Is Red Line 5W-20 too thin for a Mitsu EVO IX?

[si1491]

Currently using Castrol Edge 10W-30 (seems to run smoother and quieter than Mobil 1). Previous fills have been Mobil 1 10W-30, one run of 5w30, and one run of Red Line 10W-30. The car currently has a little over 22K miles on it total, not much for an 06. It is currently stock, only plans for it right now is to tune the ECU in the next few months. The car has not seen the track and probably will not, at least for the next year or so. With the Mobil 1, Blackstone reported that it had sheared some (oil SUS Vis @ 210, 57.2(orig fill 10W-30), 56.5 (10W-30 Mob 1), 55.1(5w30 Mob 1), 56.9(10W-30 Mob 1)). Oil was changed around 3K intervals. I have thought of trying a 20 weight in the engine but have been hesitant to because of the type of spirited driving I do now and the fact that it is turbocharged. I do know that when I changed the oil from the Red Line 10W-30 to the Mobil 5w30, turbo lag was much shorter and the engine responded faster. (for reference, the Red Line's sample SUS Vis @ 210 was 60.9)

Thanks

 

[brandini]

Don't do that light in a high test turbo motor unless you want to add an oil cooler.

 

[TeeGee79]

I also agree; with that type of spirited motor, I would stay with a 30# oil. I don't know what your motive was for looking at a 20#, but if a 20# shears, you are in a completely different territory. It already happened to you with one brand and type.

I say stay with what you are using currently........a 30#

 

[hate2work]

One of the more popular ( and best ) oils for your rig is GC. It happens to be on sale right now at AZ.

 

[d00df00d]

If your oil has been coming out thinner than it went in, I would strongly suspect fuel dilution. I doubt those oils actually sheared. Synthetic 10w-30s and 5w30s are usually VERY shear stable.

The nice thing about Red Line 5w-20 is that its HTHS viscosity is 3.3, which is in the neighborhood of a lot of xw-30s. Do you have oil pressure and oil temperature gauges to keep an eye on things? It might be worth a shot.

What's your goal here? Are you trying to gain something specific or are you just experimenting?

 

[si1491]

brandini: The car comes stock with an oil cooler.

TeeGee79: I was wondering if the redline 20# could protect better than the Mob 1, with an HTHS of 3.3. I believe the Red Line 30# would do fine (HTHS is 3.2 for their 0W-30) but I was looking at engine responsiveness and overall performance, with the same or better protection than the Mob 1.

hate2work: Yeah, I saw that this weekend, seems good but was considering Amsoil if I continued the 30#.

d00df00d: All the analysis reports show 'no fuel dilution'. Yes, with an HTHS of 3.3, I was pondering if it was possible it could protect as well, if not better, than Mob 1. No, no oil temp or pressure gauges, hopefully I will have those within a year or two.

Thanks

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: si1491
All the analysis reports show 'no fuel dilution'.

Most fuel dilution assessments can't really be trusted. You have to look at viscosity and flash point. Do you have flash points for those samples?

 

[AEHaas]

Look up my used oil analysis of the Enzo, Murcielago, and Maybach 57s AMG. I have run Red Line 5W-20 and RLI 0W-20 grade oils in them all with low normal wear at most. Driving pattern is spirited and limited to around town, a worst case situation, short of track use.

We have high fuel dilution, high RPM and high BHP in these cases. Yet the engines run cool and wear is just not there. The RL is good but now I like the RLI better.

aehaas

 

[JAG]

Originally Posted By: si1491
TeeGee79: I was wondering if the redline 20# could protect better than the Mob 1, with an HTHS of 3.3. I believe the Red Line 30# would do fine (HTHS is 3.2 for their 0W-30) but I was looking at engine responsiveness and overall performance, with the same or better protection than the Mob 1.

With the HTHS viscosity of 3.3 cP, it should provide thicker oil films in the bearings than M1 10W-30 and 5w30 and Castrol Edge 10W-30.

 

[bluesubie]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
If your oil has been coming out thinner than it went in, I would strongly suspect fuel dilution. I doubt those oils actually sheared. Synthetic 10w-30s and 5w30s are usually VERY shear stable.

The nice thing about Red Line 5w-20 is that its HTHS viscosity is 3.3, which is in the neighborhood of a lot of xw-30s. Do you have oil pressure and oil temperature gauges to keep an eye on things? It might be worth a shot.

What's your goal here? Are you trying to gain something specific or are you just experimenting?

A lot of synthetic Energy Conserving 30 grades shear in Subaru turbo's with low fuel dilution and I would suspect the same in the EVO. The RL 5W-20 probably is more shear stable and could have an operating viscosity that same or even thicker than EC 30 grades, IMO.

IIRC, I believe saaber1 did not feel a difference in performance going from RL xW-30 to RL xW-40.

-Dennis

 

[buster]

I think RL 5w20 would be a great choice.

Mobil 1 5w30 is also a great choice for a turbo. You could always spike it with a qt of their 15w50.

M1 turbo

My choice would be PU 5w30.

 

[Nederlander75]

Should be fine. My EVO VIII produces good wear results with RP 10w30, which typically shears to a low 30wt or high 20wt after 5-7.5K miles.