0W20 causes lifter tick whereas 5W20 does not.

[bk111]

From Mobils web site. It is contrary from what I have learnt from this site. 0W20 should make the lifters quieter since it is closer to operating viscosity at startup than 5W20 right?

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/Moto...n_Scion_xB.aspx


Question:
Will Using 0W-20 Oil Cause Lifter Ticking in a Scion xB?
I have a 2009 Scion xB which can use 0W-20 or 5W-20 weight oil. I would like to use the 0W-20; however, I am concerned that if I use the 0W-20 weight oil, it may cause the lifter to tick. I have had problems with lifters ticking in other 4 cylinder engines that I have owned.
-- Bill Roberts, Noblesville, IN
Answer:
The 0W-20 may provide you an edge in fuel economy. If you have a finely tuned ear you may hear lifter tick on start-up which would quickly disappear. We recommend you give the 0W-20 a try and see what you hear. The extra fuel economy may be worth it.

 

[rshunter]

Yeah, I've seen that before. I took it as a polite way to avoid saying that the guy was an automotive hypochondriac and imagining it. Which, to be honest, kind of describes just about everyone here...

 

[Steve S]

You mean the info in oil 101? lifter tick when you first start the car because the oil leaks out of the lifters. The oil is being squeezed out by the valve springs . What does that have to do with the oils viscosity being closer to operating viscosity at startup? It takes some time for the lifters to fill with oil to take up the valve lash. Thinner oil leaves a thinner oil film it is noiser.

 

[rshunter]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
You mean the info in oil 101? lifter tick when you first start the car because the oil leaks out of the lifters. The oil is being squeezed out by the valve springs . What does that have to do with the oils viscosity being closer to operating viscosity at startup? It takes some time for the lifters to fill with oil to take up the valve lash. Thinner oil leaves a thinner oil film it is noiser.

Nah, that was a posting in the Mobil 1 Q&A section of superficial and uninformative info.

 

[sangyup81]

i always ignore lifter tick and my engines have always outlasted my cars

 

[hounddog]

I had slight but noticable timing chain noise at cold start on a 2006 Mercury Gran Marquis with 4.6 using Amsoil 0w20.No noise what so ever using 5w20.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: bk111
From Mobils web site. It is contrary from what I have learnt from this site. 0W20 should make the lifters quieter since it is closer to operating viscosity at startup than 5W20 right?

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/Moto...n_Scion_xB.aspx


Question:
Will Using 0W-20 Oil Cause Lifter Ticking in a Scion xB?
I have a 2009 Scion xB which can use 0W-20 or 5W-20 weight oil. I would like to use the 0W-20; however, I am concerned that if I use the 0W-20 weight oil, it may cause the lifter to tick. I have had problems with lifters ticking in other 4 cylinder engines that I have owned.
-- Bill Roberts, Noblesville, IN
Answer:
The 0W-20 may provide you an edge in fuel economy. If you have a finely tuned ear you may hear lifter tick on start-up which would quickly disappear. We recommend you give the 0W-20 a try and see what you hear. The extra fuel economy may be worth it.


Spectacular answer from Mobil. People on BITOG completely discount my theory on why some 0W's are a bit noisier when cold. I'll state it a different way. Just because an oil flows better in very cold situations does not mean it will be better at quieting very cold contracted metal. Sometimes an oil that is a bit thicker deadens the sound more - but this has zero to do with wear protection. BITOGers will never get past this, because with them, oil is all about sound.

 

[rshunter]

On point, I didn't have lifter tick in my 4.7L until I went from the thinner Mobil 1 AFE 0w30 to one of this board's much vaunted favorites, GC. The real world says it can possibly go either way, but I'll take real flow over the "feeling" of the average Joe. An average Joe who's under the delusion that thin oil is an evil work of manufacturers who are out to destroy their engine, thanks to some encouragement they've been given.

With the proviso that you're not one of the type, Pablo, I must say this... The honest truth is that a lot of those who are pimping Amsoil across the interwebs are active promoters of this idea. I wish I had a buck for every out-dated "informational" synthetic oil website that turns out to be an Amsoil promotional sham, selling the philosophy that manufacturer recommendations are nothing more than a dirty scheme that people need to wake up to and ignore. Primarily because Amsoil didn't have a product for the market they were trying to sell a product to, at the time they put the page up.

 

[SuperFast]

Originally Posted By: rshunter
Originally Posted By: Steve S
You mean the info in oil 101? lifter tick when you first start the car because the oil leaks out of the lifters. The oil is being squeezed out by the valve springs . What does that have to do with the oils viscosity being closer to operating viscosity at startup? It takes some time for the lifters to fill with oil to take up the valve lash. Thinner oil leaves a thinner oil film it is noiser.

Nah, that was a posting in the Mobil 1 Q&A section of superficial and uninformative info.


Oil 101 basically says that thin oil should be used in everything and that seems like a crock to me, being in te real world and all.

Lifter tick leads to engine breakdown if you go on long trips a lot and Oil 101 thin oil oesnt protect yoru engine like it should or fuel gets in there and then you have lifter tick from uninsulated parts

 

[Michael_P]

Quote:
BITOGers will never get past this, because with them, oil is all about sound.


I agree. I have a highly modified high HP diesel frequently pulling a 20,000 Lb trailer through Death Valley using 0W-20. It makes all sorts of metal on metal sounds, but I know its all sound and no wear.............Just kidding.

For every vehicle has its own best oil for the way it is driven and where it is driven.

 

[turf1]

My e-150 5.4l van developed a tick around 200k. I first went to a thicker oil than called for. Still had start up noise, so I learned from this site to change filters, from a P1 to a FL820s filter. That reduced noise by 90%. Then I learned from this site that thin is in, my wife was trying to steer me in that direction for a long time! So I decided to try M1 0w30. I have a quiet engine at start up.
Thanks for all the good info BITOG'ers.

 

[rshunter]

Originally Posted By: SuperFast
Oil 101 basically says that thin oil should be used in everything and that seems like a crock to me, being in te real world and all.

Lifter tick leads to engine breakdown if you go on long trips a lot and Oil 101 thin oil oesnt protect yoru engine like it should or fuel gets in there and then you have lifter tick from uninsulated parts

See my last post, directly above yours. Then tell me how the thicker oil was a good thing...

 

[webfors]

thin is as thin does....

and what Pablo and Steve S said

 

[webfors]

Originally Posted By: rshunter
Originally Posted By: SuperFast
Oil 101 basically says that thin oil should be used in everything and that seems like a crock to me, being in te real world and all.

Lifter tick leads to engine breakdown if you go on long trips a lot and Oil 101 thin oil oesnt protect yoru engine like it should or fuel gets in there and then you have lifter tick from uninsulated parts

See my last post, directly above yours. Then tell me how the thicker oil was a good thing...


Every engine, application and ear/noise preference is different, no matter how much we want them to be exactly the same.

 

[rshunter]

Originally Posted By: webfors
Every engine, application and ear/noise preference is different, no matter how much we want them to be exactly the same.

Exactly my point...

 

[Capa]

Pablo may be right. The only time I've experienced any type of start-up noise in any vehicle was with 0w30 AFE and at very cold temps. I currently run a 5w30 in both vehicles and have experienced no noise whatsoever.

 

[rshunter]

Originally Posted By: Capa
Pablo may be right. The only time I've experienced any type of start-up noise in any vehicle was with 0w30 AFE and at very cold temps. I currently run a 5w30 in both vehicles and have experienced no noise whatsoever.

Unfortunately, most people are missing his point that while a thinner oil may permit more audible noise, it doesn't mean that there is any less protection. In fact, you may hear more noise while getting superior protection.

 

[TFB1]

Sheesh, mebby I'll just run without oil and ignore the noises...

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: hounddog
I had slight but noticable timing chain noise at cold start on a 2006 Mercury Gran Marquis with 4.6 using Amsoil 0w20.No noise what so ever using 5w20.

Amsoil 0W-20 with it's HTHS vis of 2.8cP and KV40 of 49.1cSt is heavier than all 5W-20 dino's and most other syn 20wts at all typical start-up temp's.
So figure that one out!

 

[Errtt]

Originally Posted By: TFB1
Sheesh, mebby I'll just run without oil and ignore the noises...

It will eventually become quiet, so quiet you won't hear all the noise.