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5W-20????

Old Nov 23, 2007 | 08:42 PM
  #1  
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Default 5W-20????

All,

I had my first oil change in the new '07 4.7Flex 4x4QC Dak today (about 3000ish miles) and the girl at the oil shop asked if I wanted 5W-20? At first I looked at her like she was crazy and she said that was what was recommended then showed me the oil cap and sure enough, it read 5W-20.
I have never heard of this grade before. Being a native Californian (now transplanted to NW Ohio) and growing-up in the 70's-80's we either used 30wt (big V8 Fords) or 10W50 (little foreign 4 cylinders in the CA heat.)
If I remember correctly, the 5 of the 5W-20 part manes its rated for relatively cold weather (which is good seeing as how it gets REALLY cold here in the winter - cold enough my '05 3.7 used to make a nasty shriek on starting-up in the coldest of days that guaranteed bad news for engine life), but the -20 means its not rated for really high temp/is a thinner oil. My guess is that Chrysler is assuming the engines won't get that hot and using thinner oil will boost MPG. Is this the case?

Growlor
 
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Old Nov 24, 2007 | 10:13 AM
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Default RE: 5W-20????

Wow thats odd. I use 5w-30 oil all year round. I live in Pa so it gets hot in summer and cold in winter and never had problems using 5w-30. Maybe because your engine is a flex fuel model that might be why the 5w-20.
 
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Old Nov 24, 2007 | 10:30 AM
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Default RE: 5W-20????

Where at in NW Ohio? Im down here in Lima, but I just got back from the Toledo/Swanton area yesterday. And to answer your question, I would just use whatever is recommended, my 3.7 says 5w-30, so like pro said, it may be different for the flex fuel vehicles.
 
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Old Nov 24, 2007 | 11:08 AM
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Default RE: 5W-20????

The Hemi's with mds require 5-20. when I had my 06 Hemi I stuck to it as a lot of info and threads sd that MDS would not work properly if I did not. I made it a point to use mobile-1 5-20 especially in the Arizona heat I went through a rough summer with a lot of rough driving on and off road and it worked fine. Imo stick with the good synthetic and a good filter and you will be fine. The wierd thing is the oil damn near looks like water in consistancy
 
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Old Nov 24, 2007 | 11:39 AM
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Default RE: 5W-20????

Well i have the 06 4.7L and mine ask for 5-20w on the cap 2 but i use 10-30w syntetic and i have not notice any difference
 
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Old Nov 24, 2007 | 02:26 PM
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Default RE: 5W-20????

Hey, diesel boy.

GET OUTTA HERE!

Hahaha, I'm kidding.

My Dad's Hemi w/out MDS also calls for 5W-20.

I think it's just whatever cap they feel like putting on it, by the looks of things.

Haha
 
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Old Nov 24, 2007 | 07:16 PM
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Default RE: 5W-20????

mine says 5w-30 moms 04 hemi does too. it might be for regions
 
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Old Nov 24, 2007 | 07:48 PM
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Default RE: 5W-20????

Yeah, +1 for regions. My dads ram down in Ft. Lauderdale calls for 10w-40.
 
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Old Nov 25, 2007 | 11:08 AM
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Default RE: 5W-20????

I'm up here in Alaska and the dealership puts in 5w-20, and believe me it gets cold
 
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Old Nov 25, 2007 | 04:05 PM
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Default RE: 5W-20????

yeah mine says to put 5w-20 and thats what i put in my ranger cuz it calls for it too and im down in SC where it gets hotter than ***** during the summer time and kinda cold in the winter
 
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