5-20 weight oil - what do do with it

[bp fick]

55K on my truck so far with 5w-20 Motorcraft. Not much, but like it so far.
I'd rather have quick flow than anything. Also, want a synthetic blend minimum. Sometimes, if the price is right, it gets the full synthetic. That I let go to 6000-7000 miles to justify the cost. 4000 on the blend.

Wouldn't have much use for 5w-20 straight dino, but I'd likely use in conjunction with equal parts 10w-30 in my wife's car.

 

[dodge man]

Just about all Chrysler and Dodge Hemi's spec a 5w20 oil also. You pretty much HAVE to use it also or the lifters don't work correctly when it switches from 8 cylinders to 4.

I sort of agree, it is being specd in part to get that last 0.1 mpg better, but I agree with Diamond Pilot, engines are so much better as far as wear goes, that they run fine on it.

 

[zmoz]

5w20 is fine for ANY gas engine.

I have seen a LOT of bad oil recommendations in my life, but that has to be one of the worst. 5w20 is fine for any engine SPEC'D for it. Not other engines! Especially not diesel engines, small engines, tractor engines, old American V8 engines, etc. To say "ANY" engine is outright stupid.

 

[crashz]

The story as I remember it is that Honda and Ford had worked in conjunction with Connoco Phillips and the API to develop a lighter weight oil that worked better in their high shear engines (Honda's VVT and Ford OHC V8 Mod motors, which both destroyed the old 5w-30 formulations), and just flat out built a better oil that does not shear as easily, and stands up to the high upper end wear. The oils had some of the most robust additive packages and shear stable semi-synthetic base oils used. Now most of the other specs oils have shared the new formulations based upon the 5w-20.

I wouldn't be afraid of using a quart or two in any gas engine with each oil change, especially now as its getting colder. The actual dynamic viscosities are very close to a 5w-30 weight, and they maintain the viscosity better than cheaper conventional 5w-30 during its life cycle.

 

[Bedlam]

Use it for the oil can to oil stuff

 

[RalphVa]

I stand by my recommendation that 5w20 will work in ANY gas engine. I worked in the lube oil industry for 31 years. Go fly a kite.

Ralph

 

[edge08]

My girlfriends' 2000 honda civic uses 5w-20 oil and while I've never changed my 2003 V6 ranger oil because I bought it new and have "oil changes for life" on that vehicle, I saw on the oil cover it also uses 5w-20. My previous 92 ranger used 10W-30.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I stand by my recommendation that 5w20 will work in ANY gas engine. I worked in the lube oil industry for 31 years. Go fly a kite.

Ralph

Then you know there are some critical issues with the load bearing capability of the hydrodynamic wedge formed in the rod bearings at low rpm with a lo viscosity oil. Factor in the standard looser oil clearance of the older engine along with some wear and you get an engine that must be treated just right or the bearings will scuff.
larry

 

[sw03]

Then you know there are some critical issues with the load bearing capability of the hydrodynamic wedge formed in the rod bearings at low rpm with a lo viscosity oil. Factor in the standard looser oil clearance of the older engine along with some wear and you get an engine that must be treated just right or the bearings will scuff.
larry

I agree with Ralph here but I use 0w-20 in all my engines if I can. And that is only for like 15 years.

 

[zmoz]

I stand by my recommendation that 5w20 will work in ANY gas engine. I worked in the lube oil industry for 31 years. Go fly a kite.

Ralph

Sure it will "work". A bucket of lard will "work". The question is how well? If the engine isn't designed for it, then the answer is "not well at all". Go ahead and do a used oil analysis on 5w20 from an engine not designed for it, that's all the proof you need to see it is the wrong choice.

PS - my Dad thinks he's an expert painter because he used to work at a paint store. He started out as a cashier and went to management. He's the worst painter I know. His job never actually required him to know anything about paint.

 

[Bedlam]

Goodness such hostility...calm down...

 

[SPYDERLK]

I agree with Ralph here but I use 0w-20 in all my engines if I can. And that is only for like 15 years.

Hope you have modern engines, or cool weather and keep the rpm up when under any appreciable load. If not, it would be one of those times you cant.
larry

 

[bp fick]

Back in the late Sixties, I was working at a garage. I remember the debate when oil was changing from single weight to that fancy new fangle multi-viscosity. How vehemently opposed it was by the old timers who insisted that it was garbage and they'd never put it one of their cars. Only 30w was going in their engines, "cause that light weight stuff just cannot be any good." (only they didn't say "stuff").

Heard the similar sort of debate, arguments and opposition to 5w-30 when it first came into use. Same thing. "Too thin", "Your engine will burn up!", "I'd never use the stuff." etc.

Same old, same old. By now the OP has long since given up interest in any of our responses, I should think.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Back in the late Sixties, I was working at a garage. I remember the debate when oil was changing from single weight to that fancy new fangle multi-viscosity. How vehemently opposed it was by the old timers who insisted that it was garbage and they'd never put it one of their cars. Only 30w was going in their engines, "cause that light weight stuff just cannot be any good." (only they didn't say "stuff").

Heard the similar sort of debate, arguments and opposition to 5w-30 when it first came into use. Same thing. "Too thin", "Your engine will burn up!", "I'd never use the stuff." etc.

Same old, same old. By now the OP has long since given up interest in any of our responses, I should think.

Different old, different old. Same old didnt understand multi vis rating. Different old did, and knew that the 10w30 just started thinner and didnt thin as fast with heat - reaching the same reduced vis that straight 30weight did at optemp.

We are talking 20weight here - not 30. 20weight is too thin to support the rod bearings in a generic [worn] old engine that may be used under varying conditions of load, rpm, and hi temperature. an automatic trans wouldnt be bad, but a stick would be likely to see a little lugging and squeeze out that last micron of oil wedge occasionaly, leading to repetitive damage.
larry

 

[MikePA]

Goodness such hostility...calm down...

I agree. People who take it so personally have more than oil issues they need to deal with.

 

[zmoz]

Goodness such hostility...calm down...

I was being nice. When I see WRONG, BAD advice posted somewhere like this, I feel it is important to correct it...too many people will read it and cluelessly take the advice of some stranger who doesn't know what he's talking about...

 

[CDsdad]

I was being nice. When I see WRONG, BAD advice posted somewhere like this, I feel it is important to correct it...too many people will read it and cluelessly take the advice of some stranger who doesn't know what he's talking about...

I'm not saying advice given on TBN is all good or all bad. It should be, however, the responsibility of anyone soliciting advice to differentiate between good and bad advice, or further research advice that is given to determine for one's self if it's good or not. Different strokes for different folks.

I do it the easy way. Ask around, and then do whatever I want to. Regardless of how good advice is, and for that matter my own personal opinion, sometimes you get and sometimes you get got.

 

[CDsdad]

My father has moved from the farm into town, and dumped a bunch of newly purchased oil at my doorstep. (not new enough to return). There are 8 bottles of Castrol 5-20. I assume this is for the honda or something. I would assume that my tractor, which takes 10-40 for Hydraulics, could NOT use this, although it would be nice if it could.

So, at the risk of being niave. I tihnk I have a bunch of 5-20 that has no purpose, other than maybe putting it in my diesel tank, right? I have nothing that I know of that would use this and unless I can mix it in with my Hydrualic oil I seen no future for it.

Sorry to spin off somewhere else on that other post. To answer your question, I'd burn it in my diesel (if I had one), or give it to somebody who might could use it. I don't have a vehicle that I use 5w-20 in.

 

[MikePA]

I was being nice. When I see WRONG, BAD advice posted somewhere like this, I feel it is important to correct it.

Correcting what you believe is wrong advice is not an excuse to be rude or to violate the TBN Terms Of Service by insulting other members.

I have seen a LOT of bad oil recommendations in my life, but that has to be one of the worst. 5w20 is fine for any engine SPEC'D for it. Not other engines! Especially not diesel engines, small engines, tractor engines, old American V8 engines, etc. To say "ANY" engine is outright stupid.

...too many people will read it and cluelessly take the advice of some stranger who doesn't know what he's talking about...

I couldn't agree more. Advice from someone with 31 years in the lube industry or 'the advice of some stranger'? Easy decision.

 

[zmoz]

I couldn't agree more. Advice from someone with 31 years in the lube industry or 'the advice of some stranger'? Easy decision.

Advice from somebody with "31 years in the lube industry" is no different than any other "stranger" on the internet. For all you and I know he's making that up. And for what he's saying about oil I wouldn't be surprised.

Anybody that has half a clue about how oil works knows 5w20 will not work well in an engine not spec'ed for it, or even for high mileage engines that are spec'ed for it. This is why I find the bad advice from someone with "31 years in the lube industry" quite questionable. Most people in this post agree with me that this is not the right oil for most things.

As I said before, to say 5w20 will work well in "ANYTHING" is complete nonsense and nothing else. I don't care if I'm being rude, sometimes the truth hurts. When you're wrong you're wrong, no matter where you work...