Can I use 0W-20 in BOTH my cars?

[rbelloff]

My wife's Jeep calls for 5W-20, while my Lexus ES calls for 0W-20. To simplify my life, I was thinking of running 0W-20 in both? Anyone see a downside to this? I generally use M1 Extended Full Syn. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Analog-1]

Nope no issues what so ever.

 

[Patman]

Anything that calls for 5w20 can be safely substituted with 0w20. Under most circumstances they will perform exactly the same, but the 0w20 has the added benefit of being able to handle extremely cold temperatures better.

 

[kschachn]

There is a rather large number of existing threads on “can I use an oil with a 5W winter rating instead of one with a 0W rating” or the reverse. If you search around, I think you will find them. You probably can’t help but running into them.

 

[userfriendly]

Welcome to BITOG.

 

[Kalle.J]

My wife's Jeep calls for 5W-20, while my Lexus ES calls for 0W-20. To simplify my life, I was thinking of running 0W-20 in both? Anyone see a downside to this? I generally use M1 Extended Full Syn. Thanks for the advice.

Only downside is that its not 0W30.

 

[dnewton3]

Not only can you use 0w-20 in the Jeep, but you also can run 5w-20 in the ES.
The engine is not going to know the difference whatsoever.
Pick either you wish to use, and use it on both.

 

[ATex7239]

This is a good idea from a simplicity perspective and likely a cost perspective as well as you can take advantage of bulk sales and rebates.

 

[himemsys]

My wife's Jeep calls for 5W-20, while my Lexus ES calls for 0W-20. To simplify my life, I was thinking of running 0W-20 in both? Anyone see a downside to this? I generally use M1 Extended Full Syn. Thanks for the advice.

I use this method for our vehicles. I have a 2003 Civic (5W20), 2018 CRV (0W20) and 2013 Volvo S80 (5W30 A5/B5). I just run one oil in all 3, which is over-spec'd for all of them. 5W40 Euro, API SP.

Granted, this spring I may switch all three to Valvoline R&P, at least for the requisite 4 oil changes, before switching back to 5W40 Euro.

 

[wemay]

Not a problem at all.

 

[FoxProTwisty]

Please do. Zero is your hero.

 

[D1dad]

I’ve got a case of schaeffers 5w20 that’ll go in my cars that call for 0w20. I’ll probably wait until it warms a bit, but I’ll run it all summer.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

In Ohio, you can run either 0w20, 5w20 or 5w30 during all four seasons there.

 

[userfriendly]

In Ohio, you can run either 0w20, 5w20 or 5w30 during all four seasons there.

5w30 might require an oil fill cap swap from a different engine.

 

[IndyIan]

In Ohio, you can run either 0w20, 5w20 or 5w30 during all four seasons there.

Yeah, I run syn 0W30 or 5W30 in both the Focus or Outback year round. Both quiet down in 1-2 seconds even around -20C.

 

[lakestone]

Yesy, absolutely, you can use 0W-20 in place of 5W-20. Looking at spec sheets of various oils like Pennzoil, Mobil, Castrol - all 0W-20 and 5W-20, the 0W-20 varieties seem to be of a better quality than their 5W-20 cousins. At least that's what the numbers show. I'd dare to say that 5W-20 is obsolete, or at the very least, why is it still being produced?

 

[Patman]

Yesy, absolutely, you can use 0W-20 in place of 5W-20. Looking at spec sheets of various oils like Pennzoil, Mobil, Castrol - all 0W-20 and 5W-20, the 0W-20 varieties seem to be of a better quality than their 5W-20 cousins. At least that's what the numbers show. I'd dare to say that 5W-20 is obsolete, or at the very least, why is it still being produced?

Because a lot of cars on the road originally specified 5w20 so there is still a demand for it. But in reality 5w20 is kind of obsolete since 0w20 can do everything that 5w20 can do AND have better extreme cold performance.

 

[Revving2Redline]

Because a lot of cars on the road originally specified 5w20 so there is still a demand for it. But in reality 5w20 is kind of obsolete since 0w20 can do everything that 5w20 can do AND have better extreme cold performance.

In boutique oil like Redline, I like the slightly higher hths and shear stability. If I recall, @High Performance Lubricants even makes a 10w20 oil which probably shears even less. Realistically I understand the 0w20 argument, in the summer I would favour a 10w20 or 5w20 still. On a side note I have always wondered the oil weight specification. How long til 0w20 out of the bottle in the engine gets nuked or fuel diluted and isnt anything but Rem Oil in the crankcase.

 

[rbelloff]

Nope no issues what so ever.

Thanks to all who replied. This is all very good information. Appreciate it.