How do you think 20wt would fare under high speed conditions?

[buster]

I now average 85mph on the NJ Turnpike and at least 80mph on 295. I would hope Honda/Ford tested these viscosities to be up to high speed driving. Do you think I"d be better off using a 30wt under these conditions? But at the same time, not much load is on the engine at 85mph.

A UOA is the best way to find out but I need to know now.

 

[Ugly3]

5w20 or 0w20 will serve you well at any speed you want drive. Tacing and trailer towing is another story.

 

[The Critic]

Its fine Buster....I'm sure they tested it.

Now, as for you getting busted for speeding, I dunno about that.

May want to invest in a hardwired (to the ignition) V1 Radar Detector for Christmas.

 

[Frank D]

I don't think 80-85 mph is considered high speed unless you are in a low gear and the rpms are way up there. My Windstar does that speed at about 2000 rpm with 5w-20 in the crankcase. I think you would have to go to Europe to experience high speed.

 

[Leonardo629]

I did a little compression test after a track day on RL 5w20 (3000 miles on it before the track event). My Civic Si hatch was above 5000rpm for the full 30 minute session, ran 5 sessions that day, coolant temperature needle never even moved....

and engine was like brand new after I did the comp. test

 

[Bryanccfshr]

It should be fine. They test vehicles in very severe conditions. You would have to hold it to the floor for 15 minutes or longer to get the oil scary hot and you would be pulled over by then!

 

[moribundman]

85 mph is certainly not high speed, but wind-resistance is beginning to create considerable load. Unless the oil temperature gets high I don't think 0/5W-20 is an issue. However, I'd feel safer using a 0/5w30, but I think you knew that.

 

[Dr. T]

I agree, 100+ would be considered high speed in my books...especially when sustained for hours.

 

[hominid7]

Sustained highway speeds are less stressful on your engine, oil, and most other mechanical parts than running the RPM's up and down in city style driving.

 

[moribundman]

quote:

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Sustained highway speeds are less stressful on your engine, oil, and most other mechanical parts than running the RPM's up and down in city style driving.

---

At 120mph and up wind resistance becomes a real hurdle and there is lot of load on the engine -- unless you got a 450 hp rocket.

 

[buster]

Ok thanks guys. I wasn't sure. I just assumed that bc our speed limits in the US are around 65mph on average, that maybe for some odd reason a 5w-20 wasn't really ideal above those speeds. But it's true a xw-30 won't hurt and just might be the best choice.

 

[vad]

quote:

---

Sustained highway speeds are less stressful on your engine, oil, and most other mechanical parts than running the RPM's up and down in city style driving.

---

Second that.

quote:

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At 120mph and up wind resistance becomes a real hurdle and there is lot of load on the engine -- unless you got a 450 hp rocket.

---

We're talking about the real world conditions here, in the US.

 

[TallPaul]

Well I've noticed my oil pressure can get knocked down a few psi from sustained high speed driving. I'm talking about 80 mph in a '95 F150 in the summer, running 10w40.

 

[like a rock]

Maybe you should be worried about the safety of yourself and other people rather than oil consumption at 85 mph. Think of the minivan with the kids that will not have much time to adjust to your speed when they are doing 65mph or 70 mph in the passing lane. Driving that fast is just stupid. And you are worried about oil?

Use your head and slow down before you kill yourself or a family.
Just put some 90 W gear oil in the crankcase then do your UOA.

 

[CAtedster]

Q. Here in the desert southwest, air temperature reach 120 in the shade, what oil weight do you suggest?
A: Customers should use the viscosity grade that was recommended for his vehicle in TSB 02-1-9. In some cases that means 5w30 for 2001 vehicles, but for most, that means 5W-20. Many people believe 5W-20 will be too thin to protect vehicles in high ambience such as experienced in Arizona at 120 degrees. Keep in mind that both 5w30 and 5W-20 were both fully tested, including Arizona proving grounds and experienced these very high ambient temperatures. The 5W-20 past all requirements and in some instances proved to be a better oil than the 5w30. So customer should not be hesitant in using 5W-20 for those vehicles where it is recommended. .
Q. What durability tests have been done on this new grade of oil in excess of the warranty period?
A: Motorcraft 5W-20 was tested in the Arizona and Nevada desert heat, in Expeditions and Navigators loaded down to the max trailer towing capacity for up to 250,000 miles with extended drain intervals (15,000 miles). It was also tested in a fleet of taxis for stop-and-go testing and in the extreme colds of MinnesotA. In all cases, Motorcraft 5W-20 performed exceptionally with no oil-related failures.

 

[Ugly3]

CAtedster - Where did you get the Q and A from?

 

[n8wvi]

Anybody know what the total stopping distance is from 90MPH (145K/H)?

Dave

 

[moribundman]

Stopping distance depends of course on variables like friction coefficient between tires and road and reaction time of driver. At 90 mph I'd guess the average driver and car to require 550-600 feet to come to a full stop. That's about twice the distance required at 50 mph.

The main reason it's almost impossible to go fast safely on US highways during average traffic density has to do with almost nobody keeping a safe distance to the car ahead in the first place, the lack of markers that let the driver gauge distance to the car ahead, and the general lack of discipline.

 

[moribundman]

By the way, as a general rule, distance to the car ahead of you should be at least 2 seconds driving time. Meaning, if the car in front of you passes a landmark, you should pass the same landmark not earlier than 2 seconds later.

 

[wavinwayne]

mori,

I've found that when I try to go by the "2 seconds" rule, a car will always cut me off, because there is "enough room" for him between me & the car in front of me. It's very annoying, but what's a man to do?