Thicker Oil For Long Highway Trip ?

[Zaedock]

I would just like to add, that even older, non-tested designs can benefit from a modern 0W20, if you do your homework. Our old friend Gary Allan ran a custom blended 0W10 in his 2.5L 4 cylinder Jeep Wrangler. The used oil analysis on this Fe shedding design were very surprising! I benefit from running a GRPIII 5W30 syn in my trail Jeep (also powered by a slightly modified 2.5L) and the difference in parasitic loss compared to a SAE30 or 10W40 are noticeable! used oil analysis are great too (single digit Fe).

 

[DragRace]

Originally Posted By: Spudislander
My question applies to a car which normally uses 0w20 oil as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. (I assume their recommended viscosity is intended to cover most normal daily drives.) In any case, if the car was going on a 5 day summer road trip of approx 800 kilometers/500 miles per day, I tend to think that a 5w30 synthetic would probably provide better protection for the trip. However, I wonder if going to a 5w30 for a single trip like this would be even worth the bother? (Of course, I'm talking about a well maintained good working vehicle.) Any opinions?


Use what your owners manual says,period.You like many others over-think situations like this.

 

[650NutKase]

I had the same question, but mine was not to go heavier (I run 5w-20 all the time as per Hyundai specs) but to go to synthetic. I normally run Kendall synthetic blend. I was wondering if the synthetic would provide better protection for the elongated run times. The Firestone manager, who knows Kendall back and forth, told me that there would be absolutely no issue running the blend for a road trip. My used oil analysis proves it as well. The additive pack was not phased at all by the long run times. In fact, like others mentioned, the road trip seems to make it easier on the oil since there are not too many varying RPM's and little to no idling.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: kschachn
You need to know the definition of "extended high speeds".
[/quote]

Very good question actually. I wonder how a car co comes up with their definition of extended high speeds.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
Curious about the comment that all late model cars have built in safety systems. Explain this and how they work, please. Ed Hayes


If oil temps get too high, the computer will put the car into limp-home mode. This usually has something like a reduced rev or speed limit.

 

[dparm]

A severe example is actually the BMW M cars. They used to spec'd for ONLY the Castrol TWS 10w60 oil. That requirement was recently loosened to allow any BMW LL-01 oil (basically ACEA A3/B4 stuff, so 5w40s and the like). Some folks have already switched to 0w40s and commented that on the track their oil temps were actually LOWER without any noticeable decrease in oil pressure. We're talking about a V8 running at 8300rpm and sustained WOT for 20-30 minutes...speeds of 120+.

 

[y_p_w]

Originally Posted By: Zaedock
I would just like to add, that even older, non-tested designs can benefit from a modern 0W20, if you do your homework. Our old friend Gary Allan ran a custom blended 0W10 in his 2.5L 4 cylinder Jeep Wrangler. The used oil analysis on this Fe shedding design were very surprising! I benefit from running a GRPIII 5W30 syn in my trail Jeep (also powered by a slightly modified 2.5L) and the difference in parasitic loss compared to a SAE30 or 10W40 are noticeable! used oil analysis are great too (single digit Fe).


The original Mobil 1 sold at retail came in a 5W-20, and Mobil was actually recommending it for vehicles where stuff as thick as 10W-40 was spec'ed. I understand they only started making 5w30 or 10w30 versions when people balked at ignoring their carmaker recommendations.