That sounds like the "It is what is is" fallacy. The newer engines are extracting the horsepower they extract on the oils they're mandated to use.
Is there any evidence that they cannot extract more horsepower on heavier grades? And if there is...what does it have to do with protection for the 'Motoring Public'?
I don't know. Can you please answer that one for me? You brought power and oil grade together two posts ago.When has a oil proven to add any meaningful power?
I have seen this come up time and time again, but after looking at owner manual information from around the world, on the same car, with the same engine - the US specs the lightest oil and even use words like "you can use this oil, but switch back immediately." Even Scotty Kilmer claims that if you don't use a lighter (0W-16) in your car with variable valve timing, you can damage your engine. As I have seen here, the less viscous weights are driven by the CAFE standards in the US and there is research from the late 90s that was collated by ORNL that 5W-20 is 1.5% more fuel efficient as compared to 5W-30. Even on a hypothetical car that is rated at 30 mpg, this would result in an observed efficiency of 30.45 mpg when switching to the lighter weights. Most of us would never notice the difference.
Here are some engines that I have found different oil specs for the US as compared to the rest of the world:
2ZR-FXE - GenIII Prius (2010 to 2015) US 0W-20; UK Corolla Hybrid 5W-30
M20A-FKS - 2019+ Corolla US 0W-16; UK 5W-20/30
2GR-FKS - 2017+ Tacoma US 0W-20; UK 5W-30
A25A-FKS - 2018+ Camry US 0W-16; UK 5W-30
1) There is absolutely no way that a manufacturer makes a different engine in the US as compared to the rest of the world. This would be cost prohibitive and a supply chain nightmare.
2) Even if you you used the heavier weight oil, you definitely wouldn't damage your engine - the manufacturer has obviously tested multiple grades for wear, longevity, and efficiency.
My guess is that you could use 5W-30 in practically 90% of passenger cars in the US. So why is there such an attitude of "USE WHATS IN YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL, OR ELSE!!!" and why is the language so strong in the US manuals?
Do other countries spec heavier oil for lower emissions?
As my mother would say, "What does that have to do with the price of cheese?"Troll with 9 posts says wut?
I have seen this come up time and time again, but after looking at owner manual information from around the world, on the same car, with the same engine - the US specs the lightest oil and even use words like "you can use this oil, but switch back immediately." Even Scotty Kilmer claims that if you don't use a lighter (0W-16) in your car with variable valve timing, you can damage your engine. As I have seen here, the less viscous weights are driven by the CAFE standards in the US and there is research from the late 90s that was collated by ORNL that 5W-20 is 1.5% more fuel efficient as compared to 5W-30. Even on a hypothetical car that is rated at 30 mpg, this would result in an observed efficiency of 30.45 mpg when switching to the lighter weights. Most of us would never notice the difference.
Here are some engines that I have found different oil specs for the US as compared to the rest of the world:
2ZR-FXE - GenIII Prius (2010 to 2015) US 0W-20; UK Corolla Hybrid 5W-30
M20A-FKS - 2019+ Corolla US 0W-16; UK 5W-20/30
2GR-FKS - 2017+ Tacoma US 0W-20; UK 5W-30
A25A-FKS - 2018+ Camry US 0W-16; UK 5W-30
1) There is absolutely no way that a manufacturer makes a different engine in the US as compared to the rest of the world. This would be cost prohibitive and a supply chain nightmare.
2) Even if you you used the heavier weight oil, you definitely wouldn't damage your engine - the manufacturer has obviously tested multiple grades for wear, longevity, and efficiency.
My guess is that you could use 5W-30 in practically 90% of passenger cars in the US. So why is there such an attitude of "USE WHATS IN YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL, OR ELSE!!!" and why is the language so strong in the US manuals?
Do other countries spec heavier oil for lower emissions?
Availability, cost and customer demand.I am legitimately curious why viscosities are spec'ed differently in different parts of the world.
1) There is absolutely no way that a manufacturer makes a different engine in the US as compared to the rest of the world. This would be cost prohibitive and a supply chain nightmare.
My guess is that you could use 5W-30 in practically 90% of passenger cars in the US.
I am legitimately curious why viscosities are spec'ed differently in different parts of the world.
Good post jburg. I find this subject fascinating. I'm always comparing oil specs from other regions around the world to ours here. For example my Accord's Australian recommendations are 0W20-15W40. I meet it in the middle and use 10W30. I did a uoa with Pennzoil Platinum 10W30 and there were literally zero wear metals. The Acura TSX which has the exact same engine (just has a slightly hotter tune) as my Accord is spec'd for 5W30.You make a good observation. The 4.0 in my 4Runner, for example, is specified for up to 20w-50 elsewhere in the world. 0w-20 here in the States.
For US vehicles, the owner's manual is required to list only the oil used in mpg testing. Some manufacturers get around this by saying a thicker oil may be required for adequate lubrication in heavy duty use. Words are mine, but the concept is in many manuals.
In some countries they specify thinner, in some they don't.
Agree that many or most vehicles vehicles will be totally fine with a 20 grade. However there is the fact that Ford moved from a 20 back to a 30 grade in their truck line.