I had to pour the oils to ascertain the visc. Sloshing did not do it.
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Some folks are kinda shocked when i tell them i run either 0W30 or 5W30...most of those folks are definitly old school.
Originally Posted By: digitalSniperX1
Hello Doug,
I'm not sure what's going on with Mazda. In the US, I believe all new Mazda's carry a 5W-20 specification. But for the very same engine in Europe, the same engine will have a 5W-30 recommendation, in a much cooler climate.
So while they may have a viscosity in mind when designing, they do vary those in different markets with no change in design. I'm referring specifically to the Renesis engine in this example, but I'd be willing to bet with the nearly universal approval of 20 weight oils in the US that the there are the very same engines spec'd with 30 weight oils sold in other countries.
The 3.0l V6 Mazda Tribute owners manual in Australia specs 5w-30 as the "perferred" viscosity, with 10w30 and 5w20 as acceptable. It's the exact same engine as the US based Escape and Tribute that specs 5w20 only.
FWIW, I'm running 5w30 Valvoline SynPower (gasp) in my 5w20 Tribby and it runs great! Very smooth idle, and when I take off the oil cap while the engines' running, there seems to be plenty of oil all over those shiny-silver-spinny-things under the cover.
Drew
Hello Doug,
I'm not sure what's going on with Mazda. In the US, I believe all new Mazda's carry a 5W-20 specification. But for the very same engine in Europe, the same engine will have a 5W-30 recommendation, in a much cooler climate.
So while they may have a viscosity in mind when designing, they do vary those in different markets with no change in design. I'm referring specifically to the Renesis engine in this example, but I'd be willing to bet with the nearly universal approval of 20 weight oils in the US that the there are the very same engines spec'd with 30 weight oils sold in other countries.
The 3.0l V6 Mazda Tribute owners manual in Australia specs 5w-30 as the "perferred" viscosity, with 10w30 and 5w20 as acceptable. It's the exact same engine as the US based Escape and Tribute that specs 5w20 only.
FWIW, I'm running 5w30 Valvoline SynPower (gasp) in my 5w20 Tribby and it runs great! Very smooth idle, and when I take off the oil cap while the engines' running, there seems to be plenty of oil all over those shiny-silver-spinny-things under the cover.
Drew
You'd think Honda would be the golden child of 5w20, but I'm looking at an "international" D17 Honda Civic manual, and the oil chart mentions even 0w20 for sub-zero temps, 5w30/10w30 for common temperatures (and Heaven-forbid 10w40/15w40 for anything over -15 deg C!) and not even a mention of 5w20! The 5w20 thing is definately a North American CAFE zeitgeist. Not that there is too much wrong with that, though.
Originally Posted By: Taylor
so what pros/cons would you say result from running a 5w50 where a 20w50 is specd? i know im not the only one that likes to experiment cough gary cough
but if one was to find better results with a different viscosity than recommended im sure everyone would agree, they would stick with it?
The major pros to running 5W-50 is the cold-start ability - a 5W oil, whether the ending visc is 20 or 50, has to pass a cranking test at -30C. A 20W only has to pass one at -15C, although a full synthetic 20W-50 would probably crank 'comfortably' at -20C, or in the realm of a 15W. I've read that 'most' synthetic 20W-50's are actually closer to 15W-50 or even 10W-50 in their cold weather performance....
so what pros/cons would you say result from running a 5w50 where a 20w50 is specd? i know im not the only one that likes to experiment cough gary cough
but if one was to find better results with a different viscosity than recommended im sure everyone would agree, they would stick with it?The major pros to running 5W-50 is the cold-start ability - a 5W oil, whether the ending visc is 20 or 50, has to pass a cranking test at -30C. A 20W only has to pass one at -15C, although a full synthetic 20W-50 would probably crank 'comfortably' at -20C, or in the realm of a 15W. I've read that 'most' synthetic 20W-50's are actually closer to 15W-50 or even 10W-50 in their cold weather performance....
"The major pros to running 5W-50 is the cold-start ability" - Thats exactly my point, why would one even consider running a 20w50 over a 5w50? consumption? although i do believe a a 20w50 would "comfortably" crank cold, I worry more about flow at those low temps.
Originally Posted By: Taylor
"The major pros to running 5W-50 is the cold-start ability" - Thats exactly my point, why would one even consider running a 20w50 over a 5w50? consumption? although i do believe a a 20w50 would "comfortably" crank cold, I worry more about flow at those low temps.
Doesnt 5w50 contain a poop load of VII's? I would stay away from 5w50 if my engine was still clean and unvarnished.
"The major pros to running 5W-50 is the cold-start ability" - Thats exactly my point, why would one even consider running a 20w50 over a 5w50? consumption? although i do believe a a 20w50 would "comfortably" crank cold, I worry more about flow at those low temps.
Doesnt 5w50 contain a poop load of VII's? I would stay away from 5w50 if my engine was still clean and unvarnished.
Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
Or we could have TallPaul's Goldilocks moment:
The 20 grade was too light
The 40 grade was too heavy
..but the 30 grade was juuuuuuust right
Wow! That's a very precise description of my philosophy.
Or we could have TallPaul's Goldilocks moment:
The 20 grade was too light
The 40 grade was too heavy
..but the 30 grade was juuuuuuust right
Wow! That's a very precise description of my philosophy.
Originally Posted By: Taylor
"The major pros to running 5W-50 is the cold-start ability" - Thats exactly my point, why would one even consider running a 20w50 over a 5w50? consumption? although i do believe a a 20w50 would "comfortably" crank cold, I worry more about flow at those low temps.
That's exactly why I've wondered why 10w-30 exists, when a 5w-30 is the same viscosity at operating temp with better cold cranking ability.
"The major pros to running 5W-50 is the cold-start ability" - Thats exactly my point, why would one even consider running a 20w50 over a 5w50? consumption? although i do believe a a 20w50 would "comfortably" crank cold, I worry more about flow at those low temps.
That's exactly why I've wondered why 10w-30 exists, when a 5w-30 is the same viscosity at operating temp with better cold cranking ability.
Hi,
Drew - You said;
"FWIW, I'm running 5w30 Valvoline SynPower (gasp) in my 5w20 Tribby and it runs great! Very smooth idle, and when I take off the oil cap while the engines' running, there seems to be plenty of oil all over those shiny-silver-spinny-things under the cover."
What are those "shiny-silver-spinny-things in there? It's amazing they live in there really - it's so hot and damp...................
I bet the SynPower looks after them very well indeed!
Drew - You said;
"FWIW, I'm running 5w30 Valvoline SynPower (gasp) in my 5w20 Tribby and it runs great! Very smooth idle, and when I take off the oil cap while the engines' running, there seems to be plenty of oil all over those shiny-silver-spinny-things under the cover."
What are those "shiny-silver-spinny-things in there? It's amazing they live in there really - it's so hot and damp...................
I bet the SynPower looks after them very well indeed!
I bekieve in the proper viscosity oil for the operating conditions as recommended by the Mfg.
Used 25W70 for many years in current Mazda turbo 626 (270,000kms as new), 5W30 and every known viscosity in between. Few have as much long term testing as myself. Currently 5W30 in the Outback and 5W40/15W50 blend in the Mazda and 5W40 in the BMW. Horses for courses. Oh and no CAFE b/s here to complicate things.
Originally Posted By: exranger06
...I've wondered why 10w-30 exists, when a 5w-30 is the same viscosity at operating temp with better cold cranking ability.
Well (all else equal) for a conventional and some synthetics, the 10w30 would have less VII and so be less prone to viscosity collapse. Also the 10w30 will have a bit higher HT/HS viscosity because of the thicker base oil.
...I've wondered why 10w-30 exists, when a 5w-30 is the same viscosity at operating temp with better cold cranking ability.
Well (all else equal) for a conventional and some synthetics, the 10w30 would have less VII and so be less prone to viscosity collapse. Also the 10w30 will have a bit higher HT/HS viscosity because of the thicker base oil.
10W-30's tend to have very low volatility as well. If that's something that concerns you.
IMHO the best all around oil vis is 10/30 with 15/40 a close second they both are low on VII have good HTHS and made with GPII are offer about the best all around perfromance value.
bruce
bruce
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As said by the master light weight oil blender
Proud user of Bruceblend® 0w oils
Proud user of Bruceblend® 0w oils
Originally Posted By: bruce381
IMHO the best all around oil vis is 10/30 with 15/40 a close second they both are low on VII have good HTHS and made with GPII are offer about the best all around perfromance value.
bruce
This statement reassures me. I decided a month ago to move from an expensive BMW LL-01 synthetic to a mineral 15W-40 SM/CF A3/B3 oil that was 25% the price. This was for a 2.5L modern M54 BMW engine. Then again the ambient temps in my part of the world rarely go below 20°C/68°F, usually in the 80s. Of course I have adjusted the OCI accordingly.
IMHO the best all around oil vis is 10/30 with 15/40 a close second they both are low on VII have good HTHS and made with GPII are offer about the best all around perfromance value.
bruce
This statement reassures me. I decided a month ago to move from an expensive BMW LL-01 synthetic to a mineral 15W-40 SM/CF A3/B3 oil that was 25% the price. This was for a 2.5L modern M54 BMW engine. Then again the ambient temps in my part of the world rarely go below 20°C/68°F, usually in the 80s. Of course I have adjusted the OCI accordingly.
"You'd think Honda would be the golden child of 5w20, but I'm looking at an "international" D17 Honda Civic manual, and the oil chart mentions even 0w20 for sub-zero temps, 5w30/10w30 for common temperatures (and Heaven-forbid 10w40/15w40 for anything over -15 deg C!) and not even a mention of 5w20! The 5w20 thing is definately a North American CAFE zeitgeist. Not that there is too much wrong with that, though."
I've seen the same in Ford manuals, thicker oil recommended outside of the US. The 'thick oil crowd' is the rest of the world outside of the US.
I've seen the same in Ford manuals, thicker oil recommended outside of the US. The 'thick oil crowd' is the rest of the world outside of the US.
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