Trying out 0w-16 oil for more MPG

[hayden55]

At my level of accuracy (keeping quite a few of my last used jugs of oil) I have noted that my 2010 Prius uses the same amount of oil with 0w-16 and 0w-20. 10k miles per change, towing boat in the summer, 150kmi+, 5qt in, 3.5qt out.

[DGXR]

It may be 0w16 for the first 1000 miles but all motor oils shear downgrade with use, getting thinner. Eventually the viscosity goes back up as the volatiles evaporate but still there needs to be a limit to how thin you should go. For me, it's just not worth going uber thin and risking my engine internals to gain 1-2 mpg.

[ACEL]

I use 0w20 in my 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan with the 3.6 L Pentastar engine. From 2012 model year to 2013 there does not seem to be any change in engine specifications, yet in 2013 Chrysler changed their recommendation for motor oil from 5w30 to 5w20. Since 5w20 and 0w20 are almost the same on the low side, I switched to 0w20 , 7000 miles (12500 km) ago.

During winter at minus 20 Celsius, there is a short clicking noise at start up. On the coolant temperature side, summer or winter with a grille blocage, it never went up higher than 100 C or 210 F.

With the "wheel nut" under control, LRR tires at prescribed pressure, in the "nice season" my mileage is 10,5 L/100 km (22,4 mpg US) and my recent best highway 7,7 L/100 km (30.5 mpg US).

I look forward to test de 0w16 as I feel the faster lubrication in very cold weather is a plus.

[ACEL]

I also use 0W20 in my 1999 Acura EL which is the same as Honda Civic EX in the US with the D16Y8 engine. This engine is notorious for the bearing problems. Everything is cool, noise and coolant temperature and no oil burning or consumption with more than 120 000 miles on and strong and even compression numbers.

From my early days in the car service industry in the '70s, I remember that North American engines never lasted as long as European engines like Mercedes and Rolls Royce. Why? Parts tolerances. In other words attention given to making as best a product as possible. By the end of the '70s, the Japanese automakers had adopted the then most accurate tooling and were making engines with parts working in extra tight tolerances and shape precision. This reduces friction wear & tear a lot and requires a lower viscosity oil between the parts to lubricate and cool.

In North America until the mid '80s, Ford for example, delivered many in line 6 and V8 that they designed and the shops were tooled in the '50s. The difference in longevity and mileage between similar Japanese and American cars were more than noticeable. With an American car with some valve noise and oil burning the solution was often to raise the oil viscosity to cure the problem. Higher viscosity oil better fill the voids between piston rings and cylinder thus limiting oil burning and gas blow by polluting the oil in return.

North American automakers have come to their sense that making profit is not to provide the same old technology and dated manufacturing but to compete by offering quality. They still have some way to go.

I would bet that China and India with their newer car plants for their quality models will offer tighter tolerances between engine inner components and compete with Japanese and Korean automakers to offer even better mileage and engine longevity.

[arcosine]

Originally Posted by rmay635703

How many gallons of oil do you burn?


I have considered the stuff for the 2000 Insight but the 0w20 Synthetic gas truck oil was so cheap and it quiets the engine down compared to the Mobil AFE

I haven't gone through half a quart yet since mid Aprl, a month and a half... Car has 178k, Mileage around 40mpg, 39 with the kayak on top, 70-80 mph.