Switching from 0w-20 to 0w-30 experience

[kschachn]

Lots of anecdotes and everyone is entitled to their opinion. A few fellow BITOG members told me it not possible to notice reduced MPGs from a higher viscosity oil but when I switched the oil from 0W-16 to 0W-20 on a '21 Venza hybrid wife immediately commented on the MPG drop even though she did not know about the oil viscosity difference. The Venza is due for an oil change. I will go back to 0W-16 and eagerly await for the wife to say something.

The reason someone may have told you that is because it is true. There are multiple and much more significant variables that contribute to a "real world" fuel economy observation. The oil in this case contributes about 1% to the difference.

The energy content of the fuel varies about 4% even at the same gas station, irrespective of seasonal formulation changes. Add to that any weather variations, traffic differences, user variations and your reported tire replacement the effect of the oil is rather deep in the noise.

But hey, keep on keeping on if you're convinced.

 

[4wd]

Sounds like the solution is a lube with higher quality bases to resist that better.

 

[proffittmarke]

I switched from 0W 20 to 0W 30 once and lost 2 MPG on the highway. Next oil change, I went back to 0W 20.