Why do manufactures recommend/require the "w" and not leave it as optional?

[OS4A]

Always lots of questions about the specifications by manufacturers.

Why do they see the need to stress one "w" over another? 0w or 5w for example

Could/should they just use "x" and leave it up to the users to decide based on location? Xw-16?

So many folks get hung up on the manufacturers recommendation and worry about warranty...which I understand.

Conceptual question about "why" stress a certain "w"...not about the virtues of the "w"

 

[ATex7239]

Because CAFE requirements and the wide range of temperature variations in the North America I imagine. CAFE doesn’t really let manufacturers let us choose. But that’s just my guess.

 

[AZjeff]

Could/should they just use "x" and leave it up to the users to decide based on location? Xw-16?

You're giving way too much credit that average users understand or care what the "w" is about. Heck we have plenty here who aren't clear on it.

Manufacturers have to KISS as well as appease CAFE.

 

[edyvw]

Always lots of questions about the specifications by manufacturers.

Why do they see the need to stress one "w" over another? 0w or 5w for example

Could/should they just use "x" and leave it up to the users to decide based on location? Xw-16?

So many folks get hung up on the manufacturers recommendation and worry about warranty...which I understand.

Conceptual question about "why" stress a certain "w"...not about the virtues of the "w"

Battery manufacturers put a warning on the battery to not drink the acid because of those same users.

 

[Japanese]

But only a small percentage of user change their own oil anyway. Very few people (mostly men) care about their motor oil. And women are the majority of drivers.
That is like saying why we don't we make the washing instructions label on clothes bigger, so people read it better and easier at what water temp. to wash their clothes, bleach and dry them. When most of the people just mix their white and colorful clothes and wash them all at once with the same detergent at the same temp.

 

[ripcord]

A 0w-20 vs 5w-20 requirement is basically a way to require a fully synthetic oil made of Group III base stocks without actually putting it in print. 5W-20 oil can be made as a semi-synthetic. By requiring a synthetic oil, automakers can get away with a 10k oil change interval.

 

[Tricknologist]

When most of the people just mix their white and colorful clothes and wash them all at once with the same detergent at the same temp.

I highly doubt that ..

 

[SC Maintenance]

I highly doubt that ..

I do.

 

[hand-filer]

I do.

Same here.

 

[The Critic]

A 0w-20 vs 5w-20 requirement is basically a way to require a fully synthetic oil made of Group III base stocks without actually putting it in print. 5W-20 oil can be made as a semi-synthetic. By requiring a synthetic oil, automakers can get away with a 10k oil change interval.

That isn't true. A 0W-20 does not require synthetic base stocks to formulate.

 

[4wd]

That isn't true. A 0W-20 does not require synthetic base stocks to formulate.

Yep - Motorcraft does full or semi - AC Delco is synthetic

 

[Japanese]

That isn't true. A 0W-20 does not require synthetic base stocks to formulate.

I haven't seen yet any conventional or synth. blend 0W-20. Why is that?

 

[The Critic]

I haven't seen yet any conventional or synth. blend 0W-20. Why is that

https://www.valvolineglobal.com/en/high-mileage-max-life-motor-oil-sae-0w-20/
https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-0w-...FgYtiEscvitC1yMDq3GGAnxoVbj77IYxG7faJstoanhKt

 

[Japanese]

https://www.valvolineglobal.com/en/high-mileage-max-life-motor-oil-sae-0w-20/
https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-0w-...FgYtiEscvitC1yMDq3GGAnxoVbj77IYxG7faJstoanhKt

That is pretty recent oil and would count mostly as an exception than a regular practice.
Let's put it this way - a handful of 0W-20 oils are synth. blend, the rest are full synth., and conventional are non-existent.

 

[Tricknologist]

I do.

Same here.

Two single men from a motor oil forum isn't exactly a wide sampling of the population.

 

[wemay]

That is pretty recent oil and would count mostly as an exception than a regular practice.
Let's put it this way - a handful of 0W-20 oils are synth. blend, the rest are full synth., and conventional are non-existent.

That's not what you said. You said you haven't seen a conventional or synthetic blend 0w20 and included, "why is that?" to stress your point. He merely answered your original post. In addition to Valvoline MaxLife, Castrol GTX Ultraclean 0w20 is also a synthetic blend. Pennzoil has a SB 0w20 under their Pennzoil Gold offering. Even Amsoil makes 0w20 SB.

 

[Japanese]

That's not what you said. You said you haven't seen a conventional or synthetic blend 0w20 and included, "why is that?" to stress your point. He merely answered your original post. In addition to Valvoline MaxLife, Castrol GTX Ultraclean 0w20 is also a synthetic blend. Pennzoil has a SB 0w20 under their Pennzoil Gold offering. Even Amsoil makes 0w20 SB.

I really haven't seen synth. blend oils anywhere in-store. I just know that some dealerships may offer them. You're showing exceptions not a rule.
They are not popular at all. Also, why would you buy them if for a couple more bucks you get Group III full synth.?

 

[4wd]

That's not what you said. You said you haven't seen a conventional or synthetic blend 0w20 and included, "why is that?" to stress your point. He merely answered your original post. In addition to Valvoline MaxLife, Castrol GTX Ultraclean 0w20 is also a synthetic blend. Pennzoil has a SB 0w20 under their Pennzoil Gold offering. Even Amsoil makes 0w20 SB.

At one time SOPUS said the Gold was 50/50 …
I bought a bigger (Jiffy sized) bag n box - and used it for a while a few years back …

 

[DCDG]

Could/should they just use "x" and leave it up to the users to decide based on location? Xw-16?

Cause, I never seen a 5W or 10W-16. Lol.

Not something I ever thought about or even had a conversation with any gear head over. I noticed this forum has a plethora of threads on various ways to begin I want to use a thicker oil or the gov't is crazy because they want us to all use thin oils and if that isn't the truth, why are the threads locked down? I just don't get it but I also don't rip the penalty under law tags of my mattress.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Two single men from a motor oil forum isn't exactly a wide sampling of the population.

LOL. I have been happily married for 27 years and have two grown children.

There is no need to sort modern textiles unless your going to use traditional bleach. I wear almost nothing but white synthetic wicking t-shirts that don't hold stains and a little spray and wash fixes those, no bleach needed. My other colors don't run. Modern dyes don't run like they did 20 years ago.

Your living in the past or buying crap clothing.