Another oil thread
Amateur
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Surrey, B.C.
There is no such thing as summer and winter oil anymore.
Moderate User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 17,003
Likes: 21
From: Albany, NY
I would NOT reccomend 10w-30.
Didn't even realize he had a 4.7l. I must have read too fast.
You said "Since it gets pretty chilly up there, -30 may not flow well enough", which seemed that you didn't realize the numbers. Reason being, 30 flows the same in -30* temps as it does in 90* temps when the engine is at operating temperature. It has no bearing on cold starts, which is where the 5w comes into effect. If he were talking about goin to 10w, then yes, it would flow worse at cold temps. 10w-30 flows much slower at colder temps than 5w-30 would and I would not reccomend that for a newer type of engine regardless of the mileage. You can risk not pumping the oil through the engine fast enough to protect it.
Just so we are on the same page....5w-20 flows the same as 5w-30 on cold starts(prior to operating temps) At operating temps, the 30 weight is a little thicker. Roughly half again as much viscosity. I believe 20-weight is around 75 and 30-weight is around 110 on the minimum side of the viscosity scale.
I prefer 5w-30 even when the reccomended oil is 5w-20 as it provides much better thermal and wear protection. EPA has strict requirements and so manufacturers try to cheat every little way they can to make their vehicles more efficient. 5w-20 might gain .5mpg as compared to 5w-30 which is why they reccomend it. They do reccomend it for the tighter bearing tolerances, but as fast as 20-weight leaves the sleeves, the 30w will stay in and provide the needed protection so you could argue either way in that regard.
Didn't even realize he had a 4.7l. I must have read too fast.
You said "Since it gets pretty chilly up there, -30 may not flow well enough", which seemed that you didn't realize the numbers. Reason being, 30 flows the same in -30* temps as it does in 90* temps when the engine is at operating temperature. It has no bearing on cold starts, which is where the 5w comes into effect. If he were talking about goin to 10w, then yes, it would flow worse at cold temps. 10w-30 flows much slower at colder temps than 5w-30 would and I would not reccomend that for a newer type of engine regardless of the mileage. You can risk not pumping the oil through the engine fast enough to protect it.
Just so we are on the same page....5w-20 flows the same as 5w-30 on cold starts(prior to operating temps) At operating temps, the 30 weight is a little thicker. Roughly half again as much viscosity. I believe 20-weight is around 75 and 30-weight is around 110 on the minimum side of the viscosity scale.
I prefer 5w-30 even when the reccomended oil is 5w-20 as it provides much better thermal and wear protection. EPA has strict requirements and so manufacturers try to cheat every little way they can to make their vehicles more efficient. 5w-20 might gain .5mpg as compared to 5w-30 which is why they reccomend it. They do reccomend it for the tighter bearing tolerances, but as fast as 20-weight leaves the sleeves, the 30w will stay in and provide the needed protection so you could argue either way in that regard.
Last edited by dirtydog; Nov 3, 2011 at 01:29 PM.