Dumb Car Oil queston!

[waggy]

Ok here is a dumb question.

My car uses 5w20 and my wife's uses 5w30. What is the diffrence between the two? would it hurt putting either in either car?

I need to change the oil in both cars. Just do not want to buy 2 diffrent cases of oil.

Also is it worht buying the High life oil? my car has 55k and my wifes has 80k miles.

 

[Pepsi90919]

5w20 was made to meet US federal EPA standards, it's thinner. i would buy the 5w30 if you needed to buy 1.

 

[Maximus Power]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
5w20 was made to meet US federal EPA standards, it's thinner. i would buy the 5w30 if you needed to buy 1.

I don't know about all that federal stuff, but thicker is good
(but not too thick) because it thins considerably when its hot.

If you are in a cold area, it might be harder to start and rougher
over time on your starter but with the 5w30 you are right on.

 

[waggy]

hmm OK will buy the 5w30 then.

so what about the stuff for higher milage cars? it was much more expensive. is it worht it?

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
5w20 was made to meet US federal EPA standards, it's thinner. i would buy the 5w30 if you needed to buy 1.

I'm not sure I would agree totaly with Pepsi, some cars require 5w-20 because of the size of the oil passages in the motor. The thinner oil flows better and sludges less. Using 5w-30 will lower your gas milage and possibly sludge up the motor.
On the reciprocating end I'm not sure what using 5w-20 in a motor that required 5w-30 would do, there would possibly be higher engine wear, but I cant say much more than that.

As for the high milage stuff, dont bother with it unless your car is burning or leaking oil.

 

[Maximus Power]

I've seen the oil you're talking about but I have not taken a look on the label
to see what's so good about it. It might be just a little thicker, or have some
stuff in it like "STP Oil treatment".

If you change your oil every 3000 miles like its recommended, your car will
be fine and you will save money in the long run.

I recommend the 5w30 when you change, and for good measure some "STP Oil
treatment" for 4 cylinders (if thats what you got), or the regular blue can.

That way you're covered.
I've had V-8's and smaller, and that's what I've always done.
Never had a engine related problem.

 

[Ornery]

For certain cars, it may be smart to use EXACTLY what's recommended.

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: Maximus Power

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
5w20 was made to meet US federal EPA standards, it's thinner. i would buy the 5w30 if you needed to buy 1.

I don't know about all that federal stuff, but thicker is good
(but not too thick) because it thins considerably when its hot.

If you are in a cold area, it might be harder to start and rougher
over time on your starter but with the 5w30 you are right on.

Either one of those oils will act the same way when cold. The 5 stands for the cold(winter) weight. It then acts like 20 weight or 30 weight when hot. 30 weight being the thicker of the two.

Also I don't know what this is about "federal stuff" I've never heard anything like that.

 

[TheLonelyPhoenix]

Thicker oil than what is recommended for the car will decrease gas mileage, but won't "hurt anything", per se.

Don't use thinner oil than what the car requires.

 

[dartworth]

Just use what the manual tells you to use. It's not that hard...

 

[BlackOmen]

My 2003 Civic calls for 5w-20. The Mobil 1 5w-30 is supposed to be very thin for a 30 wt oil, and shears into a 20 weight oil. I've been changing it every 10k even though an oil analysis said I could push it some more.

Solution: use Mobil 1 5w-30 and use an extended change interval.

Charlie

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Originally posted by: Maximus Power

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
5w20 was made to meet US federal EPA standards, it's thinner. i would buy the 5w30 if you needed to buy 1.

I don't know about all that federal stuff, but thicker is good
(but not too thick) because it thins considerably when its hot.

If you are in a cold area, it might be harder to start and rougher
over time on your starter but with the 5w30 you are right on.

Either one of those oils will act the same way when cold. The 5 stands for the cold(winter) weight. It then acts like 20 weight or 30 weight when hot. 30 weight being the thicker of the two.

Also I don't know what this is about "federal stuff" I've never heard anything like that.

http://www.bestsyntheticoil.com/dealers/amsoil/5w20-cafe.shtml

Question: My owners manual specifies 5w20 oil. Do I really need to use 5w20 oil and why did my 2000 model year vehicle require a 5w30 oil, while the exact same engine in my 2001 model year vehicle requires 5w20 oil?

Answer: No. You do not need to use a 5w20 oil. The only reason 5w20 was specified for your engine is to increase the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) reported to the Federal Government. CAFE is the combined average fuel economy of all of a vehicle manufacturer's product line. Minimum CAFE levels are specified by the Federal Government. In order for a vehicle manufacturer to continue selling profitable large trucks and SUV's, which typically have poor fuel mileage, and still meet mandated CAFE requirements, they must also sell smaller cars which have much better fuel economy ratings to offset the poor fuel economy ratings of the larger vehicles.

For model year 2001, the change to 5w20 oil will allow a vehicle manufacturer's overall CAFE to decrease by a very small amount, typically in the tenths of a mile per gallon range. 5w20 oil is a lighter viscosity than a 5w30 oil and therefore has less internal engine frictional losses, or less drag on the crankshaft, pistons and valve-train. This decrease in frictional power loss promotes increased fuel economy. This increased fuel economy is virtually undetectable to the average consumer without the use of specialized engine monitoring and testing equipment when compared to a 5w30, 10w30 or a 0w30 viscosity motor oil.

 

[Jeff7181]

I only use 5w20 in my mom's Sable because I've heard using too thick an oil can sometimes cause problems cause in that particular engine, oil tends to stay up top too much. A 5w20 will be thinner at operating temp and drain back to the pan better.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I only use 5w20 in my mom's Sable because I've heard using too thick an oil can sometimes cause problems cause in that particular engine, oil tends to stay up top too much. A 5w20 will be thinner at operating temp and drain back to the pan better.

yeah and what about everything in between? 🙂

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I only use 5w20 in my mom's Sable because I've heard using too thick an oil can sometimes cause problems cause in that particular engine, oil tends to stay up top too much. A 5w20 will be thinner at operating temp and drain back to the pan better.

yeah and what about everything in between? 🙂

??? Don't know what you're asking...

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Originally posted by: Maximus Power

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
5w20 was made to meet US federal EPA standards, it's thinner. i would buy the 5w30 if you needed to buy 1.

I don't know about all that federal stuff, but thicker is good
(but not too thick) because it thins considerably when its hot.

If you are in a cold area, it might be harder to start and rougher
over time on your starter but with the 5w30 you are right on.

Either one of those oils will act the same way when cold. The 5 stands for the cold(winter) weight. It then acts like 20 weight or 30 weight when hot. 30 weight being the thicker of the two.

Also I don't know what this is about "federal stuff" I've never heard anything like that.

http://www.bestsyntheticoil.com/dealers/amsoil/5w20-cafe.shtml

Question: My owners manual specifies 5w20 oil. Do I really need to use 5w20 oil and why did my 2000 model year vehicle require a 5w30 oil, while the exact same engine in my 2001 model year vehicle requires 5w20 oil?

Answer: No. You do not need to use a 5w20 oil. The only reason 5w20 was specified for your engine is to increase the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) reported to the Federal Government. CAFE is the combined average fuel economy of all of a vehicle manufacturer's product line. Minimum CAFE levels are specified by the Federal Government. In order for a vehicle manufacturer to continue selling profitable large trucks and SUV's, which typically have poor fuel mileage, and still meet mandated CAFE requirements, they must also sell smaller cars which have much better fuel economy ratings to offset the poor fuel economy ratings of the larger vehicles.

For model year 2001, the change to 5w20 oil will allow a vehicle manufacturer's overall CAFE to decrease by a very small amount, typically in the tenths of a mile per gallon range. 5w20 oil is a lighter viscosity than a 5w30 oil and therefore has less internal engine frictional losses, or less drag on the crankshaft, pistons and valve-train. This decrease in frictional power loss promotes increased fuel economy. This increased fuel economy is virtually undetectable to the average consumer without the use of specialized engine monitoring and testing equipment when compared to a 5w30, 10w30 or a 0w30 viscosity motor oil.

Ummm...exactly. 5w20 wasn't made to meet federal standards to my knowledge. They switched to it for those properties.

 

[Jeff7181]

On the subject of oil... does anyone know of a manufacturer that makes 10w20?

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Originally posted by: Maximus Power

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
5w20 was made to meet US federal EPA standards, it's thinner. i would buy the 5w30 if you needed to buy 1.

I don't know about all that federal stuff, but thicker is good
(but not too thick) because it thins considerably when its hot.

If you are in a cold area, it might be harder to start and rougher
over time on your starter but with the 5w30 you are right on.

Either one of those oils will act the same way when cold. The 5 stands for the cold(winter) weight. It then acts like 20 weight or 30 weight when hot. 30 weight being the thicker of the two.

Also I don't know what this is about "federal stuff" I've never heard anything like that.

http://www.bestsyntheticoil.com/dealers/amsoil/5w20-cafe.shtml

Question: My owners manual specifies 5w20 oil. Do I really need to use 5w20 oil and why did my 2000 model year vehicle require a 5w30 oil, while the exact same engine in my 2001 model year vehicle requires 5w20 oil?

Answer: No. You do not need to use a 5w20 oil. The only reason 5w20 was specified for your engine is to increase the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) reported to the Federal Government. CAFE is the combined average fuel economy of all of a vehicle manufacturer's product line. Minimum CAFE levels are specified by the Federal Government. In order for a vehicle manufacturer to continue selling profitable large trucks and SUV's, which typically have poor fuel mileage, and still meet mandated CAFE requirements, they must also sell smaller cars which have much better fuel economy ratings to offset the poor fuel economy ratings of the larger vehicles.

For model year 2001, the change to 5w20 oil will allow a vehicle manufacturer's overall CAFE to decrease by a very small amount, typically in the tenths of a mile per gallon range. 5w20 oil is a lighter viscosity than a 5w30 oil and therefore has less internal engine frictional losses, or less drag on the crankshaft, pistons and valve-train. This decrease in frictional power loss promotes increased fuel economy. This increased fuel economy is virtually undetectable to the average consumer without the use of specialized engine monitoring and testing equipment when compared to a 5w30, 10w30 or a 0w30 viscosity motor oil.

Ummm...exactly. 5w20 wasn't made to meet federal standards to my knowledge. They switched to it for those properties.

The only reason 5w20 was specified for your engine is to increase the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) reported to the Federal Government.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: QuitBanningMe

Originally posted by: Maximus Power

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
5w20 was made to meet US federal EPA standards, it's thinner. i would buy the 5w30 if you needed to buy 1.

I don't know about all that federal stuff, but thicker is good
(but not too thick) because it thins considerably when its hot.

If you are in a cold area, it might be harder to start and rougher
over time on your starter but with the 5w30 you are right on.

Either one of those oils will act the same way when cold. The 5 stands for the cold(winter) weight. It then acts like 20 weight or 30 weight when hot. 30 weight being the thicker of the two.

Also I don't know what this is about "federal stuff" I've never heard anything like that.

http://www.bestsyntheticoil.com/dealers/amsoil/5w20-cafe.shtml

Question: My owners manual specifies 5w20 oil. Do I really need to use 5w20 oil and why did my 2000 model year vehicle require a 5w30 oil, while the exact same engine in my 2001 model year vehicle requires 5w20 oil?

Answer: No. You do not need to use a 5w20 oil. The only reason 5w20 was specified for your engine is to increase the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) reported to the Federal Government. CAFE is the combined average fuel economy of all of a vehicle manufacturer's product line. Minimum CAFE levels are specified by the Federal Government. In order for a vehicle manufacturer to continue selling profitable large trucks and SUV's, which typically have poor fuel mileage, and still meet mandated CAFE requirements, they must also sell smaller cars which have much better fuel economy ratings to offset the poor fuel economy ratings of the larger vehicles.

For model year 2001, the change to 5w20 oil will allow a vehicle manufacturer's overall CAFE to decrease by a very small amount, typically in the tenths of a mile per gallon range. 5w20 oil is a lighter viscosity than a 5w30 oil and therefore has less internal engine frictional losses, or less drag on the crankshaft, pistons and valve-train. This decrease in frictional power loss promotes increased fuel economy. This increased fuel economy is virtually undetectable to the average consumer without the use of specialized engine monitoring and testing equipment when compared to a 5w30, 10w30 or a 0w30 viscosity motor oil.

ok that explained it great.

 

[dartworth]

Pepsi...are you an Amsoil dealer?

 

[QuitBanningMe]

Ummm...exactly. 5w20 wasn't made to meet federal standards to my knowledge. They switched to it for those properties.
[/quote]

The only reason 5w20 was specified for your engine is to increase the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) reported to the Federal Government.

[/quote]

I understand all that. I was simply saying 5w30 wasn't made for federal regulations but the car uses it because of the properties.
In other words wasn't it around before 75?

I'm curious more than anything and can't find anything on the development of different visocities.