Amsoil?

Z45 · May 1, 2016

0W-20 oil is thinner oil with lighter viscosity that creates less drag on the crankshaft, pistons and valve-train. Additionally, the oil pump can pump thinner oil more easily, improving oil circulation. Any increase in fuel economy may not be noticed by the average motorist. Machined internal engine parts are more precise than the parts of 20 years ago. This means that clearances between moving parts are smaller and more exact. Thinner oil such as 0W-20 can flow more freely through the engine while still filling the spaces. Thicker oil is harder to push through the spaces between the parts. This causes the oil pump to work harder, which in turn increases oil pressure while simultaneously decreasing oil volume. A lack of oil volume results in a decrease of lubrication and cooling, which may decrease engine part life.

The lighter viscosity of 0W-20 oil flows faster at start-up compared to higher viscosity oils, which helps reduce engine wear in critical areas by lubricating parts faster. Valve train components at the top of the engine require immediate lubrication at start-up.

Badass69 · May 1, 2016

0W-20 oil is thinner oil with lighter viscosity that creates less drag on the crankshaft, pistons and valve-train. Additionally, the oil pump can pump thinner oil more easily, improving oil circulation. Any increase in fuel economy may not be noticed by the average motorist. Machined internal engine parts are more precise than the parts of 20 years ago. This means that clearances between moving parts are smaller and more exact. Thinner oil such as 0W-20 can flow more freely through the engine while still filling the spaces. Thicker oil is harder to push through the spaces between the parts. This causes the oil pump to work harder, which in turn increases oil pressure while simultaneously decreasing oil volume. A lack of oil volume results in a decrease of lubrication and cooling, which may decrease engine part life.

The lighter viscosity of 0W-20 oil flows faster at start-up compared to higher viscosity oils, which helps reduce engine wear in critical areas by lubricating parts faster. Valve train components at the top of the engine require immediate lubrication at start-up.

Mostly out of context.... They aren't particularly precise nor are the clearances any tighter; otherwise they burn up and spin bearings. Maybe a prerequisite to writing about engine specs should be to go and work on a few first; like a machine shop that does this day in and out.

People get in such a flap over oil viscosity and then post tons of things that really are meaningless at the end of the day. If what El Camino wrote was even remotely correct, Corvette LT1's would blow up left and right from running "too thick" of oil... but they don't. Not to mention the whole theory gets dismissed with GM spec'ing 15w50 for track events... So you want to be beat on the engine and have it good and hot; no 0w20 bathwater isn't a great idea anymore. The LT1 and the L86 are the same long block built to the same spec, and since someone will likely say it I will repeat that the LT1 comes with a wet sump pan just like the trucks.

You can toss 0w20 into a 20 year old truck and get the same net effect of what they are achieving now... and the only portion of what I agree of above. Lowest possible drag for maximum fuel economy plus the benefit of a slightly better pour point on cold starts.

Ford does the same with the Coyote where they spec 5W20 in the pickups but recommend 5w50 for the Boss Mustang. And guess what... stated bearing clearances are identical between the 2 lol.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

fondupot · May 9, 2016

Got the oil analysis from Blackstone today:

Rawyzf · May 9, 2016

Very Nice!

tallspawn · May 13, 2016

I've been using Amsoil since 92, my dad got me started on it. He's uses it in all his diesels, tractors and even lawn equipment lol. It's great stuff, I actually am a dealer as well but don't have much time to actually sell it unfortunately. I'll be moving my new truck over to it soon as well...

Sent From My Galaxy S6 Edge+

Cowpie · July 23, 2016

0W-20 oil is thinner oil with lighter viscosity that creates less drag on the crankshaft, pistons and valve-train. Additionally, the oil pump can pump thinner oil more easily, improving oil circulation. Any increase in fuel economy may not be noticed by the average motorist. Machined internal engine parts are more precise than the parts of 20 years ago. This means that clearances between moving parts are smaller and more exact. Thinner oil such as 0W-20 can flow more freely through the engine while still filling the spaces. Thicker oil is harder to push through the spaces between the parts. This causes the oil pump to work harder, which in turn increases oil pressure while simultaneously decreasing oil volume. A lack of oil volume results in a decrease of lubrication and cooling, which may decrease engine part life.

The lighter viscosity of 0W-20 oil flows faster at start-up compared to higher viscosity oils, which helps reduce engine wear in critical areas by lubricating parts faster. Valve train components at the top of the engine require immediate lubrication at start-up.

Compared to a 30w or 40w, yeah, that would be true to some extent. But a 0w20 and a 5w20 are the same viscosity at operating temperature, so there is no advantage to a 0w20. Only on cold startup, and only if you lived in Fairbanks, AK during the winter. Here is a shot of the data sheet on Amsoil 20w oils....

The NOACK (burn off vaporization rate) is significantly higher for the 0w20 than the 5w20. That is because the 0w20 oil itself needs a significant amount of viscosity improvers to meet the spread. And viscosity improvers are what shear under extreme pressure. A higher NOACK is more detrimental to intakes and valves, as there is more oil vapor from the high NOACK getting into the intake system via PCV.

But the viscosity, at both cold and engine operating temps are virtually identical. A 0w20 is not "lighter" than a 5w20. I wouldn't even consider a 0w20 over a 5w20 except in the most arctic of extreme conditions. The idea that gets thrown around about machine tolerances is a ruse used in marketing. As I stated, the viscosity of a 0w20 and 5w20 are virtually identical. And even a XXw30 oil would work fine in these engines even though GM specs a 20w primarily for CAFE economy reasons. There is no difference in machining tolerances in current production engines whether a 6.2L Ecotec which has a 20w recommendation, or a 6.0L Vortec which has a 30w recommendation or a Detroit 15L that also has a 30w recommendation.

Given what these engines endure, I would go with a XXw30 oil irregardless because the High Temp High Shear (HTHS) rating is significantly higher than a 20w oil. Given what these engines are called upon to do, it just makes sense. GM is not always about making sense. Their recommendations are not bad, but they are not the best. They are juggling CAFE, government regulatory nonsense, and trying to spec an oil that can be used from Mexico to the Arctic Circle by low brain wave folks who buy their vehicles.

Viscosity is NOT the measure of thickness of an oil, it is the measure of resistance to flow. Ask Isaac Newton when you see him in the next life and he'll explain it to you. You need a certain level of resistance (viscosity) so that oil does not get pressed out of bearings and such under pressure too quickly, but you need a low resistance (viscosity) for the oil to make it into the bearings in the first place. It is a balancing act. And government desires for CAFE standards does not account for that balancing act. Their's is a goal of singularity, fuel economy.