Go back to 5W20?

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Originally Posted By: rat
My ZX2 ran great on 5W20, use it with confidence.
Also, unplug the knock sensor to improve idle and overall driveability.
Bad idea. Check engine light and they are pretty important if you run poor quality fuel. Never unhook part of the computer safety features. Someone smarter than us thought itvwas a good idea to have em there
 
Originally Posted By: dtt004


Plus, the market statistics show that people now only keep their cars for an average of 5 years. It's not like before. So, it may be far-fetched to say this but in my opinion, shorter potential consumer ownership = more lax engine protection requirements.


Anyone that only keeps his/her vehicle for 5 years or shorter probably does do much maintenance. I stay clear of used cars under 5 years old. They tend to be either rental or less anyway.
 
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Originally Posted By: gfh77665
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
I think todays 20 grade oils are very well made and up to the task FOR ENGINES THAT CALL FOR IT.


OK, so what would you say about the Honda engines, that call for 5-30 everywhere around the globe, except in the US (5-20)?


I'd say 5W20 is more easily available in the US than in other parts of the world, but IMO that is going to be changing. In many instances US leads the world follows. How does one explain the millions of Fords using 5W20 in fleet use, cabs, police, and DD's running 300K plus miles on the clocks. If you search Bitog you'll see this topic and others like it beaten to death time and time again. If the mfg specs a 20 grade oil it will be fine. I'm sure there a millions of Hondas running 5W20 and doing quite well too.

Some people believe that cars are designed to last 5 years and that's all a mfg hopes for. While the statistics might support people selling cars when they reach 5 years of age, I know a lot of people buying cars 5 years and older. Now if the cars are built to self destruct after 5 years then those people buying second hand cars, then considering a new car at some point aren't going to buying a new car of that brand that blew up are they? Lousy used cars can hurt future new car sales too.

Our good friends in Australia use 50 grade oil in many applications, should we?

I'll never own another GM product because of bad experiences I had with a used one. It wasn't engine related either.
 
The wife's 3.0 V-6 Escape I use 5w-20. I once tried 10w30 and from the start I got ticking that wouldn't go away, not what I was expecting. I ran a short OCI then went back to the 5w-20 and it was quiet again.
Was thinking maybe better flow for the 3.0 kept the ticking down. It was ticking on the start and didn't go away until I switched back. I almost thought I was loosing a lifter at the time I changed oil. This one just didn't like the the 10w30.
 
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
Originally Posted By: dtt004


Plus, the market statistics show that people now only keep their cars for an average of 5 years. It's not like before. So, it may be far-fetched to say this but in my opinion, shorter potential consumer ownership = more lax engine protection requirements.


Anyone that only keeps his/her vehicle for 5 years or shorter probably does NOT do much maintenance. I stay clear of used cars under 5 years old. They tend to be either rental or less anyway.


I meant to say they don't keep up with maintenance if they trade in too often. Why should they care?
 
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: rat
My ZX2 ran great on 5W20, use it with confidence.
Also, unplug the knock sensor to improve idle and overall driveability.
Bad idea. Check engine light and they are pretty important if you run poor quality fuel. Never unhook part of the computer safety features. Someone smarter than us thought itvwas a good idea to have em there


It was actually a tsb from Ford to unplug the sensor, as they were deemed too sensitive, and it does make a difference. No check engine light. Mine ran fine on 87 regular fuel, so yes, it is a good idea.
 
Originally Posted By: 3311
Originally Posted By: Char Baby
My daugheter's '06 mazda3 2.0L(spec'd for 5W20) seems to be smoother/quieter with the 5W30 as compared to 5W20. I have used both in the summer/winter for comparisons. No noticable performance or mpg difference. MPG does drop in the winter with either. And beleive me, we keep an eye on mpg! IDK if this 2.0L is of the same family('98-'03) as the 2.0L engine that you folks are talking about. I beleive that FORD and mazda share this motor.

I run my wifes 08 Mazda 3 2.0 on 5w30 as well. The valve train is definitely a little quieter and I can't sleep knowing she would be in stop and go traffic during Florida summers with a 20wt.


Yeah, no way do I want 5W20 in the summer even though it's recomended. Not with the Rochester, Buffalo, NiagraFalls driving. And the 5W30 make the engine smooth/quiet and still revs very nicely and MPG is great with 33mpg city most tankfulls of gas and at or about 40+ highway!(summer of course) and about 26-27 mpg city this winter...Not too bad, nice little engine!
There is a mix of 5W20/5W30 in the engine now and good thing as it's in the low/mid teens degrees F right now and we're supposed to get bombed with snow here in NY State as well as other parts of the country. You know I'm sure, it's all over the news/weather.
 
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Hi rat, can you please tell me where the knock sensor is located. Do you just pull it off and tape over it or what?..thanks
 
Green plug next to the oil filter. The best way to reach it is remove the rf tire and reach in when you do your next oil change. You dont have to tape it, as you'll never want to plug it back in. The ZX2 is a great little car and fun to drive. There are other cheap easy mods that improve overall driveabilty if you are interested. Check out teamzx2.com. Lots of info over there.
 
If 5-30 is so much better than 5-20 based on the theory of higher vis = more protection then why not run 20-50 in everything and they will never fail in a lifetime? I don't buy into the 5-30 better than 5-20 theory.Sure,CAFE does come into play here but there is no way in heck thay Ford or Honda also Chrysler who is has specd. the Hemi for 5-20,is going to spec. an inferior oil for there engines just because folks only own cars for 5 years.There reputation is still on the line here.How many of these vehicles are bought and driven many years and miles after the 5 year disposal window?No vehicles are driven harder and abused more than police cars knowing they will only be used for a short time and are not at the cost of their drivers and are resold at auctions and used for many miles after.5-20 is as good as 5-30 maybe better in certain apps.
19.gif
OP not saying go back but it will not kill your engine to do so.
 
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It is really quite simple, if the manufacture recommends it, use it, with full confidence, even in hot weather. Heck, my son's Element is approaching 165,000 miles on nothing but 5W-20 Pennzoil doing 5K oil changes, and it does not use a drop of oil between changes and runs like a top.

I was very privileged to be in Dearborn, MI when Ford Motor Company was doing their long term testing on 5W-20 oils in the 4.6L engines. The engines I saw torn down after way over 250,000 miles of some pretty intense testing were amazingly clean and well within tolerances.

Sure, if I had a $100,000 European Exotic I would use the heavier oils they recommend.

I will let you know when my cars wear out on 5W-20. And just for arguments sake, most 5w30 oils shear down to a 5W-20 before their life is over. Most 5W-20 oils are pretty shear stable.
 
Good info Johnny! Especially the fact that you were lucky enough to see with your own eyes Ford's test results. I'd guess they had some 5W20 5W30 side by side tests too?

Thanks for posting.
 
The Police here are using 5W20 too in the Crown Vics, and they beat the living [censored] out of them.
 
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
The Police here are using 5W20 too in the Crown Vics, and they beat the living [censored] out of them.


Same down here....If 5W20 was a issue the bulk of the cars down here [including mine and rest of my family] would be dropping dead all over the interstates down here in the jungle heat and gridlock traffic.
 
Originally Posted By: CROWNVIC4LIFE
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
The Police here are using 5W20 too in the Crown Vics, and they beat the living [censored] out of them.


Same down here....If 5W20 was a issue the bulk of the cars down here [including mine and rest of my family] would be dropping dead all over the interstates down here in the jungle heat and gridlock traffic.


+1 We don't have that jungle heat you get, although we did have a very hot summer, and days and days of high 90's, maybe even 100*F . The Police here will sometimes idle their Crown Vics for hours on end to either make heat in the winter, or run AC in the summer. They hold up just fine on 5W20 dino.
 
Originally Posted By: gfh77665
Originally Posted By: dtt004

Plus, the market statistics show that people now only keep their cars for an average of 5 years. It's not like before. So, it may be far-fetched to say this but in my opinion, shorter potential consumer ownership = more lax engine protection requirements.



thankyou2.gif


Post of the year! Too many otherwise intelligent posters here have gotten so bamboozled and caught up in the 5-20 and 0-20 mania, they fail to realize WHY these thin oils are being pushed on the consumer. Honda & Ford test them to prove that they are "just good enough", NOT for the optimum protection of your vehicle.


And on the other hand... NO ONE has produced ANY data that says 1 minute of total engine life is lost when high-quality 5w20 or 0w20 oils are used in an engine that can use either those or an Xw30. My gosh, look at all the Ford Modulars that get pounded daily to obscene high mileage on 5W20 oil.

Its about how well the oil lubricates and how the oiling system delivers it to the wearing parts, not JUST viscosity folks.

Did the drive for better fuel mileage numbers start the whole march to thin oil? Sure, no question. Did it cause shorter engine life??? I just don't think so!
 
Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Originally Posted By: 3311
Originally Posted By: Char Baby
My daugheter's '06 mazda3 2.0L(spec'd for 5W20) seems to be smoother/quieter with the 5W30 as compared to 5W20. I have used both in the summer/winter for comparisons. No noticable performance or mpg difference. MPG does drop in the winter with either. And beleive me, we keep an eye on mpg! IDK if this 2.0L is of the same family('98-'03) as the 2.0L engine that you folks are talking about. I beleive that FORD and mazda share this motor.

I run my wifes 08 Mazda 3 2.0 on 5w30 as well. The valve train is definitely a little quieter and I can't sleep knowing she would be in stop and go traffic during Florida summers with a 20wt.


Yeah, no way do I want 5W20 in the summer even though it's recomended. Not with the Rochester, Buffalo, NiagraFalls driving. And the 5W30 make the engine smooth/quiet and still revs very nicely and MPG is great with 33mpg city most tankfulls of gas and at or about 40+ highway!(summer of course) and about 26-27 mpg city this winter...Not too bad, nice little engine!
There is a mix of 5W20/5W30 in the engine now and good thing as it's in the low/mid teens degrees F right now and we're supposed to get bombed with snow here in NY State as well as other parts of the country. You know I'm sure, it's all over the news/weather.


I want to retract this statement about not using 5W20 in the summer. Yes, I do use 5W20 in the summer in vehicles that require it but, (and I should have said), I don't feel as comfortable using 5W20 as I do 5W30. And I do feel that 5W20 allows for a less quiet engine. Not saying that the engine is loud mind you, just more audible.
 
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i have an 03 f150 4.6 with no "piston slap" i run 4 qts m1 5w20 and 2 qts mobilclean 5k 5w20 i call it mobil clean 8500 lol, have an 08 mazda 6 2.3l (ford) i run m1 0w20, have an 08 escape 2.3l run edge 5w20, an 05 ranger run motorcraft 5w20 blend. my f150 is USED HARD, no issues what so ever on any of them using xw20, i will note the escape using edge is by far the quietest, i also change oil and filter every 6 mo regardless of miles
 
kcfx4 that is quite an impressive fleet! Remember Edge being the quietest oil is all in your head, your ears to be exact! I've noticed the same thing, so you my friend are in good company!
smile.gif
 
dermapaint, im a bit fearful of running edge in my f150 as its "thin" and i use the truck, but im thinking edge for all the rest once i deplete my M1 stock. and yes its all in my head
wink.gif
 
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