KCJeep may be right concerning 10w30 quietness

[wemay]

Completely anecdotal

Ever since I've owned 2.4L Theta II equipped Hyundai/KIA vehicles, KCJeep has shared his experience that 10w30 runs quieter in his KIA than the recommended 5w20. I've never noticed a difference in the two Sonata before this Sportage, but this time it's different. I only have a few thousand miles on tap yet this run of 10w30 is noticeably if not dramatically quieter 2000 miles into the interval.

My question is, does this have any tangible meaning? I've researched UOA using both and the results in wear numbers have been negligible.

 

[53' Stude]

KCJEEP is a smart man

 

[CT8]

Why would you not think the thicker wouldn't be quieter?

 

[Nick1994]

Well, I guess I wouldn't be able to tell the difference since I've never run 5w20 in mine.

Not sure I'd be able to hear the difference over the HPFP anyways.

 

[wemay]

Originally Posted by CT8
Why would you not think the thicker wouldn't be quieter?


Because i only went up one grade and it's never been noticable before.

 

[BrocLuno]

Each engine is different. Some in minor ways, some pretty major. They all react ti viscosity in different ways. Since noise equals metal hitting metal (there ill be an oil film) it makes sense to go quiet as long as there is no real downside. Your fuel mileage will maybe suffer in the 0.00x range, but a headwind on the way to work will do more.

 

[Linctex]

It's a "night & day difference" between 5W-20 and 10W-40 in the ol' F150 4.6 liter.... like HUGE difference.

Not really any difference in gas mileage at all between the two.

 

[Samrsnow]

My GF's 16' sonata 2.4 went from burning maybe 3 quarts on 5w20 in like 6k miles to about 1/2-3/4 a quart in 3,500 miles and noticeably quieter on cold starts using 10w30.

Especially in hot climates, 10w30 seems to be the sweet spot for these engines.

 

[zeng]

Is it not about damping in an oscilliatory/vibratory system ?

 

[nap]

Just as a tease:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stokes%27s_law_of_sound_attenuation

 

[bbhero]

So I see you finally got your hearing aides in

Just messing with you. Yeah it can be surprising how things like that can make a big difference. Even going from a 50/50 mix of Cam2 and Super S 5w30 to Federated Auto 5w30 was striking. Way, way quieter with FA 5w30 semi synthetic in the lady's Camry vs the other oils.

I'm glad it has been different with your 10w30.

 

[OilUzer]

CAFE people are not ear friendly. they don't care about noise!

 

[wemay]

I'm not sure if it has to do with Mobil Super Synthetic or the grade itself since i can find no HT/HS numbers for this oil. I'll see if it remains this way throughout the interval.

 

[turnbowm]

Valvetrain noise was reduced when I switched from 5W20 to 5W30 in my Kia 2.4L GDI. 10W30 may be quieter yet, but it's not a Dexos1 Gen2 oil so I'll stick with the 5W30.

 

[wemay]

Im not so sure d1G2 is necessary in a non-turbo but get your reasoning. It can't hurt.

 

[turnbowm]

Originally Posted by wemay
Im not so sure d1G2 is necessary in a non-turbo but get your reasoning. It can't hurt.

Reduced timing chain wear might be reason enough to consider a Dexos1 Gen2 oil.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Rumor has it that 0w/5w30 and even a 0w/5w-40 works better in the subaru FB engines. Of course, I wouldn't know that because I only use the recommended 0w-20. I even have the receipts to prove it

My Focus loved 0w-20 and was quietest on that.

 

[wemay]

I haven't done a longer than 500 mile drain with 5w20 yet so when i do I'll comment on that as well. But that short interval was definitely louder.

*I do very short intervals for the first 2000 miles then go to 5000 mile intervals.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

Wemay, I am using Chevron Supreme 10w30 in my Elantra and also noticed it being quiet. It is my favorite oil I used in that engine so far.

 

[KCJeep]

I have pretty much come full circle. Before I found BITOG, for decades I had been habitually dumping 10w30 in everything year round. No issues of course but I was using only conventionals, mostly Castrol.

Now I am really liking the Full Synthetic 10w30's with their typically low Noack and fewer VII's. I do 10k OCI's now. It seems to me a good 30 grade is the sweet spot for an awful lot of engines. I consider 10w30 the closest thing to a universal oil there is, you can put it in almost anything and it always seems to run well.

Wemay, your MSS is a boron heavy oil, at least it used to be, and boron heavy oils often tend to run quiet as well so it may not just be the grade, but it ain't hurting anything either.