differences in preferred oil weights.

[shDK]

Hi All.

Being new in this forum, I've noticed a difference between the most used oil weights on the north American continent. And in Europe

Reading how much 5w-20 and 0w-20 is used really surprised me. Where i live, and in most of Europe i think. 20 weight oils is pretty rare. And in Denmark almost impossible to find. have only found it online. And read on this forum that 16 weight oils are the future.

Here 5w30 is the most used on diesels and 5w-40 and 10w-40 is the most used in petrol engines.

Anyone here know why there is such a difference? Personally i think the only reason to use 20 oil or lower is fuel consumption. I use a 5w-40, and never experienced any problems. no valve lifter ticking and instant oil pressure at startup, also in -20 c. i'm sure there are good reasons to use these very thin oils. i just can't see why.

but i'm sure all the wise people in here knows why?

 

[901Memphis]

Fuel consumption is probably the biggest reason they moved from 5w30 to 0w20/5w20. If it weren't for that i can still see many vehicles requiring 5w30 for most North American climates.

Plenty of us still use 5w30s in vehicles that are calling for 20wts because we know they were designed for 30wt oils and some of the used oil analysis can back up running a 5w30 vs a 5w20 if you look hard enough and dig.

Honestly though i think most people make much larger mistakes than picking either of those such as using non detergent oils or non API certified ones. I have seen people grabbing SAE 30 for oil changes which cant be good for cold starts.

 

[shDK]

i believe your right.

recently i wrote a e-mail to a lubricant technician at Liqui Moly in Germany.

i asked if they would advice me to use the 0-20 oil for my parents Suzuki the manual calls for. he wrote back that they considered 0-20 to thin, and that 0-30 would be perfect. he also wrote that most engines calling for 0-20 was for 5-30 a couple of years ago, but suddenly changed when fuel consumption got more important.

But actually the dealer uses 10w-40. witch is i because it's cheap i think.

 

[Swissdieselfan]

Originally Posted By: shDK
Hi All.
Being new in this forum, I've noticed a difference between the most used oil weights on the north American continent. And in Europe
Reading how much 5w-20 and 0w-20 is used really surprised me. Where i live, and in most of Europe i think. 20 weight oils is pretty rare. And in Denmark almost impossible to find. have only found it online. And read on this forum that 16 weight oils are the future.
Here 5w30 is the most used on diesels and 5w-40 and 10w-40 is the most used in petrol engines.
Anyone here know why there is such a difference? Personally i think the only reason to use 20 oil or lower is fuel consumption. I use a 5w-40, and never experienced any problems. no valve lifter ticking and instant oil pressure at startup, also in -20 c. i'm sure there are good reasons to use these very thin oils. i just can't see why.
but i'm sure all the wise people in here knows why?


I think the CAFE story has been done to death in many articles, but suffice to say the final outcome seems to be that owners manuals and dealership oil service info in the US has to be based on an X/20 if possible to keep the fuel economy bean counters happy. The same applies in Japan for slightly different reasons, but outside of those two countries the owners manual gives a graph or table of temperature vs different viscosity ranges in addition to the required API or ACEA approvals.

If you own a vehicle in the US that is not subject to a warranty and it has an X/20 oil recommended for it, then I would check an EU web site to see if it is the best grade or not (Might be good for hybrids or some new Ford engines). If there is a better recommendation in the EU for your temp range, then you seem to have two choices, firstly continue to use the US spec oil and short associated OCI, OR try using a thicker top quality full synthetic and the associated longer OCI. The final result in viscosity terms will probably be the same, as will the wear factors.
So it's a thin and often or a thick and long game, BUT DYOR as it's a complicated game due to the use of high Sulphur content fuels in the US and the different additives that can offset the potential effects of thin oil use.
I tend on the thick and fairly often side of the debate, as it reduces oil consumption and is not such a waste of good oil and filters.

 

[bigjl]

The only time I would use 5w20 or 0w20 is if the engine was originally designed for it.

I have seen the discussions on the forum before and the defence on -w20 oils seems to ignore that facts a little and seems to turn into a why Europe is wrong discussion.

Though I was told on a Jeep Liberty forum that most of the US uses low sulphur fuel now not just California.

When I mentioned it on here I think I was shouted down as knowing little as I am not from the US so how could I know, the fact I was relaying information given to me by an American was apparently ignored.

I believe it is true that most of the US had lower levels of sulphur in them than they used to.

Wether the levels are as low as they are in Europe I don't know.

 

[Merkava_4]

5W-20 is a Dodge/Ford thing. GM still uses 5w30. GM knows better.

 

[demarpaint]

I feel a thick vs. thin war brewing.

I'll watch this time.

 

[Merkava_4]

The Amsoil product application guide recommends 5w30 for the new 2013
Ford F150 with the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost. Interesting. Maybe Ford is wising up.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
The Amsoil product application guide recommends 5w30 for the new 2013
Ford F150 with the 3.5L V6 EcoBoost. Interesting. Maybe Ford is wising up.


What did they recommend prior to 2013 for this engine?

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint

What did they recommend prior to 2013 for this engine?


5w30. They must've learned their lesson from all those Mustang engines burning up with 5W-20.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: demarpaint

What did they recommend prior to 2013 for this engine?


5w30. They must've learned their lesson from all those Mustang engines burning up with 5W-20.

I figured it had something to do with DI.

 

[shDK]

Originally Posted By: bigjl

I have seen the discussions on the forum before and the defence on -w20 oils seems to ignore that facts a little and seems to turn into a why Europe is wrong discussion.


When I mentioned it on here I think I was shouted down as knowing little as I am not from the US so how could I know, the fact I was relaying information given to me by an American was apparently ignored.


Went the same way in another thread about the longer OCI in europe. Kind og sad i think.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I feel a thick vs. thin war brewing.

I'll watch this time.


These constant re runs can get a bit boring....

 

[Roadkingnc]

5w30 is speced due to the twin turbochargers used on this engine.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I feel a thick vs. thin war brewing.

I'll watch this time.


These constant re runs can get a bit boring....


They can, which is why I'll watch. Although I couldn't resist the temptation to ask a question........At the moment I think I know all I need to know about this topic.

 

[Gabe]

Originally Posted By: shDK
wrote that most engines calling for 0-20 was for 5-30 a couple of years ago, but suddenly changed when fuel consumption got more important.


I just assumed the specifications were updated for modern motor oils. A 30 wt from 10 years ago would drain out thinner than a modern 20 wt after a similar service. In other words, the engineers intended the motor to run on a specific viscosity - which is now achieved by a lighter grade.

 

[jorton]

In Denmark are many automobiles diesel powered? In the US most diesel powered vehicles are "3/4 ton" pickup trucks. There are only 2 or 3 diesel rated engine oils available in 30 grade, and around 8 or 10 or more in 40 grade. I guess one engine is designed to run 40 grade oil and another is designed to run 30 grade. Otherwise, there would be more 30 grade diesel rated engine oil available here in the US.

 

[shDK]

Originally Posted By: jorton
In Denmark are many automobiles diesel powered? In the US most diesel powered vehicles are "3/4 ton" pickup trucks. There are only 2 or 3 diesel rated engine oils available in 30 grade, and around 8 or 10 or more in 40 grade. I guess one engine is designed to run 40 grade oil and another is designed to run 30 grade. Otherwise, there would be more 30 grade diesel rated engine oil available here in the US.



jep. here about 1/3 of all private passenger cars are diesels. it's the same in the most of western Europe.

 

[bourne]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
5W-20 is a Dodge/Ford thing. GM still uses 5w30. GM knows better.


New Malibu is spec'd for Dexos rated 5w20

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: bourne
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
5W-20 is a Dodge/Ford thing. GM still uses 5w30. GM knows better.


New Malibu is spec'd for Dexos rated 5w20


CAFE is begnning to bite every American auto maker...