New Dodge Minivan wanting 5W20 recommendations

[asamek]

I'm currently using NAPA 5w-20 in my 3.3, but have had good results with Pennzoil Conventional and Motorcraft, which is my preferred lube.

I would worry not at all about the "Texas heat" requiring a synthetic - I sincerely doubt the ambient outdoor temps have much effect on the internal operating temps of a motor with a proper cooling system. Only reason to use the synthetic would be to extend change intervals.

 

[shrooms]

MC 5W20 at Walmart is $11.50. Cheap and great oil.

 

[andrewg]

Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
If it were me I would run a synthetic 5W20 due to the Texas heat. Pennzoil seems to be the brand you have chosen and Platinum or Ultra is pretty cheap at Wal-Mart. Just my

What he said.

 

[UNC017]

Originally Posted By: OwnOilChangeGuy
My wife and I just recently bought a slightly used 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan with the 3.8L engine. It has 14,500 miles. I figure it was a rental or lease vehicle.

The manual and oil cap call for 5W20. I live in North Texas and it gets hot here.

What is the current thinking about 5W20 oils? Conventional or synthetic? Pennzoil 5w30 conventional goes in my Toyota Tacoma because it was highly regarded on this website when I bought the truck a year and a half ago.

I don't want to open the 5W20 debate, just want to know what is a highly regarded brand of 5W20?


Motorcraft seems highly regarded here for 5w20. Personally, I'd take a look at Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w20, or in that 3.8 you could run Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w30 as well. Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy 0w30 has been turning in steadily better and better used oil analysis in wifey's 05 PT Cruiser the longer I run it and clean out whatever the previous owner used.

 

[addyguy]

I know it's not 'popular' right now, but Castrol GTX 5W-20 is a very stout 20-weight oil.

But....you really can't go wrong with ANY modern 5W-20, they are all great oils.

 

[asamek]

Someone explain to me why a Texas summer should require a synthetic oil to handle the heat.

Are the "hotspots" inside the motor so much hotter on a 95 degree day than on a 70 degree day that it's likely to corrupt a good conventional oil?

Does the oil itself run so much hotter in the summer than the winter when the motor it runs through is pretty much the same temp when fully warmed up?

Good lord - if the summer "Texas Heat" is enough to cause the need for a synthetic versus a conventional, and the conventional is that close to being corrupted under normal operating conditions, then I'd suggest the conventional shouldn't be used at all.

And that's simply not the case. You should be just fine with a good conventional or blend if that's what you want to use, and you won't be any better protected with a synth, despite the "Texas heat."

 

[OwnOilChangeGuy]

I changed the oil with Pennzoil 5w20 conventional and a Wix 51348 oil filter. I admit that it was hard to put 5W20 in it - my first time to use that viscosity.

The van came with a ValueCraft brand filter (Autozone). The oil looked good (clean). I have no idea how well the oil was changed before we got it. So, I changed it whether it needed it or not. That's just how I roll.

The engine runs really smooth. I swear cars and trucks run better after oil changes and washes.

 

[Gary Allan]

For the 5000 miles you propose, there's no reason to use a synthetic unless you can get it for a dime more than conventional.

MC 5w-20 is about the best value out there for 5k/6m type usage, but any good old 5w-20 should do fine too.

 

[Summerwind]

Love the Pennzoil Conventional 5w20 here

 

[OwnOilChangeGuy]

I drove the minivan this evening for a fun trip to a restaurant in Fort Worth. We ended up driving through a couple of neighborhoods around town afterward. This van runs so smooth under all driving conditions. It's hard for me to believe the Dodge Grand Caravan gets poor reviews.

I feel good about my decision to go with Pennzoil 5w20 conventional and a Wix filter. It was the newly packaged Pennzoil conventional in the 5qt jug from Walmart. I love the value of the 5qt jugs but always spill some now matter what I do.