I have been running 5w40 or 0w40 oils in my trucks and tractors for years with no problems. I do UOA every change as well. I don't need to do the UOA ever change but I kinda like to look at the oil report.
It does get cold enough in my area to hook up the truck's engine block heater. That heater pulls some power, 1,500 watts for at LEAST three hours, to warm the oil. That is 4,500 watts or 4.5 KWH. 4.5 KWH at 10 cents a KWH is 45 cents to warm up the truck. Which adds up to at least $9 to warm up the truck for a month. Say four months of warming is a minimum of $36. $36 is close to what I have to pay for 0w40/5w40 oil compared to 15w40 oil. With the 0w40 or 5w40 oils I don't have to use the engine block heater which saves time and money. Though I do miss having the truck cab warm up quicker in the morning. :laughing: I have seen a 2-3% increase in MPG as well which is not a big savings but it is something. With my driving, I can run the oil about 2.5 times over the recommended oil change mileage. UOA says to change out the oil at around the 2.5x mark. The UOA says my engine is wearing at very low levels compared to other engines of the same type.
Later,
Dan
