A friend and I both bought a 01 Ford Escape when they first came out in Oct. 2000. This was the first year 5W20 was recommended. I started out using the new MC 5W20 even though I was a little skeptical. My friend went with a high mileage 20W50 because his independent mechanic said it was great stuff. His veh. now has about 80k., mine has 76k. He switched to Amsoil 5W20 at about 60k when he learned more about motor oil and one of his friends started selling Amsoil. The thick oil didn't seem to hurt anything and he says the veh. ran great on both. He didn't notice increased mileage with the 5W20. Both vehicles have given us great service so far and neither uses oil yet.
Thick or Thin, Does you vehicle care?
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Triple_Se7en
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How do you know that?
Did you see/read the used oil analysis results after both oils were tested for wear?
I've seen plenty of used oil in pans containing slivers of metal -- after they ran marvelously for the entire OCI.
Did you see/read the used oil analysis results after both oils were tested for wear?
I've seen plenty of used oil in pans containing slivers of metal -- after they ran marvelously for the entire OCI.
Living outside of Dallas helped his situation, especially if his car is parked in a garage. Winter morning starts after sitting outside overnight in Minneapolis might of not been as pleasant. Since we don't have at least used oil analysis from his vehicle, we don't even know if it had any effect positive or negative. Second hand fuel efficiency reports are even less reliable, and in this case, hard to believe, unless his commute was over 30 miles. On one of my vehicles, I easily measured the difference in fuel economy between a thin 5w30 and a thick 0w30 during +65 mile commutes. There is that odd chance that this vehicle particular doesn't care. Try it yourself next winter if you trust your friend's experience.
Neither of us has done a used oil analysis. I do believe that the 5W20 would give better mileage and I seemed to notice a difference on another vehicle when I went thinner. I think the 20W50 was a bad choice. I used 20W50 in a 1981 BMW twenty years ago but I can't think of any newer vehicles that I would use it in now.
I can't think of a better example of being on two complete opposite ends of the spectrum. 20W-50 is thick enough already without getting into high mileage 20W-50. At that point you're starting to move into the world of gear oils.
I think it would have been a better comparison test had you guys went with 5W-20 in one Escape and then had 5w30 in the other.
I think it would have been a better comparison test had you guys went with 5W-20 in one Escape and then had 5w30 in the other.
No, used oil analysis prove it. The wear metals are just about nil no matter what oil I tried in my little Saturn. Although it's fun trying different products!
Well past already there.quote:
Originally posted by GoldenRod:
At that point you're starting to move into the world of gear oils.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/visc.html
Rarely do used oil analysis prove anything from a statistical point of view if trending isn't part of the methodology. Single, random used oil analysis as used here serve only as indicators unless you see a magnitude difference.
20W50 is NOT like a gear oil. If it was how do you think 40W70 flowed cold?
Hands up anyone in Oz who hasn't used Penrite HPR 40...hmm, thought so, and yet our engines survived for a looong time
of course we wouldn't use it now, would we.
of course we wouldn't use it now, would we.
What SAE spec do you guys use that define the "40W" and "70" parts?
I can see what you're saying. I've used the thick 50wts and thin 20wts...wear metals show nearly identical readings. So I'll vote for "it doesn't matter what weight oil I use in my car".
Likely, the burden of boxy aerodynamics obscures minor mpg variances. An automantic trans and 4wd makes it even more ambiguous. 20w-50 is basicly good for tractor oil, not 4 cylinders.
WOW! thought you were talking straight at me!
Still use 40 but now never Penrite
cheers nqcairns
quote:
Originally posted by ToyotaNSaturn:
I can see what you're saying. I've used the thick 50wts and thin 20wts...wear metals show nearly identical readings. So I'll vote for "it doesn't matter what weight oil I use in my car".
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