Skyactive Engine Programmed differently in US?

[SC Maintenance]

I saw a video where “The Car Care Nut” was saying that about the cars computer being programmed differently for the recommended viscosity.

Edit - I’m not saying that I believe it, I just saw the video.

Not complaining to you. He says there programmed differently in other countries to handle the viscosity there.

Except the Dynamic Force 2.5 which is sold here and recommends 0W-16 here, in Australia says you can use anything from 0W-16 all the way to 15w-40. So if there supposedly programmed for one viscosity - how does this work?

Its unfortunate people believe everything these liars say.

 

[Zee09]

Soon it will be revealed just like dark chocolate being good for you that 0w-20 is the nectar of the Gods..
Do not tempt fate..

 

[ammolab]

You lost me when you said, “I saw a video”. Especially when his credentials were “NUT”.

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

I do know for a fact when I worked on Chryslers at a dealer, some pcms would monitor oil viscosity somehow. I never dove into it enough to know how accurate their readings or how they were made, but around the time the 5.7 hemi came out in 300c’s and grand cherokees etc, I want to say ~2005, cars would come in from quick lube places with dtc’s pertaining to the oil system. Chrysler issued a TSB that any viscosity other than 5w20 would trigger dtc’s. We’d change the oil, suggest an oem filter while we were at it, and we wouldn’t see the car back again.

Since then I’ve always run suggested viscosity on newer vehicles. If there’s reason to switch, say engine noise or oil consumption, then I’m fine with that…but until I see reason I just stick with what’s suggested.

My 2.5 skyactiv has been running on clearance rotella gas truck, some kind of clearance natural gas synthetic oil, etc since I bought it new on 5k oil changes (0w20). It never consumes / burns any oil, no engine noise, etc.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I do know for a fact when I worked on Chryslers at a dealer, some pcms would monitor oil viscosity somehow. I never dove into it enough to know how accurate their readings or how they were made, but around the time the 5.7 hemi came out in 300c’s and grand cherokees etc, I want to say ~2005, cars would come in from quick lube places with dtc’s pertaining to the oil system. Chrysler issued a TSB that any viscosity other than 5w20 would trigger dtc’s. We’d change the oil, suggest an oem filter while we were at it, and we wouldn’t see the car back again.

Since then I’ve always run suggested viscosity on newer vehicles. If there’s reason to switch, say engine noise or oil consumption, then I’m fine with that…but until I see reason I just stick with what’s suggested.

My 2.5 skyactiv has been running on clearance rotella gas truck, some kind of clearance natural gas synthetic oil, etc since I bought it new on 5k oil changes (0w20). It never consumes / burns any oil, no engine noise, etc.

Well leave it to Chrysler.

Anyway the Toyota variable discharge oil pumps control variable is output pressure. Toyota-Club did a deep dive.

 

[4wd]

Everything in signature came with 0W-20 and variable pumps…
They all have variable-30 grade in them now …

 

[samven]

The North American markets are the only places I know of where Mazda runs the 2.5 NA engine at 13:1, Everywhere else it runs 14:1. This was done specifically to allow 87 Oct gas here, in Europe they must run Mid grade or above. This would account for the programming difference but not so much the oil difference.

 

[dubber09]

Hmm, thinner oil and cheaper gas, that's a winning combination, no? Lol

 

[Skippy722]

I do know for a fact when I worked on Chryslers at a dealer, some pcms would monitor oil viscosity somehow. I never dove into it enough to know how accurate their readings or how they were made, but around the time the 5.7 hemi came out in 300c’s and grand cherokees etc, I want to say ~2005, cars would come in from quick lube places with dtc’s pertaining to the oil system. Chrysler issued a TSB that any viscosity other than 5w20 would trigger dtc’s. We’d change the oil, suggest an oem filter while we were at it, and we wouldn’t see the car back again.

Since then I’ve always run suggested viscosity on newer vehicles. If there’s reason to switch, say engine noise or oil consumption, then I’m fine with that…but until I see reason I just stick with what’s suggested.

My 2.5 skyactiv has been running on clearance rotella gas truck, some kind of clearance natural gas synthetic oil, etc since I bought it new on 5k oil changes (0w20). It never consumes / burns any oil, no engine noise, etc.

I think they got annoyed by that and went away from it. I was running 0w30 and 0w40 in mine, no codes despite idling at 40psi instead of 30. The pentastar doesn't care either. But yes, leave it to a Chrysler to throw a temper tantrum over oil viscosity

 

[Zee09]

Doing 30 wt in everything here
Never an issue

 

[wemay]

OP, the difference between a 20 and 30 ILSAC oil is very small. Just run the 20 while under warranty if there is significant concern.

 

[DirectRejection]

It is always going to be a matter of balancing efficiency vs durability. Driving conditions are the key factor. I would probably lean towards thin oil in your SkyActiv.

 

[WeyounDS9]

..saw a video where “The Car Care Nut” was saying that about the cars computer being programmed differently for the recommended viscosity...

Thats a pretty "nutty" thing for him to claim..

 

[SC Maintenance]

Thats a pretty "nutty" thing for him to claim..

I don't know why these guys stray out of their lane. It must be some sort of complex - they get popular for a reason then they decide there the expert on everything.

 

[Zee09]

I don't know why these guys stray out of their lane. It must be some sort of complex - they get popular for a reason then they decide there the expert on everything.

Just like most YouTubers

 

[HemiBenny]

I don't know why these guys stray out of their lane. It must be some sort of complex - they get popular for a reason then they decide there the expert on everything.

I can’t watch most of these YouTube guys, but I do like watching Ivan. (Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics)

Ivan gets straight to the point without trying to be funny or giving his opinion on everything. Very humble, very intelligent guy.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Thats a pretty "nutty" thing for him to claim..

What is nutty is I posted this on Rav4 world and people flipped out completey. Like I was a blasphemer.

The Toyota manual here says 0W-16 is recommended, but you can use 0W-20 if not available. But if you use 0W-20 you have to change it at 5K OCI not 10K OCI? So if you understand that 20 is not going to last any less than 16, you have your oil pump programming myth / Cafe "proof" right there. You have to go to shorter OCI because otherwise Cafe wouldn't allow them to publish it.

And then in Australia they publish this instead and run 15,000km OCI (about 9000 miles) irrelevant of viscosity.

 

[raaizin]

So I was going to continue a thread I had already started, but decided this is probably a new subject. i finally got comfortable with the decision to put 5w30 in my 2025 Skyactive NON-turbo engine INSTEAD of the recommended 0w20 , due to the fact I came to the conclusion it was only because of CAFE standards. And if they are recommending 5w30 in OTHER countries with the same climate, it stood to reason 5w30 is a good choice. A lot of you weighed in on this, and gave some great info!

HOWEVER,

I have stumbled across some interesting information since those posts, that has me thinking a bit differently.

Basically the information i found says that Mazda programs the ECM/ECU in the computer of the car DIFFERENTLY for different destinations. In other words, the car going to US isnt programmed the same as going to another country with different less strict CAFE standards, etc. Hence the different viscocity recommendations.

And YES, it still satisfies the CAFE.. BUT....

Some were saying that by using 5w30 instead of 0w20 in USA bound cars (that are programmed like this above ) it will in fact, put more drag on the engine , hence more wear BECAUSE of this programming that is done before they are shipped out.


IF this is true, that would tell me that owners manual is in fact correct and that 0w20 is IN FACT, a better oil for this engine than 5w30. Im not saying it makes 5w30 bad. Im just saying it would tell me 0w20 is BETTER for U.S bound skyactive non-turbo engines.

Im actually HOPING this information is NOT true. And i want to be wrong here.



Thoughts?

If its any consolation I had a 2018 Audi Q5 which took 5w40 which I traded in on a 2019 Q5. Since they were the same car I never looked up the oil specsand used 5w40 in it. After about 40k miles I noticed there was a label under the car that said to used 0w20. I then went to 0w30 and never had an issue. Car was traded at 60k miles as we needed a bigger car

 

[fantastic]

Doing 30 wt in everything here
Never an issue

Vetter be volvoleen arrr & pea or else...ban.

 

[Bojo]

I saw a video where “The Car Care Nut” was saying that about the cars computer being programmed differently for the recommended viscosity.

Edit - I’m not saying that I believe it, I just saw the video.

I just looked that video up and watched it. That guy seems to know what he's talking about, Ive seen other videos of his before. Thanks for pointing it out..