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There is not a major difference between the heavier 5w-30 and the 5w-20. I personally would consider such factors as the quality of the oil, whether or not your using synthetic, and do you change oil at 3K, 5K or 6K. Also, what is the temperature outside and what kind of driving you do? Are they short drives, cold engines do not burn all their gasoline, and some unburt and partially burnt gases condense on the cylinder walls, and eventually get into the oil, making it acidic. The amount of unburnt fuel also corresponds to the wear in the engine, either worn rings or loose valves with worn seals. If you do a lot of harder miles or stop-n-go in hot weather, the heavier 5w-30 will be thicker and stick to moving engine parts a little better (but that depends on the quality of the oil). If it's below zero, I'd use the 5w-20, which is what I run in the winter in N. Ill. Summer, I use 10w-40 and half can of STP type of additive. I change at 3K, and if I used synthetic, I'd up that to 5K, since it breaks down or supposedly gets less contaminated. But, I feel better about changing more often (clean filter!). I've been putting on about 130K-150K in 8-10 years before getting rid of our vehicles (wife and mine), and at most they have been using a 1/2 quart in 3K when I got rid of them. I am not an engine oil expert, a motorhead back in the 70's and studied engines/auto mechanics at the university before teaching auto shop for 3 years, then switched to drafting/manufacturing for 25 years. I probably did not provide you the simple answer you're looking for, but hopefully enough information to consider various factors to make the best choice for you. Good luck
The only reason you are changing your oil is because you want to take good care of the engine in your car.
If you want to take good care of the engine in your car why would you use a motor oil that was not recommended by the vehicle manufacturer?
Don in Austin
It's well known that manufacturers recommend 5W-20 because it makes their CAFE number slightly better. It doesn't necessarily lubricate better.
Ford switched from 5W-30 to 5W-20 without changing their engine designs. The consensus is that 5W-30 is better, especially for performance cars. Also, if you look up the specs, the more viscous oil is often better. I use Pennzoil 10W-30 and not 5W-30 because the NOACK volatility number is almost half-- In other words, half as much of it evaporates at high temperature.
If the tolerances of your engines are actually set up for 5W-20 then yes it would be better to use the factory recommended oil.
The word is to use oil with the lowest difference between the two numbers. Hence, 5W20 is better than 5W30.
Unless you are in Alaska or Dakotas or place else real cold, all this is sort of irrelevant anyway.
The word is to use oil with the lowest difference between the two numbers. Hence, 5W20 is better than 5W30.
Unless you are in Alaska or Dakotas or place else real cold, all this is sort of irrelevant anyway.
In a hot climate I don't see how 5w-20 would be better than 5w-30. The winter viscosity (5w) of both should be the same.
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