5W20 or 5W30 - Max Engine Life ?

[fdcg27]

Unless an oil is way too thin for the engine temperatures encountered, a used oil analysis won't show any statistically significant differences.
used oil analysis are all about parts per million, and for a used oil analysis to show significantly increased wear, you'd need to see differences beyond what we usually see in used oil analysis.
Most of the ppm differences we see are at the noise level and are not significant.

 

[ChrisD46]

Good replies - while it probably doesn't matter , I am going to try 5W30 in the summer and 5W20 in the winter ...

 

[147_Grain]

+1

 

[KitaCam]

Originally Posted By: ChrisD46
Good replies - while it probably doesn't matter , I am going to try 5W30 in the summer and 5W20 in the winter ...


Winter in Georgia?

 

[jrustles]

You won't notice a difference between conventional API SN Resource Conserving 5w30 and 5w20 of the same brand. In fact, I challenge you to find a difference in performance, either substantiated by UOA insolubles or fuel economy!!

Originally Posted By: KitaCam
Originally Posted By: ChrisD46
Good replies - while it probably doesn't matter , I am going to try 5W30 in the summer and 5W20 in the winter ...


Winter in Georgia?


warmer than Summer in Canada

 

[DragRace]

Use the search button,this has been covered 5959593593503503409523 times,seriously no difference!

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Originally Posted By: DragRace
Use the search button,this has been covered 5959593593503503409523 times,seriously no difference!

DR, what's the difference between 5W20 and 5W20?

 

[steve20]

use equal amounts of each---can't go wrong
1/2 5-20 & 1/2 5-30

Seriously---the 30 wt is the better choice

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: 147_Grain
In the hotter Georgia climate, a 5w30 is preferred and will (likely) have a similar viscosity as a 20-weight oil in a state that is 20*F. cooler.


I agree because the difference between a 5W20 and a 5W30 is so minuscule you could not tell if I swapped one for another in your cars sump.

 

[benjy]

199,xxx on my modified 2001 vw jetta 1.8T close to 300 hp amsoil 10-30 changed at 10,000 intervals and xtra filter at 5,000 traded in still 20" vaccum!!!! running EXCELLENT

 

[Capa]

Originally Posted By: donnyj08
Im amazed that After hundreds of thousands of mustangs, f-150s and Hondas since 2001 running 2-3 hundred thousand miles reliably on 5w20 people are still doubting it.... I'm betting wear rates would be identical between the two.


Yes! Experiment. I've run a 40, 30, and 20 weigh in my V8 Lexus. The 40 weight felt lethargic and I lost MPG. The car felt like it was on steroids on the 20 weight.

 

[Merkava_4]

5w30 is the thinnest I would go on anything. If for some reason 5w30
is too thick for an engine, I wouldn't buy the vehicle the engine is in.

 

[fsskier]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
5w30 is the thinnest I would go on anything. If for some reason 5w30
is too thick for an engine, I wouldn't buy the vehicle the engine is in.


I was thinking the same thing, only in reverse. I no longer wish to own any oil burners or clunker junkers so......If for some reason 0W20 was too thin for an engine then I wouldn't buy the vehicle the engine was in!

 

[RiceCake]

The main reason to use 5w30 when the engine calls for 5W-20 is easy.

It makes the driver think that arbitrarily ignoring the manual written by engineers means he's smarter and wittier and doing better for his car then everyone else.

And some people need a placebo.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: RiceCake
The main reason to use 5w30 when the engine calls for 5W-20 is easy.

It makes the driver think that arbitrarily ignoring the manual written by engineers means he's smarter and wittier and doing better for his car then everyone else.

And some people need a placebo.


The OP said his car's owner's manual specifies either 5W-20
or 5w30 and he's asking us which grade we'd go with.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Originally Posted By: RiceCake
The main reason to use 5w30 when the engine calls for 5W-20 is easy.

It makes the driver think that arbitrarily ignoring the manual written by engineers means he's smarter and wittier and doing better for his car then everyone else.

And some people need a placebo.

Whoa there Tex! I agree with you, somewhat.
What if an engine in a 2013 vehicle, that is spec'd to use 5W20 oil, and the same engine has been in production for 15 years, same tolerences and clearences then as now, but spec'd 5W30 oil 15 years ago. What makes them so different as not to use 5W30 now?

"CAFE!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_Average_Fuel_Economy

 

[Hermann]

99.5% of modern oils are so good your engine will never know the difference.

 

[RiceCake]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
The OP said his car's owner's manual specifies either 5W-20
or 5w30 and he's asking us which grade we'd go with.


Sorry, I should've specified, I was pitching that in as a favour to everyone else pitching in here saying they'd never run or even buy cars that take 5W-20.

But since you're correct I'll throw in;

You're in G.A., either will work. Consider it a benefit that if you find oil on sale, you can now either buy 5W-20 or 5w30 off the shelf, whichever is in stock still if you didn't beat the price rush. Both oils are a moot point at this rate all things considered.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Originally Posted By: Hermann
99.5% of modern oils are so good your engine will never know the difference.


Well said.

 

[RiceCake]

Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
"CAFE!"


So you're saying getting better fuel economy and spending less money on gas is a bad thing?

Problem is its a very primitive response to assume that all change is bad. If you come across a red orange as a monkey, you'd be afraid to eat it, because its not like everything else.

Fortunately for most of us we evolved and figured things out, and apples are awesome.

And really, thats what 30 and 20 is for the OP: apples and oranges.