Originally Posted by JavierH19
Hello everyone, I have a 2016 Mitsubishi outlander with the na 2.4L 4b12 and it calls only for 0w-20 which I use but I notice the engine is a bit loud and doesn't sound healthy. I paid for it in full since I got it stupid cheap new since the dealership was closing out and was very attracted to the warranty but I still want it to live a long life.
I downloaded the Portuguese manual of the exact same model, engine variant, and year because I remembered reading somewhere that European engines use thicker oil than the US ones although they're exactly the same engine. I checked the section and saw that the 4b12 uses 0w-20 to 5w-40. I was delighted to see my engine could use thicker oil. I am weary to do so because I think the US version of the 4b12 has the vvt tuned and optimized to use only 0w-20 and only that and I don't know if the solenoids and computer will like thicker oil.
Amazingly in all service guides Mitsubishi is very very conservative and demands 3,750m/6km or 3 month full synthetic oil and filter changes since i guess they don't want the engine to fail because they have a 10yr/100,000 mile warranty. Nonetheless I change the Pennzoil platinum and stp extended at every year or 10k whichever first and I rack up 6-7k a year.
Is it safe for me to use thicker oil in a US engine when the exact same engine in Europe does. For any Europeans reading this what oil viscosity and grades are most common or normal.
Someone from Europe mentioned here that there is law in EU that states that manufacturers are forbidden from recommending a specific viscosity in Europe. Therefore, apparently, specifying a whole range of viscosities is required under EU law. Probably, in other places around the world, manufacturers specify a range of viscosities for the same reason. Silk mentioned that 0W-20 costs as much as gold in Australia. I wouldn't be using it either if that was the case.
There is also a culture in Europe that people and mechanics are used to putting 10W-40 in any engine. That habit probably goes back to the 1970s, when the gas-guzzling (10 - 20 MPG?) obsolete little 1.4 - 1.6 L Fiat engines were filled with 20W-50. I go there every year and I feel pity when I see the little modern engines that normally run 0W-20 suffering from a 5% drop in fuel economy and low-end horsepower because they fill them with 10W-40. They probably sound louder, too.
You can experiment with 5W-40 but chances are that you won't benefit anything from it. Wear will probably be similar and your car will start falling apart long before you see oil-related problems. You will see a 5% drop in performance and fuel economy and a worse-sounding-and-feeling engine though. Probably, the most important thing regarding oil is that you need to change it frequently enough, depending on the oil, car, and driving conditions.
The only exception would be if you're already having oil-related problems, such as oil consumption. You are then encouraged to experiment with thicker oil to see if it helps. Also, with a oil-consuming engine, it makes no sense to use expensive oil. I would put 15W-40 and keep topping it off.
