I have a 2004 Dodge 2500 with a 5.7 litre Hemi...The truck is used to tow 7-8000 lbs. all summer long and in the winter it is used for snow plowing and moderate to low weight towing...what is the consensus on using 20 wt. oils for towing duty? currently have 23,000 miles on the truck using 5w30 and 5-6000 OCI's...using Schaeffers 7000 and Havoline synthetic.
towing duty using a 5w20?
- Thread starter oliver88
- Start date
- Status
You can run the 5w20 all the time with confidence.
Isn't this truck spec'd for 5-30? If so, and if you are towing, why run a 5-20? I don't think you'd hurt anything, but, what would you be gaining? Certainly on that engine you aren't concerned with economy....if so, you got the wrong engine!
I made my recomedation based on the ASSumption that 5w20 is factory recomendation. I don't follow Dodge much but I do know they recomend 5w20 for the MSD equiped engines. So to qualify my statement more appropriately, if your factory recomendation is 5w20 run it with confidence.
First and formost, I'm all for 5w-20 and 0w-20 oils. I'll defend them all day and all night...BUT not in this case.
I tow 1000 lbs consistantly during the summer with my little 4cy 2004 Accord. I posted a used oil analysis not long ago with 6300 miles on Valvoline Syn 5w-20, and it looked amazing.
What leaves questions is, "real" towing vehicals call out heavier oils. If you tow often, IMO there's absolutly no reason to run 5w-20. It's designed for to increase MPG's, nothing more. And when towing...MPG's isnt your biggest concern.
I asked this question to Mobil and Valvoline. Each said the exact same thing. Occasional use was fine, but if towing consistantly, seek the advice of your local dealer. LOL, well, I'm not about to ask my dealer. But if you assume they dont want to specifically state to use 5w-20 for towing...you should also question it.
Perdsonally, if I towed any more wieght than I do now, or any more often, there's no way I'd keep using 5w-20.
And I'll come right out to say I have no basis for this. I just do not believe 5w-20 is for hard working engines. And towing 7-8k is work!!! Why not use 5w30 or 5w-40 to make you feel all warm and fuzzy?
I tow 1000 lbs consistantly during the summer with my little 4cy 2004 Accord. I posted a used oil analysis not long ago with 6300 miles on Valvoline Syn 5w-20, and it looked amazing.
What leaves questions is, "real" towing vehicals call out heavier oils. If you tow often, IMO there's absolutly no reason to run 5w-20. It's designed for to increase MPG's, nothing more. And when towing...MPG's isnt your biggest concern.
I asked this question to Mobil and Valvoline. Each said the exact same thing. Occasional use was fine, but if towing consistantly, seek the advice of your local dealer. LOL, well, I'm not about to ask my dealer. But if you assume they dont want to specifically state to use 5w-20 for towing...you should also question it.
Perdsonally, if I towed any more wieght than I do now, or any more often, there's no way I'd keep using 5w-20.
And I'll come right out to say I have no basis for this. I just do not believe 5w-20 is for hard working engines. And towing 7-8k is work!!! Why not use 5w30 or 5w-40 to make you feel all warm and fuzzy?
The 5w20 would probably be fine, especially given that Chrysler designed this engine with 5w20 in mind as the factory fill even though it wasn't introduced with that grade.
Keep in mind that Ford puts 5w20 in all their truck V8s and we've got used oil analysis posted on here by owners who towed extensively over the course of the OCI with 5w20 and the wear numbers were spectacular.
Keep in mind that Ford puts 5w20 in all their truck V8s and we've got used oil analysis posted on here by owners who towed extensively over the course of the OCI with 5w20 and the wear numbers were spectacular.
The manual specs a 5w30 preffered, with 10w30 OK for temps above 0 dgrees F...I was just considering it for the winter fill...I will do a used oil analysis when i change the current fill...6qts. Havoline 10w30 Synthetic, 1qt. Redline 10w30...I've run it for about 4000 miles so far...
for winter, i would definately use 5w20 but if your warranty calls for 5w30, use that. I would also use a bottle of Redline's water wetter to decrease the coolant temps due to the towing. JMO.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked