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.

 

[kschachn]

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.

Amazing.

 

[stenerson]

I got 180K miles on my 2018 Ram 1500 3.6. Used 0w20 the whole time. Engine sounds smooth to my ears. But switched over the 0w30 Amsoil SS 1800 miles ago just for the heck of it. Still sounds smooth, not really monitoring temps that much, but oil pressure seems a little higher at startup than before.
I'm not gonna get in habit of buying Amsoil, it's overkill for my needs, just wanted to try it once.

 

[Pablo]

Amazing.

Miracle

 

[facility1]

I go from 0w-20 PUP to 5w-30 PUP and could see very little difference, the climate is probably the most determining factor.

 

[spasm3]

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.

I have 0w-40 in my mazda , and before that 5-w30. Both in place of 0w-20. I see no difference in fuel mileage.

 

[tired]

I'm still dubious either of those would CAUSE a single burnt valve ... sooo many other potential causes.

Burnt intake valve on the 1GR is very rare. Oil lubricates the moving parts of the intake valve. Early breakdown of valve stem seals. As old oil breaks down, it will vaporize easier and get routed back into your intake by the PCV, and it will cause a heavier burden of intake valve deposits.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Burnt intake valve on the 1GR is very rare.

The valve clearance can get tight on that engine and leave them open a hair, so they need to be checked way before the mileage he had on that truck.

 

[tired]

He probably never had the valve clearances checked. Those engines use shims, they are not hydraulic.

Are you sure about that? I thought the 1GR-FE used a shimless bucket design early on and then hydraulic lifters in the series in the 4Runner in the video.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Are you sure about that? I thought the 1GR-FE used a shimless bucket design early on and then hydraulic lifters in the series in the 4Runner in the video.

Checking into the engine valve train config, it does look like they went to hydraulic lifters in 2010 when it got dual (intake and exhaust) VVT. It had solid buckets before that. I had to go back to the video to see he has a 2015.