I just changed my oil for the first time on my new Screw. Just an observation, but the recommended oil 5W20 is thinner than cooking oil. How does it protect anything? I live in the south where it gets really hot and it just seems that a thicker oil would be better, IMO.

 

These engines are built with extremely close tolerances. It works. In fact, they need the thinner oil. Do a search on oils and filters, you will find a lot of discussion.

 

Yep, when I pour 5w20 synthetic, it looks like water going in its so thin.

 

Warm/Hot 5w30 comes out like water too..... So I would not fret it.. If your oil cap says to use the 5w20, then that's what you should use IMO....

Since in engines temp is controlled by a thermostat adjusting the amount of coolant into the system and it's basically set to keep it at around 190*, the engine does not know it's 100* or 30* outside.....

As long as your cooling system is up to snuff, then your engine is going to maintain a pretty constant temp for the most part....

Work it hard, and sure, then engine temp will rise, but the oil (no matter what viscosity) should still maintain it's specs...

All these posts about running this vis oil in the winter and then this vis oil in the summer makes me LOL..... My engines temp is the same in the winter or the summer... Only when I'm towing in 90+* going up a 6% grade in second gear do I see 210*...... No big deal IMO....

Mitch

 

I agree the oil seems very thin. How about the Mobil-1 that Porsches, M-Benz's and other expensive vehicles come with? I can speak for Ford product as I work for a dealer, that they test thier vehicles in climate from Death Valley to Alaska with that oil in it. I have an older Mustang with a worked 5.0 in it and have run Mobil-1 10/30, which is a very thin oil in it with no sweat. My last truck I used Mobil-1 (forgot what weight) and my new f-150 screw 5.4 will get the same. Engines run cleaner and are built better that 10, 15, 20 years ago where people ran straight 30 and such. Dont be afraid of the lighter oils. They are actually a good thing, imo

 

Hey Mitch...gotta disagree with you on this one buddy!! Engine oil temp has a DIRECT bearing on outside air temp and ZERO bearing on water (engine coolant) temp. I actually have an oil temp gauge on my truck, and as far as I know, I'm the only one on here.

The oil temp pretty much always runs 100* over outside air temp, at a constant (no trailer ) 65-75 mph. Always!! If it's 40* outside, my oil temp will be 140*. If it's 90 outside, my oil temp will be around 190*. The water temp is ALWAYS between 200-205 and obviously so because of the thermostat. So yea, in that aspect, yes your engine does know how hot or cold it is outside. Having said all that, the hottest I have ever seen my oil temp was today as a matter of fact. Pulled the trailer home today... 105* outside, 65 mph, O/D off, and oil temp was hovering around 230. Still not too hot for a modern synthetic oil. Good up to way above 240. Doesn't sound very appealing to me, but oh well. Remember this to, most oil companies perform all their test and rate the viscosity with an oil temp of 212F.

On a side note Mitch...gotta find me a radiator like yours. During acceleration portions, I was seeing 230* on the water temp!! Once up to speed and cruising I could get it to drop back down to 215-ish (which doesn't bother me) but I don't like seeing 230!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Good point Galaxy and I didn't think about the oil temp... Kinda dumb, since that's what the point of the different vis oils that was trying to be made! DOH!!

Thanks for pointing that out and setting the record straight.... Pretty much having an oil temp gauge proves it all out!

Seems to be lots of dual core rads out there for our rigs.... It only took me about 2 minutes to find several internet sources with prices ranging from $150-$200 for the most part....

Mitch