Anyone Using 5W-30 Oil? Tell Me your Opinion/Thoughts

[g2020]

I wrote this to explain my rationale to folks who are less familiar with the details of the gasoline engine.

PUG Engine and CAFE Standards

An important factor in any motor oil discussion is that the current version of the 3.6L Pentastar gasoline V6 engine was upgraded (known as the Pentastar Upgrade or PUG), with significant changes for the 2016 model year, well before the Gladiator was released. The recommended viscosity grade for the original version of this engine (introduced in 2010) was 5W-30, but was changed to 0W-20 for the PUG version (current version, as of November 2025). It is notable that the recommended viscosity grade for the 2019 model year Wrangler (gas), with the same PUG engine, is 0W-20. As you know, the first model year of the Jeep Gladiator was 2020.

I am unable to verify that CAFE environmental standards drove the change to 0W-20. It may be more accurate to say that CAFE standards drove the decision to redesign the engine for use with the more fuel-efficient 0W-20 motor oil.

I will be impressed if you can prove that the change from 5W-30 to 0W-20 was a result of the accountants overriding the engineers (a change on paper only) in order to meet CAFE standards. I do not have any reliable evidence that this is the case.

Most of these comments were taken from my reply to a different post.

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[smlobx]

Here’s another data point. Although this video is talking about diesel engines and of course there are some differences the point of the video is comparing a higher viscosity oil to a lower one in regards to the ability of the oil to prevent scaring, something of concern in all engines.



The HTHS value for 0W-20 oil is between 2.6 and 2.9
The HTHS value for 5W-30 oil is between 2.9 and 3.6.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Here’s another data point. Although this video is talking about diesel engines and of course there are some differences the point of the video is comparing a higher viscosity oil to a lower one in regards to the ability of the oil to prevent scaring, something of concern in all engines.



The HTHS value for 0W-20 oil is between 2.6 and 2.9
The HTHS value for 5W-30 oil is between 2.9 and 3.6.

Did they try different oils of the same viscosity? I doubt it.
Have yet to see any scarring issues with our engines.
And yes, many differences gas to diesel engines, including in the oils and what the oils endure.

 

[629]

Old school would be every 7500 miles.
Now your great-grandfather's school, that's more like 3,000-5,000

From the old-school 1970s owners manuals - hmmm, 7500 in 1970s and that's with carburetors, sticking chokes, 10,000 mile tuneups, old-chemistry inferior oils, air filters that often didn't do a great job, engines flooding or running too lean, you name it............. and we balk at 10,000, let alone 7500 miles when it was standard 50 years ago.

lol well my dad may he rest in peace did 3000 oil changes…he’s the one who made me a motor head. He had a jeep Comanche he bought new with 350,000 on it…I learned to drive stick on. So I still do it that way.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Guys, a Youtuber posted THE TRUTH.

Shut er down, we're done here.

 

[dajudge]

I went to 5-30 when the free oil changes were done. (two years and 20K ago) Made a drastic reduction in valve-train noise, especially at start up. Just my personal experience. Time will tell if it was a good decision.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

lol well my dad may he rest in peace did 3000 oil changes…he’s the one who made me a motor head. He had a jeep Comanche he bought new with 350,000 on it…I learned to drive stick on. So I still do it that way.

That number has been around since I started in the early 1970s - and for sure, even with the 7500 number in the book - that's for a typical driver doing typical things, not towing a camper or getting it stuck and rocking it to get out of the snow bank.............
No one can call you dumb or anything because you still do it that way.............. it's hard to wear out an engine doing oil changes. You learned from your father - in a way, it's a hat tip to him.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I went to 5-30 when the free oil changes were done. (two years and 20K ago) Made a drastic reduction in valve-train noise, especially at start up. Just my personal experience. Time will tell if it was a good decision.

I'm not suggesting you are incorrect about noise or whatever, but man, i must be the most lucky Jeep owner alive - 3 Grand Cherokees with the PUG engine, 3 Gladiators with the PUG, and it's just never ever made any valve train noise that I've not heard with other engines - even after sitting several days. So I try to figure out - what the heck is the difference?

 

[dajudge]

I'm not suggesting you are incorrect about noise or whatever, but man, i must be the most lucky Jeep owner alive - 3 Grand Cherokees with the PUG engine, 3 Gladiators with the PUG, and it's just never ever made any valve train noise that I've not heard with other engines - even after sitting several days. So I try to figure out - what the heck is the difference?

Mine was noisy, annoyingly so, it clattered, even after it was warmed up. This is the only one of these I have owned so maybe it was fine, but it bothered me. I have the GM 3.6 in my Impala and it has never been noisy like the Jeep one, even now with 155K on it.
Like I said, this my experience, everyone needs to take that for what it's worth.
Also, it's hot here, we see zero about once every five years and that only lasts for 30 minutes before it warms up.

 

[White Eagle]

I use 0w-30 but I’m most curious if anyone else drains their oil into a storm drain. I cannot be the only one.

 

[Vincent]

I like oil.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I like oil.

EVOO.

 

[Vincent]

EVOO.

Everyday!!

 

[JKenTex]

What’s the best all terrain tire?

Green!!

 

[JKenTex]

EVOO.

And organic, 1-2 tbs a day is good for the brain. My choice of daily EVOO shot come from Morocco.

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