Finally located some 0w20 synthetic engine oil

[MetroMPG]

Well, I finally put the 0w20 in the car this evening.

WHY DID IT TAKE ME SO LONG!!?

Because I haven't really used the car since I bought the oil. I went down to the Green Grand Prix at the start of May, but the car hasn't moved since I got back... A full month now. (Geez, I bet I have rusty rotors.... )

... And I've got the ForkenSwift for local driving. And my bicycle. Actually I've put more distance on my bicycle than the electric car.

I'm sure I won't notice any change because of the oil.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

I'm sure I won't notice any change because of the oil.

Should have said: "I'm sure I won't notice any change because of the oil that I can't be sure I'm not just imagining."

But I have to say it seems less prone to lugging at low RPM.

[Christ]

Well, it should take less HP to move around, and through, so therefore, you should consistently have better HP figures across the board... obviously more pronounced in the areas that you have next-to-no-torque anyway, so that's not an unusual reaction.

What I found when I switched from 10w30 to 0w30 is that I have slightly better fuel economy 25 mpg to 27 mpg, approx. The engine idles slightly higher (100 RPM or so), apparently as a result of approximated load in the PCM, vs what's really going on, according to the dealer... nothing to really be done about it that won't cost me a fortune, and I don't really care about 100 RPM... it's still under 900 at idle.

I found a good indication that I won't be needing to change my oil for QUITE a long interval... even at nearly 7k miles on this oil, it's relatively unworn by feel. I'll probably send it in for a UOA when I take it out and put the diesel engine in, but my goal is to have the diesel engine ready to go in by the time I need to change this oil from the motor.

[MetroMPG]

My change was a little bit less of a jump: I went from either 0w30 or 5w20 (I forget which) to 0w20.

I'm looking forward to that diesel project.