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I just got my Blackstone UOA back for my first 5w30 oil change. The results seem to show that wear has improved over 0w20, and that the operating viscosity of 5w30 is not even that much greater than 0w20.
Both UOA's in this report were under the exact same driving conditions and very similar temperature ranges. All else equal, it seems like 5w30 is the superior oil for engine wear characteristics and longevity in my case. I do 90% highway driving and long trips. OCI is every 5000 km.
It gets to -40C regularly where I live, so I will continue using 0w20 for the winter months, as most wear occurs on cold starts. However, for April-October, 5w30 is the clear answer for me.
I think this is proof enough for me to continue using 5w30 in the summer, as I now have statistical data showing 5w30 as the superior lubricant for my use case. The note of the oil being a thinner viscosity for its grade is probably due to the fact that PUP typically has a lower viscosity than other 5w30 grade oils or some 0w20 from the last oil change interval.
I have noticed negligible fuel economy differences (less than 0.1 L/100km) and the engine sounds way quieter and smoother while idling. The D4S still makes it sound like a small diesel but the valvetrain noise is significantly reduced. Thanks to the variable displacement oil pump, oil pressure is the same as it was when I was using 0w20 across the RPM range. It is slightly higher (just over 3/4 bars) at cold startup, but once at operating temperature it is in a perfectly acceptable range at 2 3/4 bars at 2050 RPM in 6th gear on the highway.
Anyways, I hope this can help some folks make an informed decision on what oil viscosity to use, and if fuel economy / emissions are more important than engine wear and longevity. I am not telling anyone to switch to 5w30, just adding to the data pool of evidence that would support such a decision.
Both UOA's in this report were under the exact same driving conditions and very similar temperature ranges. All else equal, it seems like 5w30 is the superior oil for engine wear characteristics and longevity in my case. I do 90% highway driving and long trips. OCI is every 5000 km.
It gets to -40C regularly where I live, so I will continue using 0w20 for the winter months, as most wear occurs on cold starts. However, for April-October, 5w30 is the clear answer for me.
I think this is proof enough for me to continue using 5w30 in the summer, as I now have statistical data showing 5w30 as the superior lubricant for my use case. The note of the oil being a thinner viscosity for its grade is probably due to the fact that PUP typically has a lower viscosity than other 5w30 grade oils or some 0w20 from the last oil change interval.
I have noticed negligible fuel economy differences (less than 0.1 L/100km) and the engine sounds way quieter and smoother while idling. The D4S still makes it sound like a small diesel but the valvetrain noise is significantly reduced. Thanks to the variable displacement oil pump, oil pressure is the same as it was when I was using 0w20 across the RPM range. It is slightly higher (just over 3/4 bars) at cold startup, but once at operating temperature it is in a perfectly acceptable range at 2 3/4 bars at 2050 RPM in 6th gear on the highway.
Anyways, I hope this can help some folks make an informed decision on what oil viscosity to use, and if fuel economy / emissions are more important than engine wear and longevity. I am not telling anyone to switch to 5w30, just adding to the data pool of evidence that would support such a decision.
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