Originally Posted By: nepadriver
Originally Posted By: SlipperyPete
I have no problem using a 20 grade when specified, but a couple of posters have raised a valid point. Why is it any more difficult for Castrol, SOPUS, or Exxon-Mobil to ship 20 grades to the places all over the world to which they already ship 5w30, 10w40, or 20w50?
I'll try to answer again, when I say "you" not necessarily directed at you personally:
Many OM call for 30/40 in hotter climates of the NA while recommending 5w-20/30 in "traditional" NA "4 season" conditions.
In tropical or "hotter" conditions, without a traditional 4 season climate similar to the NA, heavier oils have historically been used, 10w-30 may even be considered "light" oils those countries.
Ford disproved in the Death Valley torture test there is anywhere on earth where the ambient temperature proscribes the use of 20 grade oils. Heavier oils used to be the norm in the US as well. We made the transition to lighter oils. Why do you think people in other countries can't make the same transition?
Subaru (hypothetical example) may sell 5 cars Inew or used), shipped to Costa Rica per year, if that. And maybe 1 million in North America (NA).
How many cars sold in Costa Rica, and everywhere else in the world, have the same engine that calls for 20 grade in the US? I'd bet it is most of them.
So some want the solution to be to ship 5w-30 to Costa Rica , so those 5 cars use the same oil as recommended in the US for fuel savings? Maybe storing it in the trunk(LOL try getting past customs at the port! You can't even take a dog or cat to Hawaii without 1 month of solitary and tests, and that's staying in the US).
You don't really think lighter oils are just for fuel savings do you? What do dogs and cats have to do with anything? Are cases of oil of any grade that are already being shipped worldwide being held in quarantine anywhere in the world?
Or should they simply use 10w-30 or heavier like a 20/40 weight, also allowed in Subaru's non-T 2010 and earlier? And already available in that hypothetical county/example? To a great degree widely available there already...
They should ship 0W20, 5W20, and 5W30 instead of 10W30 or 20W40. Then those grades would already be available in that hypothetical country.
It makes zero sense to ship that oil getting around taxes/laws/regulations for so little gain. And will be very costly. Publicly traded Corporations ONLY care about revenue & profits, its called fiduciary duty between officers of the corporation and stockholders. everything else is secondary at best.
Now factor in regulations, import taxes, supply chain, shipping costs? How about laws requiring oil to be refined in a region or country? Open a refinery? For what purpose?
The oil companies already ship oil to Costa Rica and every other corner of the earth in accordance with local regulations, laws and taxes. I don't believe countries have different regulations for 20 grade versus the others. Nor do I think the oil companies earn less profit or incur greater expense because a case is stamped 20 instead of 30 or 40.
The burden is in on OEM car manufacturers to make an engine that works with oils in all regions. Or different engines in same/similar bodies. If 5w-30 is recommended on engine A in Mexico, and you want to use it in the US where 5w-20 is recommended, go ahead. Its your car and warranty The ECU mappings may differ, but probably to minimal degree if at all. I wouldn't do that but to each his own.
I don't know what this issue really is...but I can't imagine people think its some "grand conspiracy" to keep 5w-20 out of counties that have no need for it. Do they? It seems some do.
There is no "need" for 5W20 anywhere, but there are benefits in using it that apply everywhere.
The US does have a need for it, -> fuel economy , even small %, times 100 million cars, is a big deal. And after over a decade of use, 20 weight has caused no harm in engines getting many hundreds of thousands of miles put on them, many hundreds of millions of miles total. If you don't want to use it because you believe the Illuminati are conspiring against you, then don't use it.
As for "better protection" of a 30 weight, most 30's sheer to 20 weight anyway, but if it makes you sleep better, go for it.
Take an extreme example, there is a reason everyone in Cuba is driving a 60 year old classic car. And its not CAFE standards....but whatever, instead lets pretend the Illuminati is coming with their CAFE standards!!!!!
There are other well documented benefits to using 20 over heavier oils besides fuel economy, and they apply everywhere. Just focusing on fuel savings though, how much more fuel could be saved world wide if the motors spec'ed for 20 grade in the US used it everywhere else that motor was used?
How about another example...why doesn't everyone in the world use the same plugs as the US!!! The Illuminati is forcing their US based plugs down our throats!!!!
*sigh*
You aren't making any arguments that haven't been made on here many, many times before.
