0W-20 oil
#16
Intermediate
Thread Starter
You guys are missing the whole point of my post. The reason I switched to 0W-20 was to improve fuel economy, which it did. I do not believe it will in any way harm the engine and nobody has given me any evidence that it would other than personal opinions.
#17
Pole Position
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/performance-and-maintenance/644401-facts-about-oil-and-what-grade-to-choose.html
Stay with- -30 for best shear strength at operating temperature (never mind vwhat happens if 0W-20 dilutes through use)
#18
When auto manufacturers submit cars for EPA mleage and emissions certification, the same oil used then must be what owners manual recommends for daily use in the engine.
As newer Lexus' recommend 0W-20( right or wrong) , ask the dealer what other viscosities they have on hand...you may find that all they have is 0W-20 so they used it in your older higher mileage engine.
The "shear strength" of 0W-20 oil may prove Inadequate for your engine..
Use synthetic 0W-30 instead. of owners manual recommended 5W-30.
Take it back and have them redo your oil change...
As newer Lexus' recommend 0W-20( right or wrong) , ask the dealer what other viscosities they have on hand...you may find that all they have is 0W-20 so they used it in your older higher mileage engine.
The "shear strength" of 0W-20 oil may prove Inadequate for your engine..
Use synthetic 0W-30 instead. of owners manual recommended 5W-30.
Take it back and have them redo your oil change...
#19
And that is just like doing mechanic work. Say installing a timing belt, and using guess work to do the job. You are using guess work. "I do not believe". Yeah like I mentioned before it depends on how its used. And the running clearances.
#20
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Well... It improved the fuel economy and that's why I did it. And no I 'do not believe' it will harm the engine in any way... and I'm happy to be the test bed.... Done 16,000km on 0W-20 just about to do oil change number 3.... So far not one person has suggested what will fail and why.... Running clearances are as per LS400 with 325,000km... It's my daily driver... and my 'guess work' is 40 years around so many engines... 20 years building and racing engines... and seeing first hand what oils can & can't do... Going from 30W to 20W isn't gunna hurt it one iota...
We used to race 600cc bikes that had 10W40 OEM.. We ran them season after season on 0W5 and never had a single problem... nobody did... the engines were noisier but never failed or wore out... Stripped at the end of every season and re assembled.... so yeah, my guesses are educated....
We used to race 600cc bikes that had 10W40 OEM.. We ran them season after season on 0W5 and never had a single problem... nobody did... the engines were noisier but never failed or wore out... Stripped at the end of every season and re assembled.... so yeah, my guesses are educated....
Last edited by fastegg; 02-09-18 at 04:54 AM.
#22
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
Well... It improved the fuel economy and that's why I did it. And no I 'do not believe' it will harm the engine in any way... and I'm happy to be the test bed.... Done 16,000km on 0W-20 just about to do oil change number 3.... So far not one person has suggested what will fail and why.... Running clearances are as per LS400 with 325,000km... It's my daily driver... and my 'guess work' is 40 years around so many engines... 20 years building and racing engines... and seeing first hand what oils can & can't do... Going from 30W to 20W isn't gunna hurt it one iota...
We used to race 600cc bikes that had 10W40 OEM.. We ran them season after season on 0W5 and never had a single problem... nobody did... the engines were noisier but never failed or wore out... Stripped at the end of every season and re assembled.... so yeah, my guesses are educated....
We used to race 600cc bikes that had 10W40 OEM.. We ran them season after season on 0W5 and never had a single problem... nobody did... the engines were noisier but never failed or wore out... Stripped at the end of every season and re assembled.... so yeah, my guesses are educated....
If fastegg's experiments pushing the envelope to improve fuel economy give him fuel savings that would allow him to buy a whole new car or engine after 18 months, I would say that is a worthy factor to consider in this analysis.
How much do you spend on gas per year for your Lexus? (an extreme example ...) If you're putting $10k of gas per year in a $2k car, you can afford to take some risks.
I've been following all the experiments fastegg has been doing, and it all seems to be carefully considered.
#23
Intermediate
Thread Starter
0W20 oil
Well I spend about $7,500 per year on fuel. The thermo fan saves about 7-10% and the 0W20 oil about 2-3%. So my guess the oil alone saves me about $200... Say $1,000 over 5 years... Besides, I did it purely for the exersize. Now there is 1 possible problem. I fitted an oil temp sensor last oil change and its reading 115C whilst water temp is 85-90C switching between the 2 on the same gauge. Now 115C is too hot i feel...I don't know what the stock oil temp is supposed to be, maybe someone can tell me.... next oil change i'm putting 5W30 back in to see what temp changes if any are made. Some guys over here say oil temp will drop, others say it won't make any difference... oil change due very soon... If reverting back to 5W30 brings the oil temp down I'll keep using it... 115-120C is too high ! If it stays at that temp I will fit an oil cooler.
And yes, the engine may fail... worst case I can get a low km import engine for $1,200 fitted (and there's heaps of them) so it's not the end of the world, just a big inconvenience... If it was an expensive car then no i wouldn't risk it, but it's 20 years old and worth bugger all...
** And as for burning oil quicker, it hasn't used a drop in 2 oil changes.
*** Thanks oldskewel... nice to know someone's paying attention !
And yes, the engine may fail... worst case I can get a low km import engine for $1,200 fitted (and there's heaps of them) so it's not the end of the world, just a big inconvenience... If it was an expensive car then no i wouldn't risk it, but it's 20 years old and worth bugger all...
** And as for burning oil quicker, it hasn't used a drop in 2 oil changes.
*** Thanks oldskewel... nice to know someone's paying attention !
Last edited by fastegg; 02-11-18 at 04:24 AM.
#25
Intermediate
Thread Starter
To dissuade anyone else from using 0W-20 oil, just because the dealer sells it, read this Clublexus Forum post to understand why -20 is not recommended for our engines.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/per...to-choose.html
Stay with- -30 for best shear strength at operating temperature (never mind vwhat happens if 0W-20 dilutes through use)
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/per...to-choose.html
Stay with- -30 for best shear strength at operating temperature (never mind vwhat happens if 0W-20 dilutes through use)
#27
Intermediate
Thread Starter
False alarm on the oil temp. Noticed this morning that before I started the engine the gauge was on 50C... Outside was 28C... Hmm... So I took my infra-red laser hand held thermometer thingy.... Assuming the oil temp is reading 25C too high... and using the laser, I now know the oil temp is the same as water temp... The hottest the sump got was 75C.. radiator 85C... power steering reservoir 45C... My point is the 0W20 temp 'should be' same as 5W30... We'll see when I change it.....
#28
Intermediate
Thread Starter
0W-30 was not available when our cars were produced...and only now available as synthetic.
I think all can agree a significant amount of wear (as a percentage of overall engine wear) occurs at cold start-up/warm-up.
The 0W is an improvement...for any climate..
The prefix pair represents cold start viscosity..and the second pair of numbers for engine operating temperature viscosity...
We had 10W-30, then 5W-30 and now 0W-30..
Just don't like the 0W-20. .it is too thin (subject to shear)...and if it dilutes then inadequate wear buffer....and real problems..
I think all can agree a significant amount of wear (as a percentage of overall engine wear) occurs at cold start-up/warm-up.
The 0W is an improvement...for any climate..
The prefix pair represents cold start viscosity..and the second pair of numbers for engine operating temperature viscosity...
We had 10W-30, then 5W-30 and now 0W-30..
Just don't like the 0W-20. .it is too thin (subject to shear)...and if it dilutes then inadequate wear buffer....and real problems..
#29
Racer
What do i know about motor oil/ pretty much nothing,and I personally feel most all of us with few exceptions are any different.I go with what this guy says because he is an engineer and has been involved with Nascar regarding oil issues.Puts him miles above most of us.
He is honest and his numbers stand on their own merits,no more,no less.One thing I didnt know for example was just because its say Mobil1,and its great at 10w-30 doesnt mean Mobil1 at 5w-30 is in any way the same oil performance wise.Or say Castrol,which used to test excellent is now a few years later one of the poorest performing oils out there. OR,an oil that performs very well at normal temps,up the temp and it becomes a pig,yet another oil may only lose 5% of its protection.
Additives is king here,and what is put in one oil can vary widely,even among different oils by the same brand.FWIW,guy is the guru of all things oil IMO.I use his tests to pick my oils.Bob the oil guy is a putz compared to him IMO.
Just putting it out here,take it or leave it,and run what you will.Its your business.
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https://540ratblog.wordpress.com/
He is honest and his numbers stand on their own merits,no more,no less.One thing I didnt know for example was just because its say Mobil1,and its great at 10w-30 doesnt mean Mobil1 at 5w-30 is in any way the same oil performance wise.Or say Castrol,which used to test excellent is now a few years later one of the poorest performing oils out there. OR,an oil that performs very well at normal temps,up the temp and it becomes a pig,yet another oil may only lose 5% of its protection.
Additives is king here,and what is put in one oil can vary widely,even among different oils by the same brand.FWIW,guy is the guru of all things oil IMO.I use his tests to pick my oils.Bob the oil guy is a putz compared to him IMO.
Just putting it out here,take it or leave it,and run what you will.Its your business.
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https://540ratblog.wordpress.com/
540 RAT – Tech Facts, NOT Myths
June 20, 2013
MOTOR OIL ENGINEERING TEST DATA
The date June 20, 2013 just above, is the date this Blog was first started, NOT the date of the information included. It is regularly updated with the latest information, as indicated by the date several paragraphs below.NOTE: The motor oil wear protection test data included in this Blog is from performance testing of many different motor oils, which shows how they compare relative to each other. The focus is on the motor oils themselves. Therefore, the resulting comparison data applies to ANY engine that uses the oils included here, no matter if the engine is used for racing, daily driving, grocery getting, watercraft, or any other activity.
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