2021 Jeep GC 3.6 4x4. Owned since new currently with 87k. Used various brands of 0w20 with Valvoline flavors for the last 20k. Mostly 5-6k intervals. Switched to Amsoil SS 0w-30 for this oil change.
I know this isn’t a laboratory test. But this trip we take from Ohio to Florida is one we take every summer for the last 16 years with the same route without deviation. Once there our vehicle sits for the week and we take the FIL’s van when we go places. So it’s as close to a consistent “real world” experience as I can personally get.
Engine: The 3.6 is relatively noisy as is. With the 0w-30 it sounds less raspy and smoother. I felt no noticeable drag on the engine.
MPG: The cars computer is relatively accurate. The car has the total trip MPG listed at 24.6. I logged my fill ups and by hand it came out to 24 even. Last year with 0w-20 on the same trip the car had it listed at 25 with by hand calculation it was 24.2. So I guess technically it lost a fraction of MPG’s with 0w30 but in my opinion that could be just in the margin of error.
Oil Temperature: With 0w-20 oil temperatures would top out at 199 degree. Usually sitting at 194 most of the time. I don’t ever remember it hitting 200 on these trips. With 0w-30 it sat at 197 most of the trip but would peak at 204.
Oil Pressure: With 0w-20 during idle and cruising it sat at 30 psi and top out at 78 psi under hard acceleration. With 0w30 during idle/cruise it sat at 31-32 psi and top out at 82 psi under hard acceleration.
Oil Usage: During these trips I’d usually “top off” a small negligible amount to bring it back to the top of the full mark. This trip it’s stayed exactly on the same full mark. No top off needed.
With my OCD I researched for months going back and forth on if I should move from a 20 to a 30 weight. With these engines having dry start concerns I landed on 0w30 over a 5w-30. Will it all make a difference in engine life? I have no idea, I sure hope so! Thanks for reading.
I know this isn’t a laboratory test. But this trip we take from Ohio to Florida is one we take every summer for the last 16 years with the same route without deviation. Once there our vehicle sits for the week and we take the FIL’s van when we go places. So it’s as close to a consistent “real world” experience as I can personally get.
Engine: The 3.6 is relatively noisy as is. With the 0w-30 it sounds less raspy and smoother. I felt no noticeable drag on the engine.
MPG: The cars computer is relatively accurate. The car has the total trip MPG listed at 24.6. I logged my fill ups and by hand it came out to 24 even. Last year with 0w-20 on the same trip the car had it listed at 25 with by hand calculation it was 24.2. So I guess technically it lost a fraction of MPG’s with 0w30 but in my opinion that could be just in the margin of error.
Oil Temperature: With 0w-20 oil temperatures would top out at 199 degree. Usually sitting at 194 most of the time. I don’t ever remember it hitting 200 on these trips. With 0w-30 it sat at 197 most of the trip but would peak at 204.
Oil Pressure: With 0w-20 during idle and cruising it sat at 30 psi and top out at 78 psi under hard acceleration. With 0w30 during idle/cruise it sat at 31-32 psi and top out at 82 psi under hard acceleration.
Oil Usage: During these trips I’d usually “top off” a small negligible amount to bring it back to the top of the full mark. This trip it’s stayed exactly on the same full mark. No top off needed.
With my OCD I researched for months going back and forth on if I should move from a 20 to a 30 weight. With these engines having dry start concerns I landed on 0w30 over a 5w-30. Will it all make a difference in engine life? I have no idea, I sure hope so! Thanks for reading.
. It makes me appreciate people like Engineering Explained who haven't caved to this trend.
