Difference in 5w/20 and 5w/30

[brihvac]

Im going to change the oil in my 09 Hyundai Genesis. The oil fill cap says 5w20 and in the manual it says I can use 5/20 or 5/30. Im switching to Mobil 1 Synthetic. Car has 700 miles on it. Im getting a dry start chatter when the car has sat for awhile (at the dealer now for it). Dont really understand or know which oil I should use. I live in Delaware. I dont think it has ever gone below 0 here.
Which one should I use?

 

[demarpaint]

You can use either oil if the mfg states both oils. 5W20 should give slightly better mpgs (you might not even notice), and offer better flow when the car is first started, and while it is cold outside. From what I've read the dry start chatter seems to be normal for that engine, and could be caused by the oil filter position causing it to drain when the engine is off and sitting a long time.

 

[e55amgbenz007]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
You can use either oil if the mfg states both oils. 5W20 should give slightly better mpgs (you might not even notice), and offer better flow when the car is first started, and while it is cold outside. From what I've read the dry start chatter seems to be normal for that engine, and could be caused by the oil filter position causing it to drain when the engine is off and sitting a long time.


?

 

[SrDriver]

We have a vehicle with the same engine. Vehicle dealer filter is your best bet with that engine. You can take your own oil.

If you change the filter yourself be careful of the oil rings on the filter. This vehicle uses a canister type filter.

No problems on this end with noise on startup.

I highly recommend 5W20 oil year around. It gets 100+ here some in the summer months and as low as the 20s here @ night during winter months.

I would get the filter changed ASAP too. Think that will solve your startup noise.

Well pleased with the engine/vehicle.

 

[chevrofreak]

Skip the Mobil 1 and get some Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20. There are too many cases of people reporting that Mobil 1 increased valvetrain noise, and that Pennzoil Platinum quieted it.

 

[brihvac]

I just saw Pennzoil Platinum 5qt at Walmart for $20

 

[Pete591]

I am a synthetic user. Mostly Amsoil or Motul 300v these days.


I use the 5W-20 during the winter and the 5w30 during the summer.


My .02

 

[Mark888]

Originally Posted By: brihvac
I just saw Pennzoil Platinum 5qt at Walmart for $20
Don't pay attention to Chevrofreak. He hates Mobil 1 and will bad-mouth it every chance he gets. Would you trust anyone who loves a Chevy?

My Genesis 3.8 is perfectly quiet on Mobil 1 5W-20, although I will be switching to 5w30 this summer for reasons already explained.

 

[brihvac]

Thanks Mark

 

[bigjohn]

Better yet, run into Advanced Auto and get a K&N oil filter and 5 quarts of Castrol Syntec 5w20 for $24.99!!!!

 

[mechtech2]

A slightly different oil filter or a bad one can cause start up clatter.
I have an '01 V6 Hyundai that clatters on start up if it sits a long while [weeks].

 

[Mark888]

On the 2009 V6 Hyundai Genesis, the oil filter is a cartridge type that points straight up, and the oil drains back to the crankcase in a relatively short time. Dipstick shows about 3/4 quart high. But I have not experienced any noise on my Genesis. Switched to Mobil 1 5W-20 at 1500 miles.
http://blog.cardomain.com/2008/09/17/hyundai-genesis-2/

 

[chevrofreak]

Originally Posted By: Mark888
Originally Posted By: brihvac
I just saw Pennzoil Platinum 5qt at Walmart for $20
Don't pay attention to Chevrofreak. He hates Mobil 1 and will bad-mouth it every chance he gets. Would you trust anyone who loves a Chevy?


Mobil 1 is overrated. Period.

And if you want to keep harping on that ignorant anti-Chevy stuff, I drive a Ford.

 

[Mark888]

Originally Posted By: chevrofreak
Mobil 1 is overrated. Period.

And if you want to keep harping on that ignorant anti-Chevy stuff, I drive a Ford.

Saying Mobil 1 is over-rated is a lot different than saying it is junk like you usually do.

Some people are not going to be impressed by a Ford either.

 

[Mark888]

Here is an interesting discussion concerning the 5W-20 and 5w30 debate:

"Thinner motor oils such as 5W-20 or even 0W-20 are becoming more popular these days and are even specified by some OEM's (FORD & HONDA) on new 2001 cars.

Although these oils are promoted as "energy conserving" they generally trade a gain of less than 0.1 MPG in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) for shorter useful engine life.

FORD which has previously designed cars to have 10 year or 150,000 miles life has reduced the mileage life expectation to "beyond 100,000 miles" on vehicles that are operated on SAE 5W-20 Motor Oil.

HONDA only claims "useful life" as 7-years or 70,000 miles in EPA certifications for their CIVIC which uses SAE 5W-20 Motor Oil, while the previous model that utilized SAE 5w30 Motor Oil was certified for 10 year or 100,000 mile durability.

Since both HONDA and FORD Warranty their NEW cars for ONLY 3-years or 36,000-miles the reduction in engine life expectancy is not a factor.

By contrast Mercedes-Benz recommends use of ONLY Synthetic Motor Oil that is at least SAE 5W-40! This is a recent increase in recommended viscosity from SAE 5w30. Apparently customer research indicated that engine longevity is more important to typical MB customer than fuel economy."

http://www.synlube.com/viscosit.htm#SAE J300 Viscosity Classification (Current)

 

[PT1]

Originally Posted By: chevrofreak
Skip the Mobil 1 and get some Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20. There are too many cases of people reporting that Mobil 1 increased valvetrain noise, and that Pennzoil Platinum quieted it.


+1 PP has quieted several engines for me

 

[Nickdfresh]

Originally Posted By: chevrofreak
Skip the Mobil 1 and get some Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20. There are too many cases of people reporting that Mobil 1 increased valvetrain noise, and that Pennzoil Platinum quieted it.


Psychosomatic

 

[chevrofreak]

Originally Posted By: Mark888
Saying Mobil 1 is over-rated is a lot different than saying it is junk like you usually do.

Some people are not going to impressed by a Ford either.


When have I said it's junk? I think it's majorly overrated for what you actually get. It does not perform as well as many other less expensive alternatives, and I'm not shy about stating that.

I don't buy a car to impress other people. If I did want to impress people, I, too might be a Mobil 1 fanatic. Saying you use Mobil 1 gets a lot more respect from the typical unknowledgeable car guy than Pennzoil Platinum or Valvoline Synpower will.

 

[chevrofreak]

Originally Posted By: PT1
Originally Posted By: chevrofreak
Skip the Mobil 1 and get some Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20. There are too many cases of people reporting that Mobil 1 increased valvetrain noise, and that Pennzoil Platinum quieted it.


+1 Pennzoil Platinum has quieted several engines for me


Pennzoil Platinum 5w-20 made a pretty significant change in the way my 130k+ Crown Vic sounds. The valvetrain is so quiet now that I mostly hear the injectors.

 

[Mark888]

Originally Posted By: PT1
+1 PP has quieted several engines for me

I have heard that STP engine treatment will quiet engines also. I would not recommend an entire crankcase of the stuff, in fact, I would not recommend it all unless your engine has some serious problems.

An engine that has run its entire life (except for break-in) on a good synthetic rarely needs to be quieted.