I'm going to give 20wt a chance...

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Been using GC, it seems fine. But MPG is never more than 22MPG, even with LC/FP. Given that this is a 12 cSt at 100C product, Mobil 1 0w-20 seems like a shoe-in for my 04 Saturn Vue 3.5L V6 (the Honda Odyssey) engine.

So I'd figure I'd give the Mobil 1 a shot. I plan on going to Pennzoil 5w-20, but the cold weather warrants something better in the cold-cranking department for achieving the best possible MPG.

Anyone else with this drivetrain experience better MPG with 20wt oils?

 

[Jay]

I don't have an Odyssey, but I've used Mobil 1 0w-20. It has the best cold-temp performance of just about any oil you can buy in WalMart. I saw a measurable increase in gas mileage with it--even over Mobil 1 5w30.

Too bad WalMart doesn't sell this grade of Mobil 1 in the 5qt jugs.

 

[andrews]

I don't know about mpg but I did notice better starts in cold weather. The engine cranks a bit better over 5w30.

 

[Tones]

That seems like pretty good gas mileage from my experience for a 3.5, if you are talking city or mixed city/highway driving. Especially with the cold weather. My Accord 3.0 actually got as low as 18-19 mpg in mostly short trip city driving, as high as 29-30 mpg on the highway, averaging around 22 mpg.

 

[ruking77]

I have a 2004 Civic 4 door automatic still on factory fill at app 4900 miles. The research I have done indicate that Mobil 1 0w20 is not only a robust oil, but other folks on this web site and others indicate better mpg. I project 1-3 mph better. Currently on Honda 5w20 oem fill, conventional, we are seeing 35-39 mpg. So 1-3 mpg will push that to 36-42 mpg.

 

[JTK]

I'm thinking about going the same route with my 2002 isuzu rodeo 3.2L. Isuzu specs everything from 5w30 to 20w-50

for this engine depending on ambient temps. I already keep 5w-20 around for my 2001 ford windstar 3.8L, so what the hay!! Anybody know the valvetrain setup on the honda 3.5L? Hydraulic valve lash adjusters? or is it cams right over the valve stems/ direct attack (like the isuzu)?
Thanks!
Joel

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

JTK, If Isuzu doesn't spec 20wt oil, I suggest against using it. TooSlick tried that not all that long ago on his small pickup and wear went up exponentially over the 30wt oils.

 

[GreenElixer]

T&S,
I have '03 Civic EX. My mpg went down about 2-3 mpg when I had a temporary switch to 0w30. My history on this 5w20 spec'ed engine has been 39-40mpg on highway when it was new under factory dino fill. Switched to synthetic 0w20 and I've experienced a best ever of 47mpg on highway being pampered w/tailwind. Otherwise, it gets avg. of about 42-43mpg on highway during warm months of spring/summer/fall. It drops off slightly in winter (winter gas changes?). So, I think I got an additional 2-3 mpg with 0w20 synthetic over 5w20 conventional. Hope that helps. On the wear question...well, I had a 4qt 0w30 w/ 1 qt 0w20 in wife's vehicle and it pulled off a very robust UOA at 15k miles. I would suggest doing a mix of xw30 and xw20 in any vehicle prior to switching to all xw20 weight 100%. But, that's just me!

 

[mdocod]

digging through some old threads... sorry to bring it to the top.. but...

quote:

---

JTK, If Isuzu doesn't spec 20wt oil, I suggest against using it. TooSlick tried that not all that long ago on his small pickup and wear went up exponentially over the 30wt oils.

---

A recent thread was showing some fairly solid evidense that most 30wt oils shear down close to a 20wt within about 1000 miles anyways. whereas the 20wts don't shear down very far from their original viscosity over time.

um? i wonder what other conditions may have played a factor in tooslicks analysys.

 

[goodvibes]

He is used to using oils that don't shear and may thicken a bit. Perhaps the motor isn't 20w freindly or he drives it hard.

 

[nickmckinney]

After testing the Valvoline Synpower additive I will be using it with Mobil 1 5W20 for just about everything now. That Synpower additive with its massive moly and boron content has given 5~8% city MPG improvements in 3 of my vehicles now. It did not make any change I could notice for highway MPG. I used the whole bottle with 4.5 quarts of the 5W20 to make a ~30WT.