Originally Posted By: Bryanccfshr
Originally Posted By: edyvw
Originally Posted By: Bryanccfshr
The pumpability argument is a false dichotomy, oil pumps are PD pumps, meaning as long as the oil is pump able, the same volume of oil is moved into the engine regardless of SAE grade. The return of the oil to the pan will be slower with thicker oils of course at the same temperatures but I have never heard of anyone running the oil pan dry on cold startup, and I have started trucks in-30 Arctic conditions.
The economy gains for 0w20 is its low level of friction loss from pumping it as well as low friction in bearings etc.
In some,applications I have no issue with it, my Toyota will live a line happy life on just about anything.
In other applications I don't see the point for the end user.
Put SAE 20W50 in your BMW and start it in the morning sometimes in January in Durango and let us know how that works.
No where did I state that you should use oils outside of the the oil grades performance recomendations. And who revs the engine at startup? ( what auto manufacturer recommends you cold start and run it hard? Without allowing it to come up to temperature??) These arguments are using extremes that are outside of normal use.
As always this is devolving into the old thick thin debate and I say the truth is somewhere in the middle. 0w20 is great and so are 40 weight oils. WHen the application is appropriate.
To be quite honest I trust the 0w20 more in a Toyota than a BMW. Admittadly it is a personal perception issue of how much I trust each automaker to provide a long term reliable automobile.
What is normal use? For me starting car on -35 or -40 is actually normal use. BMW design cars first and foremost for auto bahns not NA interstates. In N20 in EU LL-01 is still recommended oil and there is good reason for that, because those cars are running 120-130mph all the time if not even more.
As for temperature, yes, that is why BMW put oil temperature gauge in F series. However, honestly, 90% of BMW buyers, especially newcomers attracted by F series suspension really do not have a clue about oils, temperature etc. Part of the reason why BMW is pushing 0W20 is that most of owners of BMW in NA really do not care about all this stuff, so by having 0W in engine and then very light weight at 100c is actually good for second owner of that BMW once it comes from lease. However, in N20, my choice would be always 0W40 or even Castrol 0W30 (if you can find on sale in AZ or NAPA).
Toyota is doing same thing. In USA 0W20, in EU very often even 5W40.