1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
0W20 came into existance, because manufactures could do an EPA mpg test with that, which has a significant portion of cold engine running, which yields a slight inprovement in EPA mpg ratings which helps with the 'cafe' or whaetever that is, fleet ratings. And they get that regulatory relief without any technical inprovement to the vehicle at all! This is done without any regard for the long term durabilty of the engines... as long as the engines don't fail within the warranty period. Meanwhile in Europe the spec's for engine oil are leaning towards 'real' synthetics, 0W40 or for some BMW's, 0W60.
0W20 or most likely 5W20 is a con job on the public who will believe whatever is in their owners manual. They pulled this one with 5W30 almost a decade ago, and for most folks that would of course be dyno oil. A 5W30 or 5W40 dyno oil is a 3W oil with vicosity index (VI) improver additives which make the thin oil get thicker when hot. These VI polymer chains get destroyed with shear and oxidation, so the oil ages towards a thin oil that has poor properties. And the extreme pressure film strength of the 5W base stock sucks and cams can suffer. So an engine wears out faster.
A true synthetic such as Mobil One Tri Synthetic or whatever they use as a marketing name, uses a blend of different synthetic base stocks which have the abililty to thicken when warm and thin with cold, without much or without any VI improver. So these oils are very stable over time with regard to their viscosity/temperature profiles. The synthetic oils will out flow the dyno oils when things get very cold, even for the same ccWhh ratings. And the synthetic oils have much better film strength lubrication that the dyno oils can ever have, and to some extent are better than the FakeTec(tm) group three synthetics. So I am out of control, just say the word 0W20 and look what happens! Meanwhile I am suggesting that folks try a 5W40 or 10W40 as I have found that I get better mpgs, and a quieter smoother engine. This seems insane to some owner manual thumpers (thats a bible thumper pun if you could not see it). But with 0W40 and 0W50 factory fills for some vehicles in Europe, it does not seem to far of the mark.
posted by 65.68.101...
No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
