5W20 VS 5W30

[BlueOvalFitter]

I'm sure this debate has been beaten

to death here and elsewhere.Since being unemployed I have been doing alot of reading lately.I am now going to have to do my own oil changes to save money and am debating on using 5W30 over 5W20.I read that the only reason 5W20 is used is to meet CAFE requirements.Anyone running 5W30 over 5W20?

 

[mattd]

whats the oil cap/owners manual say?

 

[TFB1]

There hasn't been a engine built yet that's going to die because someone used 5w30 VS 5W-20... 5W-20 is mostly a CAFE deal for bread and butter engines... Due to needing greater protection, most high performance and hard working engines will have at least 5w30 or higher grades specified...

Because I don't blink a eye and occasionally run my vehicles to redline, I use Mobil 1 0W-40 in most of my vehicles...

 

[FL_Rob]

Thinking back on a few threads,some of us are really running out of spec'd oil.I'm spec'd for 5w30/10w30 and currently running or at some point run everything from 5w20 all the way to 5w40,10w40.I know some of the Expedition owners here run weights other than Fords' 5w20 spec.I'd say no problem.

 

[Jim Allen]

CAFE is only part of the equation and your engine will do great on 5W20 because it was designed for it (you didn't say what Ford it was). That said, 5W30 will do no harm but it offers little to gain, unless you work the truck very hard and own live in very hot weather and then it might offer a little more protection. 5W20 has been tested six ways to Sunday and it works.

If your rig has VCT (Variable Cam Timing) it may be more sensitive to viscosity but I've been testing some 10W30 in my '05 F150 5.4L and datalogging VCT operation and it shows no noticeable changes so far. FYI, my reason for switching was just to consolidate my oil stash with something I can use in all of my small farm fleet.

My advice is that no change is needed unless you meet the high oil temp, high performance or high workload criteria. The difference in MPG is tiny but with gas prices what they are....

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

I have a 2007 F150,4.2V6,79K miles.I live in the Tampa,FL area and it gets frikin hot as [censored] here! Thats why I was thinking of using the 5W30.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
I live in the Tampa,FL area and it gets frikin hot as [censored] here! Thats why I was thinking of using the 5W30.

Just because you feel hot, doesn't mean your engine feels the same way. For your engine, it is life as usual - thermostat and cooling system are there to keep the operating temp where it needs to be, even if it's 120F outside.

 

[lexus114]

and they say the thinner oil dissipates the heat better too. ( I know, who is they)

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
I have a 2007 F150,4.2V6,79K miles.I live in the Tampa,FL area and it gets frikin hot as [censored] here! Thats why I was thinking of using the 5W30.

Is the heat in Tampa hotter than the heat in Ca. and Arizona?

 

[TomYoung]

Originally Posted By: TFB1
There hasn't been a engine built yet that's going to die because someone used 5w30 VS 5W-20... 5W-20 is mostly a CAFE deal for bread and butter engines... Due to needing greater protection, most high performance and hard working engines will have at least 5w30 or higher grades specified...

Because I don't blink a eye and occasionally run my vehicles to redline, I use Mobil 1 0W-40 in most of my vehicles...


With no offense to the author, the ideas that oils with higher weights offer more "protection," to "hard-working" engines and that the only reason lower weight oils are used is for fuel economy have been discussed at length on BITOG and are proven to be completely incorrect. Elsewhere in the thread is the idea (refuted) that the outside temperature should also be considered in choosing oil grade. Do yourself a huge favor and go with what the factory recommends, and think long and hard before going off the plantation.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: TomYoung
Do yourself a huge favor and go with what the factory recommends, and think long and hard before going off the plantation.


Chances of that are zero & none...

 

[TomYoung]

Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: TomYoung
Do yourself a huge favor and go with what the factory recommends, and think long and hard before going off the plantation.


Chances of that are zero & none...


For you, perhaps. Maybe the original poster will take the sound advice.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
and they say the thinner oil dissipates the heat better too. ( I know, who is they)


Is this really true (anybody)? I have also heard or read the notion that thinner oil is somehow a better conductor of heat or something. I've also heard that a thinner oil heats up faster, so it's generally better for a short-tripper. Maybe the two notions have been confused and have gotten muddled together.

 

[JGR]

 

[steve20]

I've been running 5-30 for years in my Accord which specs 5-20. I will never go back to the lighter weigh unless I happen to move way north

 

[simple_gifts]

Quote:

Elsewhere in the thread is the idea (refuted) that the outside temperature should also be considered in choosing oil grade. Do yourself a huge favor and go with what the factory recommends,


Some factories make recommendations based on temperatures.

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

Ok,ok,I asked for it.....ya'll have beat me up enough!

I'll stick with 5W20.I guess since I have all this time on my hands now I should stop reading what "they" say.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
I have a 2007 F150,4.2V6,79K miles.I live in the Tampa,FL area and it gets frikin hot as [censored] here! Thats why I was thinking of using the 5W30.


I'd suggest reading up on the testing Ford did in the desert during the summer with 5W20 oil in engines that spec it. As Jim Allan stated its been thoroughly tested. Having said that 5W30 isn't going to harm it either.

 

[Steve S]

There isn't a whole lot of difference between the 2 oils.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: TomYoung
Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: TomYoung
Do yourself a huge favor and go with what the factory recommends, and think long and hard before going off the plantation.


Chances of that are zero & none...


For you, perhaps. Maybe the original poster will take the sound advice.


It's actually based on the fact my Marauder is making approx 75% more HP than stock(the supercharger is added) and some of the BITOG guys that KNOW high performance recommended the Mobil 1 0W-40 as one of the choices for a "stressed" engine...


You use what you prefer, I'll do same...