Engine Louder With 0W-20 - Spec is 5W-20 - Bad?

[lovcom]

Should I be concerned that my car's engine is a tad louder on idle with 0W-20 then when it had 5W-20?

Is there necessarily a direct correlation between engine noise and engine wear? And if so, is this absolute?

Now I do notice a very slight increase in MPG with the thinner stuff, and it might be trick of mind, but it seems the car has a tad bit more pep too. Maybe.

Thanks!

 

[BTLew81]

Honestly...I've never seen a MPG increase going from a 5 weight to a 0 weight. That number only really matters at startup.

Could it make your engine louder? Doubt it... Did you change brands? This is the more likely cause.

Just my two pennies.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Just curious!

What 5W-20 brand are you comparing this to?

What brand is the 0W-20?

What vehicle & engine size?

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

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Should I be concerned that my car's engine is a tad louder on idle with 0W-20 then when it had 5W-20?

Is there necessarily a direct correlation between engine noise and engine wear? And if so, is this absolute?

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No. used oil analysis will prove or disprove if any additional wear is occurring with the 'louder' oil. Usually there is no difference in wear between oils, even when quieter.

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Now I do notice a very slight increase in MPG with the thinner stuff,

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The oils are the same viscosity---they're both 20wt products. The 0w oil *might* offer a bit better MPG with cold starting compared to the 5w offering.

What oils are we talking here??

In my case, switching from Pennzoil 5w20 conventional to Mobil 1 0w-20 SM quieted the engine down a bit more.

 

[Merkava_4]

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Just curious!

What 5W-20 brand are you comparing this to?

What brand is the 0W-20?

What vehicle & engine size?

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Triple_Se7en, those questions might be a tad bit too personal for the OP.

 

[Merkava_4]

I'm surprised no one has come back to this thread yet. I'd say the answer to your question depends on how raw your nerves are. Myself, I couldn't stand one minute of a noisy engine that's suffering from insufficient lubrication. I'd drain that 0W-20 out of there in one nanosecond and pour me in some 10w30; but that's just me, I'm extra sensitive when it comes to mechanical things.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I tried a 5W30 one time and my engine`s valvetrain was really loud after the engine was good and hot. Soon thereafter I got a Nissan Z32 FSM and it warns not to use a 5W20-5W30. It recommends a 10W30-10W40 under normal driving. It goes on to recommend a 15W40-20W50 if you drive extended high speeds. VG30DE engines definitely don`t like thin oils.

I`m currently running Mobil 1 15W50 and I`m switching to Royal Purple 15W40 here soon for my Winter fill (seeing our Winters average in the 70s).

 

[lovcom]

I replaced Mobil 1 5W-20 with Mobil 1 0W-20...sorry for the late response...

 

[wantin150]

Try Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 or 0w20 and see if you notice a difference. Take a sound bite before and after. SOME vehicles are just plain louder with M1.

 

[Lonnie]

turn up the radio

 

[Merkava_4]

I still don't think 10w30 will cause the engine to seize up.

 

[Steve S]

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Honestly...I've never seen a MPG increase going from a 5 weight to a 0 weight. That number only really matters at startup.

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Very,very cold startup