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5w20 Oil?

26K views 11 replies 7 participants last post by  rabbler 
#1 ·
My 2005 Caravan calls for 5w20 oil on the fill cap. Will using 5w30 or 10w30 oil void whats left of the warranty? 5w20 seems too thin to protect it. I was using 10w30 in all my prior vehicles. Except in the dead of winter I would use 5w30. Do I need to reform my thinking?
Thankyou, Hank
 
#2 ·
Nothing wrong with 5w-20.
As for voiding the warranty, they would have to prove that the oil you used caused the failure, which is highly unlikely by using a xw-30 oil.
 
#3 ·
I would stick with the 5W-20. It will stay in grade better than the 5W-30. Once off of warranty, I would use 10W-30 for three Seasons and 5W-20 for the Winter.
The 2008 Owner Manual is specifying 5W-30 for the 3.3L/3.8L year round whereas it is specifying 10W-30 for the 4.0L year round. Go figure.
 
#4 ·
Yes it does sound very thin. But as mentioned it appears (5w20) is much more stable and requires a better base oil stock to start with.
Conventional 5w30 can apparently be made from some of the lowest quality base oils and frequently thins (shears) to a 20 weight over time.
5w20's main benefit appears to be a slight fuel economy increase though.
I haven't seen any data that supports the conventional theory that thick engine oils protect any better (very surprised at that) so I don't see any reason not to use the 5w20 year round.
I just bought a jug of 5w20 Pennzoil Platinum to use in my van next oil change.
I'll report back if it gives me any negative issues.
Has anyone heard of Chrysler back specking 5w20 for the older 3.3L / 3.8L engines?
I know other manufactures have done so for some engines.
 
#5 ·
I just bought a jug of 5w20 Pennzoil Platinum to use in my van next oil change.
I'll report back if it gives me any negative issues.
Has anyone heard of Chrysler back specking 5w20 for the older 3.3L / 3.8L engines?
I know other manufactures have done so for some engines.
Pennzoil Platinum ran great in our 2007. Right now, I'm running Chevron 5W-30 in it. It's essentially a 5W-20 after a few thousand miles anyway. No difference in fuel economy at all, between "synthetic" 5W-20 and conventional 5W-30. Chevron/Havoline's 5W-30 is very thin for a 30W oil, and it runs great in our van also.

To the original poster, 5W-20 is not too thin to protect the engine. If it were, Chrysler wouldn't have specified it. So far, Chrysler has not retrospecified 5W-20 for the older 3.3/3.8 engines, which makes me believe that something just may be different inside the 2005+ engines. Contrary to what the news reports say, there ARE smart people working at Chrysler. ;)
 
#6 ·
I just switched my 02 SWB 3.3 from 5w-30 to 5w-20 for the winter. The lifters still tick and no oil has been burned, but it most definitely starts easier than it did with conventional 5w-30.

Why did I do it? I found a case of Valvoline 5w-20 on sale for a price I couldn't refuse and there was no 5w-30 left. All of my reading on here from some very wise people told me that it would not make a difference if I ran 5w-20 instead of 5w-30.
 
#8 ·
The 5W-30 would likely shear down to 5W-20, or thereabouts, anyway.
 
#10 ·
#7 ·
Thanks for the replies, I will use the 5w20 as Im supposed to and not worry about it any more. Nice to see you IAfarmer Its been a long time and a few vans ago.
 
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