Can oil grade impact cam phasing?

[CarbonSteel]

Doubtful. I have been running 5W-30 in mine for the last 20K miles with no difference between it and 0W-20 I ran for the 20K prior to that. I have a friend who has been running 0W-40 in his since the first oil change. Though the Pentastar has a 2-stage oil pump, oil viscosity does not seem to impact the pressure to a point where it affects any operational part of the engine.

 

[ZeeOSix]

So.... Is it safe to say extended oil changes are more of a threat to electronic cam phasers, than heavier viscosity oils are?

Torn oil filter media can also clog up those VVT oil path screens. Motorcraft has a video on YouTube about that.

 

[stchman]

What's the "reason"?

The reason being that a team of designers and engineers designed that engine. One would think that they know more about the internal workings of that engine that any of us on this forum.

 

[Johnmpb]

CAFE MPG credits.

Where is this CAFE that everyone mentions and what kind of food do they serve?

 

[billt460]

The reason being that a team of designers and engineers designed that engine. One would think that they know more about the internal workings of that engine that any of us on this forum.

That in itself tells me nothing about the oil it requires. And / or why. All your basically saying is, "trust the engineers". Consumers have done that before, and took it right in the keyster.

"One would think"?... Perhaps, but for the rest of us, we want to know more.

 

[Rygrego]

.
Would changing oil temperatures cause a problem with the cam timing?
Are you starting a hot motor every morning? Cold oil is thicker oil.
.

A 5w-20 and a 5w-30 are the same "thickness" at cold temps.

 

[ZeeOSix]

The reason being that a team of designers and engineers designed that engine. One would think that they know more about the internal workings of that engine that any of us on this forum.

Those same engineers specify a broad range of oil viscosity for the same engines used in countries without CAFE, as has been shown many times in these discussions. Do the math.

 

[Accent Abuser]

My Chrysler van recommends 5W20 but I just bought some 5W30 because it was on sale. In the past I never figured this would cause a problem or maybe even would be slightly better.

The Pentastar engine uses some kind of cam phasers on the cams. I think it's driven by oil pressure. Could changing oil grades cause a problem with the cam timing?

I put 5w-30 in my parents 5w-20 recommended Dodge, no problems. I put everything from 0w-40 to 5w-50 in my Hyundai Accent with CVVT, again no problems. VVT does use oil as a hydraulic fluid to change timing but that pressure is controlled by the VVT solenoid, the ECM knows the advance or retard via the camshaft position sensor and can open and close the VVT solenoid to get the timing where it desires.

 

[billt460]

Those same engineers specify a broad range of oil viscosity for the same engines used in countries without CAFE, as has been shown many times in these discussions. Do the math.

Exactly. What I want to hear from all of these "engineers who know so much", is why 0W-16 is "recommended" by them here? But in other countries with the same climate and temperatures, they "recommend" up to 15W-40 in the exact same engine?

 

[billt460]

....... It’s most noticeable in hot summer temps, accelerating from a stop there is more throttle response on initial accelerator tip in when using 5w-20.

So you're saying that you can actually "feel it in the seat of your pants", when you have a crankcase full of hot 5W-20, than with 5W-30? That's more impressive than taking the Pepsi Challenge.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Exactly. What I want to hear from all of these "engineers who know so much", is why 0W-16 is "recommended" by them here? But in other countries with the same climate and temperatures, they "recommend" up to 15W-40 in the exact same engine?

Cause
America
Flogs
Engineers

 

[aquariuscsm]

Exactly. What I want to hear from all of these "engineers who know so much", is why 0W-16 is "recommended" by them here? But in other countries with the same climate and temperatures, they "recommend" up to 15W-40 in the exact same engine?

If those engineers were asked that question, they'd just look at you with that "freshly *****-slapped" look on their faces haha!

 

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

If those engineers were asked that question, they'd just look at you with that "freshly *****-slapped" look on their faces haha!

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Remember when your old Maytag and Whirlpool home appliances used to last 30 40 years and now today they last 10 maybe 12 if you're lucky?
That is a thimble full of what engineers has done for America or is it done to America!

 

[LavaRand]

Well I put 5w30 in it, and I don't even see a difference in oil pressure. Maybe to 5w20 was 30psi and maybe the 5w30 is 32psi or something.

 

[Zaedock]

So you're saying that you can actually "feel it in the seat of your pants", when you have a crankcase full of hot 5W-20, than with 5W-30? That's more impressive than taking the Pepsi Challenge.

He forgot to mention that he stopped at Taco Bell drive-thru after the oil change.

 

[Slow Car Sport Mode]

Well I put 5w30 in it, and I don't even see a difference in oil pressure. Maybe to 5w20 was 30psi and maybe the 5w30 is 32psi or something.

Do you have an actual oil pressure gauge or an idiot light with a gauge?

I had a vehicle, 2003 GM product, didnt matter if you put 0W-20, 5W-30, 20W-50, careful, that is about a 39 page thread when you compare 3 grades.. stayed right in the middle.

If you have an idiot light with a gauge and it is within a certain range, it will do that.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

So you're saying that you can actually "feel it in the seat of your pants", when you have a crankcase full of hot 5W-20, than with 5W-30? That's more impressive than taking the Pepsi Challenge.

I would think so too, but years ago the Lincoln dealer put 5W30 in my new 2001 Mustang Bullitt, I didnt know that at the time. Driving off I thought I was pulling an airstream trailer through mud flats. But that engine was tight and new and it was a manual trans,
Never discount seat of the pants assessment. But I do have a NIASE calibrated back and buttocks. - Ken

 

[LavaRand]

My van has a digital readout on the dash of actual oil pressure, and it reads to 1psi. Usually it idles around 30psi but I've seen it dip as low as 27. It shoots up to 90 on startup or acceleration.

 

[Accent Abuser]

So you're saying that you can actually "feel it in the seat of your pants", when you have a crankcase full of hot 5W-20, than with 5W-30? That's more impressive than taking the Pepsi Challenge.

I can do 0-60 in 8 seconds on 0w-40 which is better than the engine is rated on 5w-20. I've never really experienced much difference in power at operating temperature between grades. I'm sure on a cold start I would but who in their right mind is flogging a cold engine?