Oil for 2016 Grand Caravan with Pentastar V6

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Jul 21, 2020
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Guys, some opinions please. The Pentastar calls for 5W20 oil, but I have read it has top end oiling issues and cold start problems. Can I safely go to 5W30? And what about that Lucas low viscosity oil stabilizer? Thanks!
 
My 2014 Dodge with Pentastar has had a steady diet of 5W30 oil for virtually its entire life of near 100k miles. So far, knock on wood, no valve geometry/oiling issues. A few other problems but not the dreaded rocker failures. The last few years I have been using Valvoline 504/507 spec 5W30.
 
Guys, some opinions please. The Pentastar calls for 5W20 oil, but I have read it has top end oiling issues and cold start problems. Can I safely go to 5W30? And what about that Lucas low viscosity oil stabilizer? Thanks!
Cold start problems (if they even exist) would be related to the winter rating. In your question above you are asking about two oils with the same rating.

And what exactly is a "top oiling issue"? Where are you reading about this?
 
The Pentastar calls for 5W20 oil, but I have read it has top end oiling issues and cold start problems.
I have 240,000 miles on two 3.6L Pentastars and they do not have cold start issues. I've started them in -22F with no problems.

Can I safely go to 5W30?
Sure, if that makes you happy, but 5w-20 is just fine.

And what about that Lucas low viscosity oil stabilizer?
Instead of buying Lucas oil stabilizer, take the cash you would spend on it and light it on fire, it will be entertaining and you'll get a lot more value from just burning your money. Seriously, Lucas Oil Stabilizer has zero value or benefit to your engine.
 
Cold start problems (if they even exist) would be related to the winter rating. In your question above you are asking about two oils with the same rating.

And what exactly is a "top oiling issue"? Where are you reading about this?
Cold start problems are not related to cold weather. It is the meaning of the engines first start after sitting overnight.
 
use a name brand 5w-30 full synthetic found at Walmart will do fine,i would avoid the additives as not needed. change at proper intervals ,usually around 5k and filter.
 
What are your thoughts on the links I posted regarding the top end issues of the 3.6?
That is a material, design or manufacturing defect which won't be cured by an oil. The only thing you might try to mitigate it is providing a high film thickness as in a higher HT/HS oil. The oil's winter rating would relate to pumpability, so as long as that wasn't improper for the expected starting temperatures, the oil will be pumped the same regardless of the grade.

If it's really contaminated oil then everyone is on their own.
 
That is a material, design or manufacturing defect which won't be cured by an oil. The only thing you might try to mitigate it is providing a high film thickness as in a higher HT/HS oil. The oil's winter rating would relate to pumpability, so as long as that wasn't improper for the expected starting temperatures, the oil will be pumped the same regardless of the grade.

If it's really contaminated oil then everyone is on their own.

So to OP's question then, a xW-30 would be more beneficial due to the generally higher HTHS than a xW-20 no?
 
So to OP's question then, a xW-30 would be more beneficial due to the generally higher HTHS than a xW-20 no?
I’ll stick my nose in and give my two cents - I ran 5W20 and fixed a bad rocker arm in my 2015 JK around 95K. As I recall, another poster had the same 3.6 and ran 5W30 its whole life. He had a bad rocker around 100K.
 
5w-30 in my 14 Town and Country. 122k miles with no issues.

Leaving for CO, so probably just jinxed myself.
 
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