buster

Thanks for the link. Thats all I need to know.

 

[Rodbuckler]

quote:

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Originally posted by m2200b:
1/2 your miles have been with 5-20 oil with sheared 5-30 oil. Now you are 100% 5-20 but usually more shear resistant 5-20.

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I guess I didn't realize that Mobil 1 would shear to a 5W-20 in 2500 miles.

 

[5abi6r]

Thanks for that link. Sounds like 5w20 is the way to go for me too =)

 

[martyi]

Go with whatever the manual calls for. If it is 5w20 then you need not worry about any other weight.

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

Hey RoadBuckle!

quote:

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Having an engine designed around 5W-20 oil is a good thing.

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Its a good thing? How's that? Not saying its a bad thing, but how is it GOOD, per se?

 

[Rodbuckler]

quote:

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Originally posted by toocrazy2yoo:
Having an engine designed around 5W-20 oil is a good thing. How's that?

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MORE POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!

(cold starts are deluxe, too)

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

Oh...

My Hyundai 4 banger (105HP@5800 RPM) is designed for 5W20 (they spec it for that, anyway, except at average temps of 80 and above if the owner desires).

Good thing there's 5W20. Lordie knows what my horsies would be without it!

Heck with an engine this mild, I doubt it'd shear vergetable oil, let alone 5W20.

Or, of course, my preferred mix is 5W30 M1 with a 1.5oz./qt dose of VSOT. But then, that's the idea, I suppose.

 

[Rodbuckler]

quote:

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Originally posted by toocrazy2yoo:
My Hyundai 4 banger (105HP@5800 RPM) is designed for 5W20

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Have you tried the 5W-20 and 5W-30 back-to-back? You might be surprised at the difference in power lost to the oil system.

 

[toocrazy2yoo]

I did. I went from breakin/flush oils of 5W20 Motorcraft, and the last change before the M1/VSOT was Havoline 5W20. From 5000 miles to a 7500 mile UOA it's the M1/VSOT with Amsoil filter. If my TBN is good, I wanna do 10K OCI. I couldn't tell any difference in sound, power or ease of starts with the 5W30 (which is probably a little higher with the VSOT), although the weather has been warm here almost since I bought the car. But new cars, they start easy as it is anyway. Meanwhile, I've already put 3.5K on this OCI, and the oil is clean as the day I put it in, but again, this is a new car, and the filter IS an Amsoil synthetic media filter.

I expected the M1 to grind the engine to bits and peieces the way some folks around here trash the stuff. My UOA at 7500 and 10K will tell the tale.