OIL, 0-20 or otherwise (couldn't find the other oil threads)

[DiehardTory]

FYI very intriguing on oil viscosity .. Gm Recall N252494001 which pertains to 2021-2024 Gm 6.2l L87 Engine Failure while driving and causing power loss.

youtube video

GM Recalls Nearly 1M Vehicles (Catastrophic Engine Failure) Are YOU affected?

Rainman Ray's Repairs 199K views

IF no P00016 code the fix is amazing.

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[NC_Overland]

Interesting that they’re doing a 0W-40. I’ve only seen that on my euro cars. I figured it would be 5W-30, which I do think about switching to on my 2020 now that it’s out of powertrain warranty.

 

[Hootbro]

Interesting how GM just flips a switch when it is convenient for them to go from 0W-20 to 0W-40.

Nothing wrong with sticking to 0W-20 as recommended in the owners manual, but I have been running 5W-30 the last couple of oil changes after dumping the factory fill and am currently running 5W-40 Euro spec oil and probably will for the remainder of the summer.

I am sure some shrieking violets will be along to having a contrary opinion on that and that is fine. I am not risk adverse over it nor claim anyone should follow what I do.

 

[NC_Overland]

Interesting how GM just flips a switch when it is convenient for them to go from 0W-20 to 0W-40.

Nothing wrong with sticking to 0W-20 as recommended in the owners manual, but I have been running 5W-30 the last couple of oil changes after dumping the factory fill and am currently running 5W-40 Euro spec oil and probably will for the remainder of the summer.

I am sure some shrieking violets will be along to having a contrary opinion on that and that is fine. I am not risk adverse over it nor claim anyone should follow what I do.

Manufacturers are under a ton of pressure to squeeze any possible economy out of engines. It’s not easy for them to switch.

 

[Hootbro]

Manufacturers are under a ton of pressure to squeeze any possible economy out of engines. It’s not easy for them to switch.

I agree.

It is apparent that Chevy has mad a financial decision that if they can mitigate future warranty claims by going to 0W-40, it is more beneficial than any EPA credits they may be losing making the switch.

 

[whysoserious]

I am sure some shrieking violets will be along to having a contrary opinion on that and that is fine.

Actually, I just look for situations where I can post this meme... but I do agree with what you posted.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Interesting how GM just flips a switch when it is convenient for them to go from 0W-20 to 0W-40.

Nothing wrong with sticking to 0W-20 as recommended in the owners manual, but I have been running 5W-30 the last couple of oil changes after dumping the factory fill and am currently running 5W-40 Euro spec oil and probably will for the remainder of the summer.

I am sure some shrieking violets will be along to having a contrary opinion on that and that is fine. I am not risk adverse over it nor claim anyone should follow what I do.

Have you seen positive results in your UOA making the switch to thicker? I’m wondering if a thicker viscosity would also cut down on what the PCV valve sends to the intake.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Why are people comparing two very very different engines?
They aren't even close other than they both burn gasoline and make things go.

Here's what insiders are saying - The problem has to do with connecting rod and crankshaft components with unspecified manufacturing defects.
It doesn't cover 2025 model year.

“A series of crankshaft and connecting rod manufacturing improvements implemented on or before June 1st, 2024, addressed contamination and quality issues. Model-year 2025 vehicles were built after these improvements and are not included in the recall.”

Nothing wrong with sticking to 0W-20 as recommended in the owners manual, but I have been running 5W-30 the last couple of oil changes

You likely know that the numbers, W and other, overlap a lot in measured viscosity so you really haven't ventured out of the yard very far.

FYI very intriguing on oil viscosity .. Gm Recall N252494001 which pertains to 2021-2024 Gm 6.2l L87 Engine Failure while driving and causing power loss.

youtube video

GM Recalls Nearly 1M Vehicles (Catastrophic Engine Failure) Are YOU affected?

Rainman Ray's Repairs 199K views

IF no P00016 code the fix is amazing.

Where's the popcorn and where's that chairman?
Is this a "here we go again thing?

What GM is doing is tossing a BAND AID at the problem with the change in oil viscosity. It's so funny - gee, we have defective parts, we'll put some tape over it for you with heavier oil.
And this will lead people to believe - gee, I should run heavier oil, too! GM is fixing their problem with it.
No, they are making customers shut up and go away - they are still running defective engines!
What a hoot.

 

[BlackRuby23]

What GM is doing is tossing a BAND AID at the problem with the change in oil viscosity.

But they seem to believe a change in oil viscosity will provide those "defective" engines a benefit and prevent catastrophic failure. Why is that? Because I highly doubt that they would just concoct some hare-brained scheme "hey, let's switch the oil viscosity to trick the customers into thinking we're doing something for them even though the engine is still going to blow up." There's something more going on here.

PS - I've been running the recommended 0W-20 since new, and I suppose I will continue to. But I can't help but think that it is recommended to try to squeeze every last bit of fuel efficiency out of an engine due to EPA regs, but maybe not the best for longevity.

 

[Badunit]

After so much defense of "the engineers have specified the correct oil for your vehicle, never deviate from the owner's manual", all of a sudden it is okay to switch from 0w20 to 0w40 on these GM engines. Not only is it now okay, it is required. That blows a hole in the "never deviate from the owner's manual" argument.

 

[Hootbro]

Have you seen positive results in your UOA making the switch to thicker? I’m wondering if a thicker viscosity would also cut down on what the PCV valve sends to the intake.

On my 2025 Gladiator, I have just submitted my first samples so I do not have data on it.

Attached is my prior 2022 Gladiator JT Rubicon with the 3.6L and multiple samples taken. The last sample was with 5W-30 and another prior 5W-30 sample analysis showed wear trends to be flat or statistically insignificant for wear metal reduction. My last 5W-30 sample had high silicon because it was discovered that one hard line connection post filter was disconnected.

For the record, I am not claiming running a thicker viscosity over 0W-20 will improve wear protection, just that a thicker viscosity can be run without detriment.

This circles back to my original point and the topic of Chevy changing from 0W-20 to 0W-40 shows that most of these modern engines to include the Pentastar can safely run in multiple higher viscosity ranges.

Discussed and pointed out in another thread that the Maserati short block Pentastar based 3.0 V6 has initially used 5W-40 Euro spec oil with a recent shift to now calling out 10W-60 "Supercar" because the end use is expected to be tracked .

 

[KevinC]

For the record, I am not claiming running a thicker viscosity over 0W-20 will improve wear protection, just that a thicker viscosity can be run without detriment.

Curious if you, or anyone, has tracked any gas mileage deviation or poorer performance upon switching to a thicker viscosity. As the majority of people have often claimed Jeep is only running 0W-20 to squeeze .0125 extra MPG to meet a certain CAFE milestone. How much data do we have to debunk that claim, or confirm it does help MPG?

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Very good numbers. The sample row always shows the last oil used so it’ll be some time before we see the 0/40.

You recall I’ve mentioned seeing higher iron in mine, more than I’d like to see but all the other numbers are what you post. and I had also developed about a year or so ago a bottom end knock at cold start up which was verified by the dealership shop Forman back around December who suggested two things. We can pull both layers of oil pan to see if there is metal sitting there but wait to do that in the spring (anytime now) and the second thing he suggested was maybe I need to run a “thicker viscosity”. He kinda left that up to me.

As we know, viscosity thins quickly, probably within 500-1000 kms so I’ve tweaked my oil to run 3-0/20 and 2-5/30 and my viscosity at oil change @5000 kms (50% oil life metre) is the same as what 0/20 is fresh. Also changed brands to MOBIL Super Synthetic, also ran the last 500 kms before oil change with 1/2 can of sea foam in the oil for the last 2 oil changes and ….the knock is gone.

October, my warranty is done on the engine so I may just take up the offer to have both oil pans pulled to see what’s in there and then once warranty is done, will switch to Mobil Delvac 5/30 diesel oil with gas spec. It carries much higher detergents and I’ve been monitoring a friend of mine over the last 3 years running that oil in his 2017 4 runner and only changing oil when the lab tells him to. He currently runs 80k kms between oil changes. I’ve seen his viscosity in the 16’s (from the 8- 8.5 range we are used to) but he is not at all concerned with that and his engine shows no signs of any issues. He’s run over 200k kms so far on it. He is also experimenting and watching the lab data. Apparently Delvac is coming out with improved formula soon so I’m keeping an eye on that too.

 

[jav_eee]

Curious if you, or anyone, has tracked any gas mileage deviation or poorer performance upon switching to a thicker viscosity. As the majority of people have often claimed Jeep is only running 0W-20 to squeeze .0125 extra MPG to meet a certain CAFE milestone. How much data do we have to debunk that claim, or confirm it does help MPG?

I track my mileage and haven’t noticed hardly any MPG loss at all from switching to 5w-30 15k miles ago.

 

[willys 41]

FYI very intriguing on oil viscosity .. Gm Recall N252494001 which pertains to 2021-2024 Gm 6.2l L87 Engine Failure while driving and causing power loss.

youtube video

GM Recalls Nearly 1M Vehicles (Catastrophic Engine Failure) Are YOU affected?

Rainman Ray's Repairs 199K views

IF no P00016 code the fix is amazing.

I have been running 5w30 from first oil change.
I am now running 5w40 Euro.
I have seen on difference in MPG / performance or oil collected in my oil catch can.
The motor seems to run a little bit quieter.

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