Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
Originally Posted By: CATERHAM
You've answered your own question.
The specified M1 5W-30 is more appropriate for street use which is what we're talking about here.
More appropriate for an application based on daily driver oil temps and an imperceptible increase in fuel economy doesn't equal "better lubrication", which was what you stated. I don't believe I answered my own question at all. All I've done is identified GM's reasoning for recommending their "across the board" synthetic oil (M1 5w-30) in the ZR1. That doesn't mean it provides "better overall lubrication", if it did, they'd run it in GM's Corvette Program cars, but they don't, they run the 0w-40, likely because under all of the conditions encountered with THOSE cars, the 0w-40 DOES in fact provide "better overall lubrication". If it didn't, they wouldn't use it. Simple as that.
The 0w-40 has a more robust additive package, better longevity, better base stocks, and in general is just a better oil than the 5w-30. The only difference is that it is a bit heavier. I mean I guess it is easy to discount the insane amount of durability, wear control, deposit control....etc testing that it had to go through to gain the Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, Audi....etc approvals, the fact that it is used in a myriad of actual race cars, used by factory race teams.....blah blah blah. And assume that because it is a few cSt heavier that it must provide "inferior" lubrication right?
I don't see how it is possible for you to legitimately back-up the statement "better overall lubrication" here. Perhaps if you had said that the 5w-30 was more appropriate based on oil temps observed in your average street car and that the 5w-30 offers a more appropriate operating viscosity and should provide slightly better fuel economy, sure. I think we can generally agree that your typical street car that spec's 5w-30 isn't going to see any sort of notable benefit from running an oil that is heavier than spec and likely, while being a bit heavier on additives, isn't going to provide any measurable increase in wear control over the spec lubricant. With those qualifiers noted I would argue that neither oil is going to, under these operating conditions, offer "better overall lubrication" than the other. Simply that the 5w-30 is more than adequate for the expected operating conditions and there is no real benefit to running the heavier-than-spec oil unless the operating conditions are somehow exceptional in a way that has not been described to us and that elevated oil temperatures have been observed.
Agree 100% with everything stated. Couldn't have said it better myself, and I've been in this very same discussion many times here before with "said individual".
For comparison and to help the OP confirm that his decision is definitely safe and not harmful, I've been using M1 0W40 for many years in my 2002 Chev Venture tow vehicle with the iron block 3.4 L V6. It has about 300,000 km on it right now, and runs perfectly. It's rusting like nobody's business, and may very well disintegrate before it stops running. When it's used (probably once every 2-3 weeks), it tows anywhere from 2000-4000 lbs without issue, and has had no mechanical issues with the engine (other than intake manifold gaskets many years ago - not due to oil obviously). Use the M1 0W40 with confidence. It's a good oil and a grade that truly works under almost all temperatures that can be encountered. It's not optimal in every situation, but it works.