anyone running 5w20 in a car spec'd for 5 ro 10w30

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I have a friend running a 5w 20 oil in an old lumina, i'm curious if anyone else has tried this? His car is spec'd for a 10w 30. 92 model lumina. I'm not a fan of thin oils.
 
For that particular car, as long as it's not burning or consuming or run really hard, I say go for it. Plenty of people on here run xw-20 in 90's vehicles spec'd for 30.
 
Iam running 10w30 in a truck spec'ed for 5w20. I suspect you could do vice versus without any problems. Way too much emphasis is based on oil weight. Really its splitting hair. I never cease to be amazed when people refer to 10w30 as thick oil.
 
i think that lumina is spec'd for 5w30
i would not use 5w20 in an old engine requiring 5w30 although in an engine spec'd for 5w20 i would absolutely use 5w20
And yes it does make a difference not only for cafe reasons we find some of the late model engines have valve guide problems when using a heavier oil the thin stuff gets in there and does its job while the thicker stuff takes a second or two more and that is where the problem comes in...Today when it comes to oils especially sm/sn rated oil thin is in by a long shot!
 
Originally Posted By: Panzerman
Iam running 10w30 in a truck spec'ed for 5w20. I suspect you could do vice versus without any problems. Way too much emphasis is based on oil weight. Really its splitting hair. I never cease to be amazed when people refer to 10w30 as thick oil.


Yes, I'm running 0w 30 in the winter in my escape and t-6 5w 40 in the summer with no noticeable difference over the 5w 20 its spec'd for. been doing this since 2002. I just did not know if you can do the reverse on a car spec'd for a heavier oil.
 
Originally Posted By: Panzerman
Iam running 10w30 in a truck spec'ed for 5w20. I suspect you could do vice versus without any problems. Way too much emphasis is based on oil weight. Really its splitting hair. I never cease to be amazed when people refer to 10w30 as thick oil.


"Thick" is relative. Although i think 10-30 is perfectly fine for most cars (especially down here where 10-30 is worshiped), I do think most people run it in vehicles thinking the spec'd oil for the car is "too thin". LOL
 
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I've been running 5w20 in my 99 Taurus for several years now. The engine was originally spec'd for 5w30, but Ford back-spec'd 5w20 for my year.

Also, keep in mind that in years past almost all 5w30's sheared down to a 20w within a few hundred miles. So most people have been running a 20w weight and didn't know it.
 
I respect the people that disregard what the engine manufacturer tells them to use because they think they know better...
You see in my engine shop i run into those types every day and they all seem to be very nice. So nice they loved thei engine to death..
Every engine we build and we build a lot of them (mostly all stock) we tell the customer to use what the car company says to use because believe it or not they know a little about the engines they design and build
 
The 30's then were very close to the 20's now, correct? And the 20's now STAY close to the 20 weight they are, right? Although I personally would run a 0 or 5w-30 because mileage is probably high and yes, it's spec'd for it, but I still don't think a 20 would cause any damage for the life of the car. Just my .02.
 
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I'm running 0w20 (and have run 5w20 a lot in the past) in my wife's 2000 Civic even though it was the last year that Honda specified 5w30.
 
I just read a Honda Tech Bulletin. They plan on making a shift to 0w20 on all of their new vehicles by 2012. It also says that they plan on retroactively recommending it for most models back to 2002. So I would say it is probably fine to go thinner. But 5w30 would be a better choice IMHO.
Below is the Tech Bulletin. I did not down load it instead chose "view document" maybe why the ridiculous address.
 
chubbs1 said:
I just read a Honda Tech Bulletin. They plan on making a shift to 0w20 on all of their new vehicles by 2012. It also says that they plan on retroactively recommending it for most models back to 2002. So I would say it is probably fine to go thinner. But 5w30 would be a better choice IMHO.
Below is the Tech Bulletin. I did not down load it instead chose "view document" maybe why the ridiculous address.



Good find. I called my dealer last week and they said 0-20 will be applicable for my Civic so I was pretty excited.

Going back to 2001 is one thing, but 1992 is another.
 
Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
I respect the people that disregard what the engine manufacturer tells them to use because they think they know better...
You see in my engine shop i run into those types every day and they all seem to be very nice. So nice they loved thei engine to death..
Every engine we build and we build a lot of them (mostly all stock) we tell the customer to use what the car company says to use because believe it or not they know a little about the engines they design and build


I think you are correct to an extent. For example my ford escape is spec'd for a 5w 20 oil in the USA. Ford escapes with the same duratech engine outside the usa ( where there is no cafe!!) are spec'd for 30w oils.
 
I'm running 5w20 Motorcraft Synthetic Blend in my 1998 F150. It was originally specced for 5w30 but has since been back specced for 5w20.

I put the first fill of 5w20 in it last March and again in September. There has been no consumption and no burning. In fact, I have not noticed any change at all with the possible exception of a very slight increase in mileage.

Larry
 
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