Why specifically use 5w30 when you could just use 0w50 grade engine oil for all cars?

[Thomby]

So they actually went through the trouble of issuing a TSB and swapped out customers' caps... I wonder what the back story was on that one.

Yeah I'd be curious whether 0w-30 was the original spec and they felt the need to change it (vs. just saying you could use either that or 5w-30 going forward), or if it was always 5w-30 and the caps themselves were wrong.

I guess it could just be that they wanted a uniform standard for all Stinger model years, but to actively issue a TSB makes me wonder if they felt using 5w over 0w was important...

 

[Volfy]

Yeah I'd be curious whether 0w-30 was the original spec and they felt the need to change it (vs. just saying you could use either that or 5w-30 going forward), or if it was always 5w-30 and the caps themselves were wrong.

I guess it could just be that they wanted a uniform standard for all Stinger model years, but to actively issue a TSB makes me wonder if they felt using 5w over 0w was important...

I really think the mfr recommended oil specs aren't always what's best for engine longevity. Like in the below page from the owner's manual, cold vs. hot weather performance consideration was mentioned once. Fuel economy was mentioned 3 times.

Pretty rare for a single viscosity grade to be listed for an engine, with no other alternatives. Yeah, I'm not buying that.

 

[rtv900]

I thought the Stinger engine always required synthetic?

it certainly should, anything with turbos needs synthetic because of the oil supply to the turbo and how wicked hot they get
regular oil can coke after you shut off the car and the oil sits in those lines blazing hot and stagnant
That's why it's always good to drive casually for a few minutes before shutdown if you have been on it really hard, so the turbo temps
come down to earth

 

[turboAWD]

They definitely changed the allowable ranges from 2018 ( almost anything goes, iirc) to only two grades for 2019: 5W-30 and 10w30 I think. At least for the 3.3.

 

[lil_lurking_stinger]

They definitely changed the allowable ranges from 2018 ( almost anything goes, iirc) to only two grades for 2019: 5W-30 and 10w30 I think. At least for the 3.3.

That’s what I figured.

I’ve even caught various dealerships trying to sneak in 0w-30 on various occasions.

I really wish we had a definitive answer here.

 

[Ah GetFd]

The "50" rating is the problem.

It's a cheaper spec than "30"

It costs less to make.

0W30 Dearest
5W30 Dearer
10W30 Dear
15W40 Cheaper
20W50 Cheapest

As the numbers go up the oil gets "cheaper" to make

""One of the numbers is followed by a W, which refers to “winter” and indicates the viscosity grade in cold temperatures. An oil with a low SAE W number will flow better, have better cold starts, and lower engine wear. The second number refers to the viscosity in warm temperatures (measured at 100ºC). The higher the SAE grade, the higher the viscosity and denser the lubricating film. Viscosity is necessary in warm temperatures to protect the mechanical pieces in contact. However, excessive viscosity at high temperatures could cause more internal friction and poorer engine performance and consumption."

In Australia you wouldn't waste the money on 0W30. 5W30 is the dearest you would go.

A 20W50 oil though is what you would stick into an old car with pistons flopping around. You would use the "50" rating to glue it all together........

 

[rtv900]

The "50" rating is the problem.

It's a cheaper spec than "30"

It costs less to make.

0W30 Dearest
5W30 Dearer
10W30 Dear
15W40 Cheaper
20W50 Cheapest

As the numbers go up the oil gets "cheaper" to make

""One of the numbers is followed by a W, which refers to “winter” and indicates the viscosity grade in cold temperatures. An oil with a low SAE W number will flow better, have better cold starts, and lower engine wear. The second number refers to the viscosity in warm temperatures (measured at 100ºC). The higher the SAE grade, the higher the viscosity and denser the lubricating film. Viscosity is necessary in warm temperatures to protect the mechanical pieces in contact. However, excessive viscosity at high temperatures could cause more internal friction and poorer engine performance and consumption."

In Australia you wouldn't waste the money on 0W30. 5W30 is the dearest you would go.

A 20W50 oil though is what you would stick into an old car with pistons flopping around. You would use the "50" rating to glue it all together........

Other than the blurb you cut and pasted from an accurate article, almost nothing you said otherwise is even remotely accurate.
50 isn't a cheaper "spec"
As stated earlier, the "spread" is what costs the money, it's chemically difficult to do and there's drawbacks as well. (ever wonder why we never heard of 0w-40's and 50's twenty years ago? Because nobody could do it)
the 50 weight dual vis oils are significantly more expensive than the tighter spread ones, like double to triple the cost.
And 50 weight doesn't "glue" together an old beat up engine. It'd probably be worse in reality.

 

[StingerMG]

For science, I do plan on hopefully getting 2 similar days (temperature) to compare: the 2 scenarios.

Today, the ambient temperature was 0°C (I don't control the weather)
After 9 hours of being parked outside at my work, my oil and coolant temps were not at 0°C. They were closer to 12°C despite sitting outside - odd.

From 6:17 to 6:27, I was not moving.
~6:28 my TPMS detects as I started driving
You can clearly see where I start driving based on the intake air temperature fluctuating.

View attachment 84426

nice to see a fellow car scanner pro user

 

[Ah GetFd]

""This feels like a dumb question, I've obviously missed something here,"...............

The first question ""

Why specifically use 5w30 when you could just use 0w50 grade engine oil for all cars?​

You don't seem to like the answer......

Firstly most of the question was cut and paste....

Secondly the post of a graph relied solely on temperature

It did not take into account that "50" oil is shittier.....

hence the post that says "excessive viscosity at high temperatures could cause more internal friction and poorer engine performance and consumption."

It;s all accurate and almost a complete waste of my time replying

SAE50 oil is CHEAP hence the three examples

$20 is 5 litres.

I am surprised it's even refined.

If you make 30 oil it is better than 50 oil

It is not that hard

Just stick the right oil in.

 

[rtv900]

It;s all accurate and almost a complete waste of my time replying

that made less sense than the other statement
You're surprised a 50 weight is "even refined"
really?

 

[Volfy]

Viscosity Index has no bearing on cost of manufacturing. SAE 50w is no less refined than SAE 30w. Neither is any other viscosity grade. They are simple formulated for varying applications. SAW 50 is even used in some applications as transmission oil. Reason SAE 50w is cheaper is the same reason any single-VI motor oil is cheaper - less additives and no viscosity modifiers. No different than for SAE 30w. Those two are probably the two most common "straight weight" (horribly wrong nomenclature, but that's different story) motor oils, because any lower Viscosity Index would not work for automotive engines is most climates. Heck, you can even buy non-detergent single-VI 30w or 50w, for applications that do not require them. Even cheaper. Whether they are worth putting into your own engine - or even worthy of discussion in the context of this thread - is left to your own wisdom (or lack thereof).

Multi-viscosity oils cost more because of the additive package in them. Each company has their formulations, some are closely guarded "secret ingredients". Suffice it to say, the additive packages are mainly what make the modern motor oil as good as they are. That's where the R&D dollars are spent and how higher price tags are justified. Beyond the differences between conventional and the various types of synthetics, the base oils are just that... rather basic.

 

[Ah GetFd]

Volify said....

Viscosity Index has no bearing on cost of manufacturing.

Reason SAE 50w is cheaper is the same reason any single-VI motor oil is cheaper - less additives and no viscosity modifiers

They didn't get their by themselves

I rest my case

 

[Volfy]

 

[rtv900]

Volify said....

Viscosity Index has no bearing on cost of manufacturing.

Reason SAE 50w is cheaper is the same reason any single-VI motor oil is cheaper - less additives and no viscosity modifiers

They didn't get their by themselves

I rest my case

sigh
nobody is talking about single viscosity oils dude. We're not driving a caterpillar diesel in the middle east where temps range from 90 to 94.
if you ran a straight SAE 50 in your car and started up here in the northeast when it's 12 degrees outside you'd be buying a new motor the next day.

 

[Ah GetFd]

sigh
nobody is talking about single viscosity oils dude. We're not driving a caterpillar diesel in the middle east where temps range from 90 to 94.
if you ran a straight SAE 50 in your car and started up here in the northeast when it's 12 degrees outside you'd be buying a new motor the next day.

Ah yeah they were. They were suggesting a "50" grade should be used instead of a "30" grade for ALL cars

The clue was in the title

But look, you fired up when you didn't have to with "blurb" and "Dude

You really need to get out a little bit more and try and expand your thinking a little.

Probably nobody cares that you are in the North East. I don't

But look enjoy it if you can.

 

[Ah GetFd]

Ah yeah they were. They were suggesting a "50" grade should be used instead of a "30" grade for ALL cars

The clue was in the title

But look, you fired up when you didn't have to with "blurb" and "Dude

You really need to get out a little bit more and try and expand your thinking a little.

Probably nobody cares that you are in the North East. I don't

But look enjoy it if you can.

and I get a little tired of your blurb

Dude................

 

[Ah GetFd]

did you say "Multi-viscosity oils cost more"?

I think you did

Well there you go

30 costs more than 50............in any Multi viscosity combination

because 50 oil is shittier

The whole basis of my post

The whole reason a response was provided to the original poster who did not know why all cars don;t use a 50 grade oil...............

Then we got dopey draws fired up and of course yourself provided some well thought out response not realising that you actually confirmed that 30 based oil is DEAR than 50 based oil because of the additives.
Doh

(Slaps head with trying to force this onto someone)

 

[Volfy]

@rtv900 It's like arguing with an orangutan. Flailing arms and grunting noises... and probably thinks it's winning.

And we all go like... wuh?!

 

[rtv900]

Ah yeah they were. They were suggesting a "50" grade should be used instead of a "30" grade for ALL cars

The clue was in the title

You realize the title literally states a dual viscosity oil right? Not a straight SAE 50.
Hence I said nobody is talking about running a straight 50 because that would be insane.

 

[rtv900]

@rtv900 It's like arguing with an orangutan. Flailing arms and grunting noises... and probably thinks it's winning.

And we all go like... wuh?!

agreed