do 5w-30 users ever with to thinner oils?

[edwardh1]

Trend seems to be to thinner oils - is that just an oil trend or did the engines that now use 0-20 oil have different features?
do people using manufacturers speced 5w30 oil ever switch to the "newer? thinner 0-20 oils? or are the savings too small and the risk too high

 

[suspiciousmind]

I've twice bought 0-20 for my '90 miata but I can't find the courage to run it.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: suspiciousmind
I've twice bought 0-20 for my '90 miata but I can't find the courage to run it.


Wait until it's 20 below zero and run it.

 

[A_Harman]

Nah, I'm never tempted to put a 20-weight in an engine that specifies 30.

 

[Eddie]

I will let the Beta testers wear out their engines, using not recommended viscosities. Ed

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I ran 5w-20 in my Jeep 4.0 once. It was just as noisey as it usually is.

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
I ran 5w-20 in my Jeep 4.0 once. It was just as noisey as it usually is.


What was the MOFT (minimum oil film thickness) between the two ?

 

[WobblyElvis]

You could always try half n half 5W30 / 0W20.

 

[yesthatsteve]

The Toyota Canada back-spec chart now indicates 0w20 and 5w20 (in addition to the original 5w30) for the engine in the xB in my sig. Once I run out of my stash of 5w30 in another year or so, I'll give a 20-weight a go, probably M1EP.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
Originally Posted By: Miller88
I ran 5w-20 in my Jeep 4.0 once. It was just as noisey as it usually is.


What was the MOFT (minimum oil film thickness) between the two ?


I don't think that matters much. Cheap 5w30s are going to shear down anyway ... which hasn't caused any issues for many other Jeep 4.0s on the road.

I probably should have ran 20w-50 even though it was winter and the vehicle was only short tripped.

 

[CT8]

no

 

[FutureDoc]

I thin out my 5w30 recommended '99 subaru from time to time (more of a result from buying clearance oil). However, right now it is getting 5w20 and 10w40 mixed. It has 5w30, 10w30, and 10w40 as acceptable oils.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

A couple manufacturers have actually back-spec'd 5w20 as far back as 20 years. They get CAFE credit for doing so.

That said, I still wouldn't use it unless the car originally called for it.

 

[Clevy]

My 88 5.0 mustang got m1 5w-20 for awhile. Actually felt like it had more pep with light throttle inputs.
I'm a thicker is better guy and tend to use euro spec oils but if the application isn't heavy duty and you've dine your homework I don't see the harm.

 

[LubricatusObsess]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: suspiciousmind
I've twice bought 0-20 for my '90 miata but I can't find the courage to run it.


Wait until it's 20 below zero and run it.


Not in coastal SC/NC!

 

[GemStater]

I've experimented with putting 0W-20 in my 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.3L which is factory recommended for 5w30.

I backed it up with used oil analysis which showed no abnormal engine wear.

The jury is out though on if there was any meaningful improvement in fuel economy.

 

[tinmanSC]

I ran my Lexus GS300 on 5w-20 for 1 OCI because that's all I had. Seemed fine. No problems to report. Can't imagine it would do any damage.

 

[FutureDoc]

Originally Posted By: GemStater
I've experimented with putting 0W-20 in my 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.3L which is factory recommended for 5w30.

I backed it up with used oil analysis which showed no abnormal engine wear.

The jury is out though on if there was any meaningful improvement in fuel economy.


I run my fleet caravans (all with 3.3) on 5w20. Everything (lubrication wise) is fine.

 

[Garak]

I'm sure many here have where it was backspeced. I've not had a vehicle yet (at least that I still own) that was backspeced from a 5w30 to a 20 grade. I have used 5w30 in nominally 10w30 applications quite often, but that's not exactly the same thing.

 

[Moondawg]

I live in South Texas. Why would I ever want or need to run a 0w-20 oil. It has been four years since it got down to freezing, and than it only lasted a few hours. Triple digit temps are another matter. I use 5w30 or 10w30 whichever might be cheaper or available.