Why Have Some Car Makers Moved from Recommending 5W-30 to 5W-20 or 0W-20 Motor Oil?
Ask Your Stickiest Question. . . Or ask us something you’ve always wanted to know about using our products. We’ll sort through all the submissions and present the best questions to our automotive experts. We'll share the questions and their answers here.
Question:
Why Have Some Car Makers Moved from Recommending 5W-30 to 5W-20 or 0W-20 Motor Oil?
I just bought a new 2.4L Toyota Matrix and saw that the recommended oil was 5W-20 or 0W-20. My older Matrix requires 5W-30 and I have always used Mobil 1. What modifications in an engine change the oil recommendation or is it just for gas mileage improvements?
-- Donald Wright, Anderson, SC
Answer:
The main driver for lower viscosity oil recommendations is improved fuel economy. However, if the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) is recommending a lower viscosity, it is safe to assume that the recommended viscosity has been thoroughly tested in the vehicle and you should follow their recommendation.
