View Poll Results: What Oil
Mobile 1 Full Synthetic
6
50.00%
Royal Purple
2
16.67%
Other
4
33.33%
Voters: 12. You may not vote on this poll
Mobile 1 Full Synthetic or Royal Purple
Professional
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Rio Grande Valley, Texas
I found this interesting info on the Blackstone labs web site:
Which Viscosity to Use?
Engine owners often stray from manufacturers' recommendations regarding viscosity of oils. The engine builders dyno-test their engines using a specific viscosity oil, so when you use the viscosity they recommend, you are working with a known result. Going to another viscosity is an experiment, but it's usually a harmless one. For the sake of efficiency you want to run the lightest grade oil in your engine possible, within limits. We are seeing that trend for newer engines, for which the recommended grade is getting progressively lighter. The common 10W/30 has become a 5W/30, and some manufacturers even recommend 5W/20 oil. On the other hand, we can't see (in oil analysis) where it hurts anything to run heavier 10W/30s or even 10W/40s in modern automotive engines. The heavier oils provide more bearing film, and that's important at the lower end. If your oil is too light, the bearing metals can increase. If the oil is too heavy, the upper end metals can increase. The trick is to find the right viscosity for your particular engine, which is why we suggest following the manufacturer's recommendation.
Blackstone states that viscosity is not just the resistance/thickness of the oil, but the thickness of oil at a certain temperature and the standard temp.used to measure is @210F. Yesterday our temp down here hit 95F and my oil temp was reading 228, makes me wonder what I'll be seeing when summer hits hard and we have 100F+ days. If you read their analysis, Dodge is really running thinner oil to help fuel economy probably to make the CAFE/EPA green weenies happy.
Engine owners often stray from manufacturers' recommendations regarding viscosity of oils. The engine builders dyno-test their engines using a specific viscosity oil, so when you use the viscosity they recommend, you are working with a known result. Going to another viscosity is an experiment, but it's usually a harmless one. For the sake of efficiency you want to run the lightest grade oil in your engine possible, within limits. We are seeing that trend for newer engines, for which the recommended grade is getting progressively lighter. The common 10W/30 has become a 5W/30, and some manufacturers even recommend 5W/20 oil. On the other hand, we can't see (in oil analysis) where it hurts anything to run heavier 10W/30s or even 10W/40s in modern automotive engines. The heavier oils provide more bearing film, and that's important at the lower end. If your oil is too light, the bearing metals can increase. If the oil is too heavy, the upper end metals can increase. The trick is to find the right viscosity for your particular engine, which is why we suggest following the manufacturer's recommendation.
Blackstone states that viscosity is not just the resistance/thickness of the oil, but the thickness of oil at a certain temperature and the standard temp.used to measure is @210F. Yesterday our temp down here hit 95F and my oil temp was reading 228, makes me wonder what I'll be seeing when summer hits hard and we have 100F+ days. If you read their analysis, Dodge is really running thinner oil to help fuel economy probably to make the CAFE/EPA green weenies happy.
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 64
Likes: 1
From: Gainesville, FL
I found this interesting info on the Blackstone labs web site:
Which Viscosity to Use?
Engine owners often stray from manufacturers' recommendations regarding viscosity of oils. The engine builders dyno-test their engines using a specific viscosity oil, so when you use the viscosity they recommend, you are working with a known result. Going to another viscosity is an experiment, but it's usually a harmless one. For the sake of efficiency you want to run the lightest grade oil in your engine possible, within limits. We are seeing that trend for newer engines, for which the recommended grade is getting progressively lighter. The common 10W/30 has become a 5W/30, and some manufacturers even recommend 5W/20 oil. On the other hand, we can't see (in oil analysis) where it hurts anything to run heavier 10W/30s or even 10W/40s in modern automotive engines. The heavier oils provide more bearing film, and that's important at the lower end. If your oil is too light, the bearing metals can increase. If the oil is too heavy, the upper end metals can increase. The trick is to find the right viscosity for your particular engine, which is why we suggest following the manufacturer's recommendation.
Blackstone states that viscosity is not just the resistance/thickness of the oil, but the thickness of oil at a certain temperature and the standard temp.used to measure is @210F. Yesterday our temp down here hit 95F and my oil temp was reading 228, makes me wonder what I'll be seeing when summer hits hard and we have 100F+ days. If you read their analysis, Dodge is really running thinner oil to help fuel economy probably to make the CAFE/EPA green weenies happy.
Engine owners often stray from manufacturers' recommendations regarding viscosity of oils. The engine builders dyno-test their engines using a specific viscosity oil, so when you use the viscosity they recommend, you are working with a known result. Going to another viscosity is an experiment, but it's usually a harmless one. For the sake of efficiency you want to run the lightest grade oil in your engine possible, within limits. We are seeing that trend for newer engines, for which the recommended grade is getting progressively lighter. The common 10W/30 has become a 5W/30, and some manufacturers even recommend 5W/20 oil. On the other hand, we can't see (in oil analysis) where it hurts anything to run heavier 10W/30s or even 10W/40s in modern automotive engines. The heavier oils provide more bearing film, and that's important at the lower end. If your oil is too light, the bearing metals can increase. If the oil is too heavy, the upper end metals can increase. The trick is to find the right viscosity for your particular engine, which is why we suggest following the manufacturer's recommendation.
Blackstone states that viscosity is not just the resistance/thickness of the oil, but the thickness of oil at a certain temperature and the standard temp.used to measure is @210F. Yesterday our temp down here hit 95F and my oil temp was reading 228, makes me wonder what I'll be seeing when summer hits hard and we have 100F+ days. If you read their analysis, Dodge is really running thinner oil to help fuel economy probably to make the CAFE/EPA green weenies happy.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
This engine is extremely picky about the oil visocosity. The VCT (or VVT depening on your engine) as well as the MDS mechanisms only funciton properly with 5W-20. Using a heavier viscosity WILL cause your engine to perform poorly. Furthermore, heavier viscosities do not necessarily perform better in higher temps in newer engines that are machined to higher specs. In fact the higher viscosity in newer engines will decrease performance as the tighter tolerances make it harder for a more viscous fluid to penetrate between the wear surfaces where lubrication is needed.
MDS is a pure electronic thing and not dependent on the oil viscosity...... IMHO...... viscosity has nothing to do with the electronic of the engine.......
Rookie
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 64
Likes: 1
From: Gainesville, FL
Important notes for Hemi owners
Oil grades and use. If you have the MDS system, be sure to use 5W20 oil - note that many dealers will use bulk 10W30 or even 10W40, partly out of ignorance and partly because it’s cheaper. You need to use the right oil if you want to keep your engine. Of course if the owner’s manual says something else, follow its advice - but don’t be convinced by a mechanic or oil-change place. Insist on the right grade and if they don’t use it...get a refund and go somewhere else. A technical service bulletin (TSB) - 09-015-04 and 09-013-04 - says: “Vehicles with the Multiple Displacement System must use SAE 5W-20 oil. Failure to do so may result in improper operation of the MDS.” Watch the mechanic pour it in! (This is said to be the real reason BMW provides free oil changes.)
The MDS IS affected by the oil viscosity. I don't know the exact reason for it yet but I have my theories and need to research the exact mechanism of the MDS.
Oil grades and use. If you have the MDS system, be sure to use 5W20 oil - note that many dealers will use bulk 10W30 or even 10W40, partly out of ignorance and partly because it’s cheaper. You need to use the right oil if you want to keep your engine. Of course if the owner’s manual says something else, follow its advice - but don’t be convinced by a mechanic or oil-change place. Insist on the right grade and if they don’t use it...get a refund and go somewhere else. A technical service bulletin (TSB) - 09-015-04 and 09-013-04 - says: “Vehicles with the Multiple Displacement System must use SAE 5W-20 oil. Failure to do so may result in improper operation of the MDS.” Watch the mechanic pour it in! (This is said to be the real reason BMW provides free oil changes.)The MDS IS affected by the oil viscosity. I don't know the exact reason for it yet but I have my theories and need to research the exact mechanism of the MDS.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
well I used Amsoil 0W-30 in my 06 HEMI and averaged 19 MPG with 59800 miles on it and had no effect on the MDS..... I currently use Amsoil 0W-20 in my 09CC Hemi and the MDS functions as advertised and am averageing 18 MPG with 6700+ miles on it..... The MDS kicks in as advertised up to 72 MPH........
Professional
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Texas
So regardless of which part of the country you live in, one should use the same oil?
Surely someone living in the Northern States should be using a different viscosity oil to someone living in Southern Texas?
Surely someone living in the Northern States should be using a different viscosity oil to someone living in Southern Texas?
Record Breaker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,661
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach
Use 5w-20. Anywhere.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
From: Round Rock, TX
MDS is not a purely electronic thing. The engine still has to switch from 8 cylinders to 4 cylinders and then back to 8 cylinders with ease. If the viscosity is not right, it will not happen. The Hemi needs very little resistance to switch into 4 cylinder mode. If you run a 10w30 or 20w40, it won't go into 4 cylinder mode as it should and it may very well throw a code.
well I used Amsoil 0W-30 in my 06 HEMI and averaged 19 MPG with 59800 miles on it and had no effect on the MDS..... I currently use Amsoil 0W-20 in my 09CC Hemi and the MDS functions as advertised and am averageing 18 MPG with 6700+ miles on it..... The MDS kicks in as advertised up to 72 MPH........
I am having a hard time finding the link that proves what I am about to say, and if I find it I will post it.
For people that run amsoil in their vehicle for extended periods of time, the oil will slowly change to a higher viscosity.
The lab report that I read showed at a starting weight of 5W20.
at the end of 24,000 miles (I think) the oil viscosity was rated at 15W40.
This is bad news for those of you running the Hemi with its VVT or VCT MDS.
I hope Hammer sees this post, because I know he has the link for it....
