Chrysler changes the oil spec for 2013

[Trav]

Frank, want i would like to know is what if CAFE was booted right out the window (like it should have been years ago INHO) what would they spec then?

My own thoughts on why Chrysler is going to 20w in the Pentastar.
With every SRT engine and the new Fiat power plants coming online that spec 0w40 or 5w40 Chrysler needs something to offset this to keep their CAFE rating at the same level.

We all know they only care about getting the engine through warranty and after that they could care less.

 

[Jim Allen]

Originally Posted By: Trav


We all know they only care about getting the engine through warranty and after that they could care less.


...including Mercedes Benz, BMW, Porsche, Audi and every other European automaker.

 

[Trav]

All of them only care about getting the car out of warranty.
Anything after that is money in parts and service.
Buyers of German cars expect to pay a premium.

No problem once the car is out of warranty, they can and do claim any number of excuses as to why the car broke down. usually they claim its the drivers fault or lack of maintenance.
If the case of Fords rotten frames after 6 yrs they blamed NE winters and salt.
Audi blamed the drivers when the things were going through the garage all by themselves. The list is endless.

 

[Nickdfresh]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Frank, want i would like to know is what if CAFE was booted right out the window (like it should have been years ago INHO) what would they spec then?

My own thoughts on why Chrysler is going to 20w in the Pentastar.
With every SRT engine and the new Fiat power plants coming online that spec 0w40 or 5w40 Chrysler needs something to offset this to keep their CAFE rating at the same level.

We all know they only care about getting the engine through warranty and after that they could care less.


Um, I don't know about that. Chrysler is offering a line up of economical small cars they basically haven't had since the demise of the under-performing Neon. I have a hard time believing that a 5W-20 is offsetting much of anything with the availability of the Fiat500, the Dart, and the 200...

 

[Trav]

How many of these small cars are they planning on selling? Add that to every SRT, take into account the all use 0w40 and there needs to be some offsetting.
The Pentastar is there mostly used engine so downgrade the oil in them to save a couple of tenths and it may even out.

Other than the revised heads the bottom end of the Pentastar looks identical to 2012 and it was a 5w30 spec engine.
It sure smells CAFE driven to me, given the fact the more of the line up is using 40w starting in 2013 also.

Thats just my opinion i am not stating this is fact or anything else.
But its a good a theory as any other posted in this thread.

 

[Nickdfresh]

Originally Posted By: Trav
How many of these small cars are they planning on selling? Add that to every SRT, take into account the all use 0w40 and there needs to be some offsetting.
The Pentastar is there mostly used engine so downgrade the oil in them to save a couple of tenths and it may even out.


Planning or hoping?

Fiat500's? Probably not too many, though I consistently see them now and I think they sell as fast as they come in. I think Chrysler is actually fairly optimistic about the Dart since they're blending Euro swag with the nameplate of one of the few very good U.S. made small cars made before 1990. And they are assembling it in IL and China. The Dart is projected to get between 36-39mpg highway depending on the engine...

Quote:
Other than the revised heads the bottom end of the Pentastar looks identical to 2012 and it was a 5w30 spec engine.
It sure smells CAFE driven to me, given the fact the more of the line up is using 40w starting in 2013 also.


You can say the same about virtually any engine that began spec'ing lower viscosity in the past. Same with my Mutti's Vulcan 3.0L...

Quote:
Thats just my opinion i am not stating this is fact or anything else.
But its a good a theory as any other posted in this thread.


That's what we're here for...

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: tommygunn
By something, lets see, they tested it and it turns out to be fine so they started recommending it, like every other manufacturer has been lately (or even back spec'ing), with tons of testing to show its fine and likely gets to operating temperature faster and flows faster affording better lubrication?

Oh well. Enjoy the arguement.


No arguments just some good spirited discussion, and some interesting points from the thin team, and the thick team. This board likes SAE tests, independent studies, data, and facts to back up statements. I haven't seen any of that yet, just lots of opinions some of which are very good. My opinion is this is CAFE driven, I'm not attacking CAFE, but I do think engine longevity takes the back seat to mpg.

As far as your statement about testing then making the change to 20 grade oil. Chrysler claimed 40,000 hours went into design and testing of this engine, it hit the market a few years back. Why wasn't it tested and released with 5W20 then? Did they have more faith in 30 grade oil and released it with that while they did more testing? They needed a few years more to test to determine a 20 grade oil was safe in this day and age? Most of their engines were using 5W20 before the Pentastar, so 20 grade oil is is nothing new to them.