Maxlife 5W-30 jeep and 5W-20 cav

[Nick R]

My dad wants to change the oil in the jeep, and he wants to use a thick 5w30. I only have 1k on the Maxlife, and I want to switch to a thinner oil that doesn't tick so much. I offered him use of the maxlife, and he said it sounded good. Now, colt45ws (onmo) said he used 5W-20 in his 2.2L OHV and it ran fine. I was thinking about when the sale comes on, picking up some Synpower 5W-20 and a Bosch filter (Saving the current NAPA for future use, of course, since it's basically unused). Does this sound like a good plan? I'm going to force myself to do a 7-10k mile run on this stuff, now that the VC gasket, and the PCV valve was replaced, it burns no oil at all. Does this sound like a good plan to you guys?

By the way, the 2.2L specs 5w30 SJ stuff. Thoughts on this plan?

 

[addyguy]

I don't think it will hurt at all.

'Most' conventional 30-weights will shear to a thick (8.7-9.0cst) 20-weight during an OCI. So starting with a 20-weight shouldn't do any harm.

I drive the same basic car as you, and I've often 'thought' that my engine runs better the further into an OCI it gets, ie, as the oil thins out. I've often thought of trying a 20-weight in my car to see how it runs. Like yours, mine burns very, very little oil (1/2 - 1/3 quart in 8-9k).

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
I don't think it will hurt at all.

'Most' conventional 30-weights will shear to a thick (8.7-9.0cst) 20-weight during an OCI. So starting with a 20-weight shouldn't do any harm.

I drive the same basic car as you, and I've often 'thought' that my engine runs better the further into an OCI it gets, ie, as the oil thins out. I've often thought of trying a 20-weight in my car to see how it runs. Like yours, mine burns very, very little oil (1/2 - 1/3 quart in 8-9k).


I agree, I noticed the same thing with the PP, it just seemed to run better and better the longer it was in. Going to maxlife was a huge step downward in everything. I don't like it so much, so I think I'm going to try that. 5W-20 synpower it is then.

 

[addyguy]

Let us know how it goes!

 

[Nick R]

It should be entertaining, all the thick oil guys going "ZOMG YOUR ENGINE WILL ASPLODE"

(I kid I kid...) Seriously, I'm really interested to see what, if any difference it makes on the butt dyno, and fuel efficiency, among other things. I'll definitely keep you posted.

 

[dakota99]

That's crazy you experienced the ticking with maxlife too? I've used quaker state horsepower, Pennzoil conventional, Mobil 1 High Mileage, and Pennzoil Platinum in my 99 dakota and never experienced any adverse noise. Then in feb i threw some maxlife in it, and not more than a minute from my driveway i heard this noise, like ticking. It's very noticeable in enclosed places, such as drive ups and such. Nothing changed on the truck that day, just pulled in, did oil and pulled out.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: dakota99
That's crazy you experienced the ticking with maxlife too? I've used quaker state horsepower, Pennzoil conventional, Mobil 1 High Mileage, and Pennzoil Platinum in my 99 dakota and never experienced any adverse noise. Then in feb i threw some maxlife in it, and not more than a minute from my driveway i heard this noise, like ticking. It's very noticeable in enclosed places, such as drive ups and such. Nothing changed on the truck that day, just pulled in, did oil and pulled out.


Yup, that's basically what happened with mine. I thought it at first was a side affect of the 10W-40.... But then I used the Valvoline MaxLife 5w30 and it's ticking away again.

 

[calvinnnnnnnnn]

weird, im running maxlife after trying countless of oils. it purrs just as smooth as synpower

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: calvinnnnnnnnn
weird, im running maxlife after trying countless of oils. it purrs just as smooth as synpower


For my old F-150 with the 300, the MaxLife 5w30 was the quietest oil this side of HDEO. I didn't have similar luck with other high mileage oils. Only MaxLife and HDEO did the trick.

 

[VWright]

The ticking in my 4.0L Jeep went away when I added MMO to the oil...

VW

 

[Mokanic]

Originally Posted By: VWright
The ticking in my 4.0L Jeep went away when I added MMO to the oil...

VW


If that's the case, the Maxlife is not at fault.

 

[Oregoonian]

Originally Posted By: calvinnnnnnnnn
weird, im running maxlife after trying countless of oils. it purrs just as smooth as synpower


Ditto....have used MaxLife for the last 6000 miles....my vehicle purrs like a kitten. It works beautifully!

_____________________________________
2003 Ford Focus SE (2.3L Duratec) / 85K
Valvoline MaxLife Syn 5w30 / OCI 7,000 +/-
Purolator PureOne PA 10241

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Oregoonian
Originally Posted By: calvinnnnnnnnn
weird, im running maxlife after trying countless of oils. it purrs just as smooth as synpower


Ditto....have used MaxLife for the last 6000 miles....my vehicle purrs like a kitten. It works beautifully!




Yes, but if you used Amsoil, it would roar like a lion when you wanted it to. Leap tall buildings in a single bound and outrun speeding bullets.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Mokanic
Originally Posted By: VWright
The ticking in my 4.0L Jeep went away when I added MMO to the oil...

VW


If that's the case, the Maxlife is not at fault.


I think maxlife is just too thick for some cars. That is the whole reason I want to go to Synpower 5W-20, besides that it is right now the big oil I want to use. I still want to try Amsoil XL but that's a ways off, considering that in a bit over a week I can get....

5- quarts of Synpower
and
a Bosch Distance Plus filter for $27 plus tax.