When should I use 5w50?

[joe5oh19]

Getting around the mark where I need to change my oil. I’ve been using 5w30 since I got the headers in. I’ve recently put the car on e85 and need to know if it’s best to start putting in 5w50 or if I should stay at 5w30. What do yall think? I’ve heard multiple sources say to switch and others say it won’t make a difference?

Sponsored

 

[Redfuzzbutt]

Based on all the information you provided, stick with the 5-30

 

[Zrussian13]

If your not boosted stay with 5w-30

 

[Skye]

I didn't see how often you're changing the oil now. With the use of E85, the frequency of changes might need to increase. People can provide guidance on that here. A general search follows.

https://www.google.com/search?q=mus...xNzAwajBqMTWoAgSwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[GR1MxREAPER]

5w50 is for supercharged/turbo cars or if your taking your car to the track road racing or real track sessions. Otherwise like others have said stick with 5w30.

 

[Optimum Performance]

Sample your oil and see what it tells you. When switching fuels you want to monitor fuel dilution.

We have a kit for that...

SPEEDiagnostix

 

[rijndael]

Sample your oil and see what it tells you. When switching fuels you want to monitor fuel dilution.

Right, no need to guess.

If you do want to measure fuel dillution, don't use Blackstone.

 

[Optimum Performance]

Yeah, that's why we use Lake for all our sampling. He understands the different fuels. In our opinion, anytime you do anything to the fuel system, tuning etc, you should check fuel dilution before and after.

 

[GregO]

Getting around the mark where I need to change my oil. I’ve been using 5w30 since I got the headers in. I’ve recently put the car on e85 and need to know if it’s best to start putting in 5w50 or if I should stay at 5w30. What do yall think? I’ve heard multiple sources say to switch and others say it won’t make a difference?

0W-40
Or
5W-40
Euro Spec
Castrol
Shell GTL (Pennzoil/QuakerState)
Mobil
Member Engineermike did his homework and Redline 5W-50 is his go to.
No reason for you to jump to 50wt.
Euro xW-40 IMO.

 

[volcanogod]

5w50 is for supercharged/turbo cars or if your taking your car to the track road racing or real track sessions. Otherwise like others have said stick with 5w30.

Close, but not completely right. The Shelby GT350 which is NA requires 5W50. I would look at running the 10W30 in the winter, but during summer in the heat the thicker oil works great.

 

[GR1MxREAPER]

Close, but not completely right. The Shelby GT350 which is NA requires 5W50. I would look at running the 10W30 in the winter, but during summer in the heat the thicker oil works great.

We are talking about the GT.. the gt350 engine drinks a quart every 2000 miles and it is a high strung race engine so totally different thing bro.. nothing to do with the topic here..

 

[GregO]

The Coyote engineering team hair stands on end when 10W is suggested on a 32V DOHC bearingless cam journal motor with 5 feet of cam chain on each bank and oil that has to travel 3 feet to lube the cam journals.
0W or 5W even if you live in Dubai.

 

[galaxy]

I remember growing up, there was a local engine shop with an amazing reputation for building engines. Bunch of buddies in high school all had engines from this guy. Local circle track guys all used him, etc etc. I recall him saying something to the effect of "always run the thinnest oil that you can stand the noise of!" Hahahahh. It takes power to pump thick oil for no good reason in an engine not built for it. Get your laughter out of the way and then reread his statement and let it sink in how much sense it makes.

 

[robvas]

I remember growing up, there was a local engine shop with an amazing reputation for building engines. Bunch of buddies in high school all had engines from this guy. Local circle track guys all used him, etc etc. I recall him saying something to the effect of "always run the thinnest oil that you can stand the noise of!" Hahahahh. It takes power to pump thick oil for no good reason in an engine not built for it. Get your laughter out of the way and then reread his statement and let it sink in how much sense it makes.

Race engines sacrifice everything for HP

Those cars only need to last a couple hundred miles

 

[Optimum Performance]

I remember growing up, there was a local engine shop with an amazing reputation for building engines. Bunch of buddies in high school all had engines from this guy. Local circle track guys all used him, etc etc. I recall him saying something to the effect of "always run the thinnest oil that you can stand the noise of!" Hahahahh. It takes power to pump thick oil for no good reason in an engine not built for it. Get your laughter out of the way and then reread his statement and let it sink in how much sense it makes.

Race engines sacrifice everything for HP

Those cars only need to last a couple hundred miles

Both are mostly accurate. Running a higher than needed viscosity oil is wasted energy. On the racing side, specific oils are available that do not have an additive package that is not required due to short drain intervals. In performance engines and some OEM applications the shape of the main bearings has changed and we no longer have large crush reliefs that dump excess oil causing windage. This change has reduced windage, oil pump size and increased oil pressure. This is worth HP and provides more oil to the rod bearings and allows for larger clearances.

Don't run racing oils in a street car and don't run thicker oils because you read it on a forum.

Sponsored