0W20 vs. 5W20
06-14-2019, 12:27 PM
#1
Fordified
Thread Starter
0W20 vs. 5W20
I just changed my oil for the first time, and used the cut plastic jug trick found on here to divert drained oil. Excellent idea!!
However on filling it with fresh oil I noted that I'd used Castrol synthetic 0W20 instead of 5W20.
I can't imagine this will be a huge issue, just wondering what others think and how OCD do I really need to be.
However on filling it with fresh oil I noted that I'd used Castrol synthetic 0W20 instead of 5W20.
I can't imagine this will be a huge issue, just wondering what others think and how OCD do I really need to be.
06-14-2019, 12:32 PM
#2
Well now you can drive in Siberia. The 20 is more important than the 5 is.
06-14-2019, 12:36 PM
#3
Fordified
Thread Starter
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Spike0180 (12-13-2023)
06-15-2019, 04:44 PM
#6
It's MUCH better to use 0/xx than 5/xx, 'xx' being the same. The reason is 'xx' means viscosity when oil is hot. The first number is viscosity when oil is cold, which even in 0 grade, it'll always be MUCH thicker than hot, meaning the thinner it is (0 is thinner than 5), it starts lubricating the engine quicker at any temperature. The colder the ambient temperature is, the thicker the oil will be. But 0 oil will always be thinner than 5 at any given temperature. That's why there's zero drawbacks when substituting a 5/30 oil for instance, with a 0/30, which is exactly what I did with my 3.5EB at 3K miles. Engine is much quieter at start-up, which was great. But either one should be fine, as both are recommended. And yes, the M1 0/30 I used has the Ford spec.
06-15-2019, 04:49 PM
#7
It's MUCH better to use 0/xx than 5/xx, 'xx' being the same. The reason is 'xx' means viscosity when oil is hot. The first number is viscosity when oil is cold, which even in 0 grade, it'll always be MUCH thicker than hot, meaning the thinner it is (0 is thinner than 5), it starts lubricating the engine quicker at any temperature. The colder the ambient temperature is, the thicker the oil will be. But 0 oil will always be thinner than 5 at any given temperature. That's why there's zero drawbacks when substituting a 5/30 oil for instance, with a 0/30, which is exactly what I did with my 3.5EB at 3K miles. Engine is much quieter at start-up, which was great. But either one should be fine, as both are recommended. And yes, the M1 0/30 I used has the Ford spec.
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06-15-2019, 06:56 PM
#8
No fart cans allowed
The wider the viscosity range, the more additives they have to use to extend the range. Theoretically the narrower viscosity range oil will hold up better and you potentially will burn less oil if your engine burns oil.
06-15-2019, 07:12 PM
#9
If you live in really hot climes, then you are better with the 5W than the 0, but I don't think the OP lives in Saudi Arabia.
06-15-2019, 11:42 PM
#10
Senior Member
I’m a stickler on oil viscosity for all of my vehicles and all of my customer vehicles. The vehicle manufacturers all say to use xWxx motor oil and the oil manufacturers all say to use what the manufacturer recommends.
That being said, if it were my vehicle I would leave the mistake oil in it and change back to specification with all future oil changes. If my shop made the mistake in a customers vehicle we would be draining and refilling with the proper oil.
That being said, if it were my vehicle I would leave the mistake oil in it and change back to specification with all future oil changes. If my shop made the mistake in a customers vehicle we would be draining and refilling with the proper oil.