5-20 oil

Who make 5-20 oil? I have a 2005 T&C with a 3.8 motor. We are coming up on
the time to change the oil. I saw the recommended oil is one I don't recall
having seen in the past. Would a 5-30 be bad?
----------------
Alex

On Tue, 19 Jul 2005, Alex Rodriguez wrote:

> Who make 5-20 oil?

All the major makers.

> I have a 2005 T&C with a 3.8 motor. We are coming up on the time to
> change the oil. I saw the recommended oil is one I don't recall having
> seen in the past.

But this is the present!

Daniel J. Stern wrote:
> On Tue, 19 Jul 2005, Alex Rodriguez wrote:
>
> > Who make 5-20 oil?
>
> All the major makers.
>
> > I have a 2005 T&C with a 3.8 motor. We are coming up on the time to
> > change the oil. I saw the recommended oil is one I don't recall having
> > seen in the past.
>
> But this is the present!

Is 5-20w now the recommended oil for the 3.3/3.8? My 1993 3.3 calls for
5-30.

-Kirk Matheson

> wrote in message
ups.com...
>
>
> Daniel J. Stern wrote:
>> On Tue, 19 Jul 2005, Alex Rodriguez wrote:
>>
>> > Who make 5-20 oil?
>>
>> All the major makers.
>>
>> > I have a 2005 T&C with a 3.8 motor. We are coming up on the time to
>> > change the oil. I saw the recommended oil is one I don't recall having
>> > seen in the past.
>>
>> But this is the present!
>
> Is 5-20w now the recommended oil for the 3.3/3.8? My 1993 3.3 calls for
> 5-30.
>
> -Kirk Matheson

If you live in a hot location 5W-30 might be a good choice. Mobil 1 comes in
both a 5W-20 and 5W-30 selection. That's what I use and I change at the
recommended extended change schedule of 7,500 miles or so.

Richard.

On Tue, 19 Jul 2005 wrote:

> Is 5-20w now the recommended oil for the 3.3/3.8? My 1993 3.3 calls for
> 5-30.

Somethin' in the air today that's causing confusion amongst "past",
"present" and "future"?

5w20 is being recommended by lots of automakers in their North
American-market vehicles for fuel economy certification reasons. The same
engines in the same cars often call for 5w30 in other markets. This does
not mean older vehicles should be switched to 5w20.

Daniel J. Stern wrote:
> On Tue, 19 Jul 2005 wrote:
>
> > Is 5-20w now the recommended oil for the 3.3/3.8? My 1993 3.3 calls for
> > 5-30.
>
> Somethin' in the air today that's causing confusion amongst "past",
> "present" and "future"?
>
> 5w20 is being recommended by lots of automakers in their North
> American-market vehicles for fuel economy certification reasons. The same
> engines in the same cars often call for 5w30 in other markets. This does
> not mean older vehicles should be switched to 5w20.

That is what I was trying to determine. From what I gather, 5w20 is now
being recommended for newer versions of the 3.3 and 3.8, depending on
the market. I will stay with 5w30 synthetic for my 1993 3.3.

Do new 3.3 and 3.8's have tighter clearances than their predecessors,
or is is the 5w20 recommended only for the purpose of improving fuel
economy?

-Kirk Matheson

On Tue, 19 Jul 2005 wrote:

> Do new 3.3 and 3.8's have tighter clearances than their predecessors,

No. Engine internal clearances haven't changed significantly in the last
four decades.

> or is is the 5w20 recommended only for the purpose of improving fuel
> economy?

Correct.

"Daniel J. Stern" > wrote in message
.umich.edu...
> On Tue, 19 Jul 2005 wrote:
>
> > Do new 3.3 and 3.8's have tighter clearances than their predecessors,
>
> No. Engine internal clearances haven't changed significantly in the last
> four decades.
>
> > or is is the 5w20 recommended only for the purpose of improving fuel
> > economy?
>
> Correct.

And I would also be concerned with longevity - it seems to me there's a
fundamental tradeoff operating here. You can get best lubricating longevity
or best fuel economy, but not both. Seems like good old 10W-30 was
the recommended fill for most of those last four decades.

Ted

Ted Mittelstaedt wrote:
> "Daniel J. Stern" > wrote in message
> .umich.edu...
>
>>On Tue, 19 Jul 2005 wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Do new 3.3 and 3.8's have tighter clearances than their predecessors,
>>
>>No. Engine internal clearances haven't changed significantly in the last
>>four decades.
>>
>>
>>>or is is the 5w20 recommended only for the purpose of improving fuel
>>>economy?
>>
>>Correct.
>
>
> And I would also be concerned with longevity - it seems to me there's a
> fundamental tradeoff operating here. You can get best lubricating longevity
> or best fuel economy, but not both. Seems like good old 10W-30 was
> the recommended fill for most of those last four decades.
>
> Ted
>
>
How much difference in mileage are we talking about?

"Ted Mittelstaedt" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> And I would also be concerned with longevity - it seems to me there's a
> fundamental tradeoff operating here. You can get best lubricating
> longevity
> or best fuel economy, but not both. Seems like good old 10W-30 was
> the recommended fill for most of those last four decades.

Thicker isn't always better. Lot's of good info on 5W-20's in the forums at
bobistheoilguy.com. The used oil analyses for dino 5w-20's are just as good
as for synth. Better resistance to shear over 5w-30, too. I can find 5w-20
locally at Wally World, AutoZone, or O'Reilly's.

Bob