A Question About Wear Protection in Newer Engines

[Shel_B]

It's been said that some newer engines have been designed for use with thinner oils, relying on wider bearings, coatings, temperature control, and other design and manufacturing features.

With that in mind, is there still a benefit to using thicker oils, and if there is, is it a small or a large benefit?

 

[KGMtech]

Wait !! I haven't got my popcorn ready !!

IMHO, don't deviate from the owners manual while within the warranty period.

 

[Oillover]

 

[vavavroom]

Wait for the judge and jury.

 

[Cujet]

There are some manufacturers who take the time and spend the money to get it right, others do not. But there should be no question that if an engine requires coated timing chain pins, coated piston skirts and extra large diameter rod bearings.... maybe the oil is......

 

[BigTimeTA]

Your particular circumstances might answer this question with yes or no, depending on engine design, operating temperatures, ambient temperatures, load, track conditions, mileage, oil consumption, etc. Otherwise, if you're easy on the engine, there's no harm in stepping up viscosity a little bit. XW-20 to XW-30 is not a significant jump, but the engine will thank you for the extra cushion, nonetheless. Speaking of returns on investment, you burn an extra 1% of fuel for potential increase in lifespan. However, nobody has been able to discern the difference by experience. But I've seen people who tracked with XW-30 and their engines didn't live long enough to see a triple-digit number. Your circumstances will answer this question.

 

[Greasymechtech]

Its a massive benefit

And, we all should be running 25w60 year round no matter how cold it gets

 

[oldhp]

Its a massive benefit

And, we all should be running 25w60 year round no matter how cold it gets

Straight 60wt in the summer.

 

[AITG]

Alright folks, let's be kind. The safest answer is in my sig line...read the book, follow directions. Yes, you can choose a different route, after all it's your car. The UOA section is full of reports that show minimal iron, copper and aluminum wear over thousands of miles using 5W-20 and 5W-30 oils.

 

[Passport1]

Simple. My rule is,

Thicker oil for something you are going to cook through and through. Thiner oil for something that only needs to get quickly browned on both sides. No oil for things that make their own.

 

[wpod]

The question that should be asked is will you engine outlast your ownership of the vehicle.

 

[StevieC]

As others can attest I used 0w20 in my Caravan before and I experimented with 30wts.. I found that it was more important use use an oil with the highest HTHS value as possible either in the grade that your engine calls for or one step thicker...

With regards to 0w16 applications, I'm not sure here. I think a 20wt would be fine but I haven't looked at bearing clearances and engine setup to say for sure. I suspect it would be fine though. Spin the wheel???

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

As others can attest I used 0w20 in my Caravan before and I experimented with 30wts.. I found that it was more important use use an oil with the highest HTHS value as possible either in the grade that your engine calls for or one step thicker...

With regards to 0w16 applications, I'm not sure here. I think a 20wt would be fine but I haven't looked at bearing clearances and engine setup to say for sure. I suspect it would be fine though. Spin the wheel???

Bearing clearances and other engine mechanicals will not know any difference at all other than seeing the thickest MOFT allowed by said clearances. The engine may consume a couple more HP driving the oil pump, but nothing else changes. It’s always safe to step up in grades, but always a crapshoot to go down a grade depending on usage.

Personally I’d look for an oil with a high HT/HS and a low VI, along with a viscosity at the low end of the 40wt range and maybe the Porsche A/C40 certification. Give any engine 30 seconds on a cold start to circulate this fluid and you’ve got what’s literally a universal oil that could be used in every single engine made today.

 

[MalibuRam65]

Thin is In **** it .

 

[kschachn]

With regards to 0w16 applications, I'm not sure here. I think a 20wt would be fine but I haven't looked at bearing clearances and engine setup to say for sure. I suspect it would be fine though. Spin the wheel???

As already noted it won’t make one bit of difference what the clearance is. How big do you think oil molecules are? As Subie states only a bit more HP lost that you’ll not notice.

 

[sk_pete]

With that in mind, is there still a benefit to using thicker oils, and if there is, is it a small or a large benefit?

new cars:

• giga long oci
• fuel dilution (any d.i. engine...)
• crapton of egr... ->oil acids, particulates
• let´s "save planet" and use miniscule amount of saps, and bare minimum hths+additives.
• and oil shear due to all factors above

in the 2nd half of oci, likely the oil is about to die. "black oily water" as they say.
therefore, with higher hths the safety margin is higher.
and if the oil died chemically, at least it should protect mechanically (hths)