Just a quick query about oil weights

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garystevens

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Hi, is it okay if I put 5W-40 in a car with a 5W-20 recommendation?

I don't like 5W-20, it's too thin for my tastes and I think 40 will be great in the summer, so will I run into any problems, or should I be okay?

Thanks in advance.
 
i would move up to 5-30 if anyhting.

You taste may not always be right, engineers on the other hand know what they are doing.
 
Originally Posted By: Bulli
i would move up to 5-30 if anyhting.

You taste may not always be right, engineers on the other hand know what they are doing.


While that is true, the car isn't really designed for hard driving, but I usually drive it pretty hard so I like to be protected.

I'm not too worried about gas mileage.
 
Originally Posted By: garystevens
Hi, is it okay if I put 5W-40 in a car with a 5W-20 recommendation?

I don't like 5W-20, it's too thin for my tastes and I think 40 will be great in the summer, so will I run into any problems, or should I be okay?

Thanks in advance.


What does taste have to do with motor oil? What kind of car? Under warranty? How many miles? Maybe just maybe a synthetic 5w30 or 0W-30, but even that is so illogical when there are so many great XW-20's out there.

Nothing at all to be gained by going to a more viscous oil. Thick is so 1968.
 
Originally Posted By: garystevens
Originally Posted By: Bulli
i would move up to 5-30 if anyhting.

You taste may not always be right, engineers on the other hand know what they are doing.


While that is true, the car isn't really designed for hard driving, but I usually drive it pretty hard so I like to be protected.

I'm not too worried about gas mileage.


Race cars use oils thinner than Xw-20.....what do you mean by "protected"....? Oil being "thick" does not provide more protection.
 
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Originally Posted By: garystevens
Originally Posted By: Bulli
i would move up to 5-30 if anyhting.

You taste may not always be right, engineers on the other hand know what they are doing.


While that is true, the car isn't really designed for hard driving, but I usually drive it pretty hard so I like to be protected.

I'm not too worried about gas mileage.


Race cars use oils thinner than Xw-20.....what do you mean by "protected"....? Oil being "thick" does not provide more protection.


Why do I always see 5w-50 and 20w-50 as racing oil then?

Whats the point of thicker oil, if not protection?
 
I don't know about all that. I would never think of using a 20wt in the GN. It would seem to me that the harder the car is run, the hotter the oil, the more starting viscosity it would need to maintain the same running viscosity.
 
Ah good questions - SOME engines do run extra HOT and have HUGE amounts of specialized fuel in very rich running conditions with very loose bore clearances. This does NOT apply to a street car calling for 5W-20.
 
I saw some Valvoline VR1 SAE 60 at Autozone the other day. That`s the thickest oil I`ve ever seen. Just out of sheer curiosity,is that the thickest oil made?
 
Originally Posted By: Pablo
Ah good questions - SOME engines do run extra HOT and have HUGE amounts of specialized fuel in very rich running conditions with very loose bore clearances. This does NOT apply to a street car calling for 5W-20.


Oh, I see. Thanks for the info.

Well the thing is I already have 5W-40 synthetic lying around so I figured if it would be okay in my car I would at least try it. If it was really that bad I would just swap it out.
 
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Most cars that spec 5w30 can safely run 5W-20 and vice versa.

The 5W-20 will provide better oil flow, better fuel mileage, protect as well as 5w30 in most circumstances, and likely run cooler.

The oil temperatures in your engine don't justify running anything thicker than a 5w30.

What kind of car is it and what kind of oil?
 
Originally Posted By: MGregoir
Most cars that spec 5w30 can safely run 5W-20 and vice versa.

The 5W-20 will provide better oil flow, better fuel mileage, protect as well as 5w30 in most circumstances, and likely run cooler.

The oil temperatures in your engine don't justify running anything thicker than a 5w30.

What kind of car is it and what kind of oil?


Thanks, very helpful, I think I'll just bite my lip and buy some 5W-20, any brand recommendations? (synthetic) and what about oil filters, K&N?
 
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I saw some Valvoline VR1 SAE 60 at Autozone the other day. That`s the thickest oil I`ve ever seen. Just out of sheer curiosity,is that the thickest oil made?

The big radial aircraft engines use/used SAE-50 to SAE-70 mono-grade engine oil. Very few additives, just enough to keep soot under control. Those engines were operated at very high engine loads, and only a mono-grade oil was/is robust enough to handle the bearing pressures. Multi-grade oils, including most synthetics won't stand up to the heavy bearing loads.

I use to run Pennzoil SAE-50 Aircraft oil in my Virago motorcycle if it was going to see a lot of hot duty. That oil had a flash point of 520F. Also ran highest octane gas I could find to keep the pinging under control.
 
Almost all brand name 5W-20s, conventional or synthetic are good. Between how stringent API SM and ILSAC GF-4 are, as well as the strength of Ford and Honda's standards, there is no real room on the market for a less than good product. Some are just better than others.

Value for money the Motorcraft Synthetic Blend 5W-20 has gotten a good reputation, Pennzoil Platinum is good and even better if you can find it on sale.

If you want to go more "exotic" (not really, but different than most) Mobil 1 0W-20 should be a good oil, and if you make a lot of short trips offer better mileage. If you have a favorite brand, you should be fine using just about anything, as long as the manufacturer recommends it. As well, Amsoil's XL-7500 line is API approved and could be suitable for what you are doing, they are good oils as well.

As for oil filters, K&N, Mobil 1, Wix and Purolator PureONE are all really good filters. Wix is a value for money leader. If it's a Ford vehicle, the Motorcraft filters are made by Purolator for them and are quite good as well.

What kind of vehicle are you driving?
 
Just to comfort the OP, 5w30 generally shears to a 20 weight anyway. Use a good 5w30 if you want, but 5w-40 is just a totally different beast, MUCH thicker than intended for your engine.
 
Originally Posted By: garystevens
Hi, is it okay if I put 5W-40 in a car with a 5W-20 recommendation?

I don't like 5W-20, it's too thin for my tastes and I think 40 will be great in the summer, so will I run into any problems, or should I be okay?

Thanks in advance.


As soon as I read that opening post, I envisioned a flurry of posts from the thin oil priests attempting to exercise the evil thick oil demons from your body; I was right.
grin2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: garystevens
Well the thing is I already have 5W-40 synthetic lying around so I figured if it would be okay in my car I would at least try it. If it was really that bad I would just swap it out.

The problem is, there's nothing you could feel by the seat of your pants to tell you if the 5w-40 is not doing well. In fact, heavier oil actually deadens vibration and makes things feel smoother, which tends to trick you into thinking it's doing better when it's actually not.

Do you have an oil temperature monitor? Do you keep close track of your fuel economy? Do you plan on doing a used oil analysis?
 
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