Chevron 5W30 when 5W20 spec?

[05Blazer]

My wife and I both just had all our overtime cut at our jobs. Perfect timing with Christmas and our 4th child only 2 weeks away. We will get through it with some budget and luxuries cutting. I havent bought my Pennzoil Plat yet for the Odyssey which is due for a change real soon here however I still have a decent stash of my Costco bought Chevron 5W30. Any problems running this in a VTEC motor? Especially in Chicago winter? thanks

 

[Drew99GT]

It "might" hamper the VTEC operation when it's really cold, but once it gets to operating temp, it won't be a problem. Chevron is fairly thin for a 30 weight. 9.7 Cst at 100C, and it will thin out some over time.

 

[barlowc]

I am running 5W-30 in our Saturn's GM L66 / Honda J35A3 engine which is a 3.5 L SOHC V6 with VTEC. It's the first time I've run 5W-30 in this engine and I don't notice a difference versus 5W-20 which is what I've always run up until now.

 

[chubbs1]

Totally fine to use 5w30. No real reason to use it though unless you got a really good deal on 5w30. Like BarlowC said though, I have never noticed a difference stepping up a grade. I had a Honda Accord I4 and I actually got better mileage from 5w30 Amsoil than I got from 5w20 GTX.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Replace a pint Chevron 5W30 with a pint MMO will thin out the sump for Chicago winter. A quart MMO at WM is less than $4.

 

[fdcg27]

I doubt that the Ody's V-6 will notice the difference. Earlier VTEC engines called for 5W-30, and allow for the use of 10W-30 at temperatures above 20F. Since you really shouldn't be running it hard enough to get into the VTEC mode until it warms up a bit anyway, the 5W-30 should have no negative consequences at all. Save a few bucks and use what you've got.

 

[Hallmark]

If you're looking for a win-win compromise (e.g. staying at 5W20 at a reasonable price, great oil), why not go with Motorcraft at ~ $3.49/QT.

 

[ledslinger]

Originally Posted By: Hallmark

If you're looking for a win-win compromise (e.g. staying at 5W20 at a reasonable price, great oil), why not go with Motorcraft at ~ $3.49/QT.

If one was going to spend that on Motorcraft blend, I'd buy the $4/qt Mobil 1 Dexos 5W30 in the box of two 5.1 qt jugs for $40 at Costco. Back on topic. Use the Chevron without worry. I switch between xW20 for winter to xW30 in the summer for my wife's 2001 Accord. I'd prefer to use the Chevron in the summer, but that's the way it goes.

 

[barlowc]

Originally Posted By: ledslinger

I switch between xW20 for winter to xW30 in the summer for my wife's 2001 Accord. I'd prefer to use the Chevron in the summer, but that's the way it goes.

Just curious, but why? On cold starts in the winter, both xW20 and xW30 would be x. At operating temperature, which I believe will be the same regardless of season, then it'll be 20 or 30. In other words, xW30 would be 30 at operating temperature regardless of season. Is there a flaw in my thinking?

 

[garlicbreadman]

saw a lot of 5w-30 uoa on cars spec for 5w-20 and it seemed to show better or same results.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: barlowc

Originally Posted By: ledslinger

I switch between xW20 for winter to xW30 in the summer for my wife's 2001 Accord. I'd prefer to use the Chevron in the summer, but that's the way it goes.

Just curious, but why? On cold starts in the winter, both xW20 and xW30 would be x. At operating temperature, which I believe will be the same regardless of season, then it'll be 20 or 30. In other words, xW30 would be 30 at operating temperature regardless of season. Is there a flaw in my thinking?

Yes your thinking is flawed. A typical 5W-20 will be considerably lighter than a 5W-30 on cold starts. The 5W represents a range of cold viscosities with the 5W-20's at the lighter end of that range. To compare any oils you really need to look up the product data sheet (PDS) info that most oil companies provide for their products. There the actual viscosities at various temperatures will be provided.

 

[Hallmark]

Originally Posted By: ledslinger

Originally Posted By: Hallmark

If you're looking for a win-win compromise (e.g. staying at 5W20 at a reasonable price, great oil), why not go with Motorcraft at ~ $3.49/QT.

If one was going to spend that on Motorcraft blend, I'd buy the $4/qt Mobil 1 Dexos 5W30 in the box of two 5.1 qt jugs for $40 at Costco.

That's a bargain price for that oil...must be a regional deal though as it is/was not available at my local Costco outlets. But, it comes with the caveat that it's not a 5w20 if your objective is to stay within spec.

 

[ledslinger]

Originally Posted By: Hallmark

Originally Posted By: ledslinger

Originally Posted By: Hallmark

If you're looking for a win-win compromise (e.g. staying at 5W20 at a reasonable price, great oil), why not go with Motorcraft at ~ $3.49/QT.

If one was going to spend that on Motorcraft blend, I'd buy the $4/qt Mobil 1 Dexos 5W30 in the box of two 5.1 qt jugs for $40 at Costco.

That's a bargain price for that oil...must be a regional deal though as it is/was not available at my local Costco outlets. But, it comes with the caveat that it's not a 5w20 if your objective is to stay within spec.

You are correct about going out of spec, but I'd go out of spec to use the Dexos Mobil 1 for a dollar more a quart in an 03 V6 Honda with 100K over the MC syn blend.

 

[SilverC6]

If you extend your changes to reflect the additional capabilities of the PP, you'll actually save money running the PP. I'll run conventional dino oils for 5000 miles and stretch synthetics comfortably out to 7500 miles. Some folks on this forum use synthetics to 10,000 miles, or more.