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Anyone ACTUALLY running 5w-30 or even 10w-30? Thoughts? Experience? Any REAL TRUTH to throwing a code running higher weight oil (no conjecture please)

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SpookyWatcher

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I know it's been hashed out before but the search function is not returning anything useful and I've been gone for a while.

Not looking for debate, just hoping to get any first hand accounts of 2020 or 2021 1500 owners running a heavier oil. My last oil change I did was when the oil was still hot and in my opinion the 5w-20 is way too thin. So being in SoCal I'm thinking on trying 5w-30 but again wondering if anyone is actually running heavier weight and their experience with it and whether or not any REAL truth to the possible FUD about the truck throwing a code. I'm hoping for REAL experience of it throwing a code or not throwing a code while running higher weight, not conjecture.

Much Thx
SpookyWatcher
 

SD Rebel

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Oh now you done it! Can't wait to see what happens to this thread.

The reason why you searched and found nothing useful about this discussion is because there is no actual facts or consensus on the argument either way. No one has posted a true fact that going 5W-30 in fine or negative, zero zilch, its all personal conjecture and educated guesses. There are plenty of people for and against it with their own theories to why or why not.

But your warranty of 5 year / 60K on the powertrain isn't conjecture. If they find out you are using anything other than recommended 5W-20 or 0W-20, you could potentially be denied that warranty. This includes proof from oil receipts (if DIY) and sending your oil off for oil analysis.

While under warranty, and with zero proof otherwise, I think you should stick with 5W-20 or 0W-20 Chrysler approved oils. After warranty, then you can do what you want.
 
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397STROKER

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I have read that the oil weight also has to do with the MDS system.
 

SD Rebel

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I have read that the oil weight also has to do with the MDS system.

It does state that, if you run higher weights it could effect it's operation. There are others that say good, I don't like MDS and would rather it not operate and that thinner oil is only for better mpg and worse durability.

Then there are those that state MDS operation actually helps with oil lubrication in the upper valvetrain, something the Hemi has been historically weak on and that the thinner oil actually helps lubricate the upper parts of the motor. That going thicker will hurt durability.

But no actual proof or consensus otherwise.
 

silver billet

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I'm running 0w-30 right now. Bit of an experiment just for the cold weaks of winter, normally I run 5w-30 in the summer months.

Redline 5w-30 is so thick it's almost as thick as some 40 weights. Been running that for 2+ years, never had a code thrown yet. MDS still works fine too, at least the few times I've noticed when I forget to disable it as normally I run around with MDS off.
 

SpookyWatcher

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Oh now you done it! Can't wait to see what happens to this thread.

The reason why you searched and found nothing useful about this discussion is because there is no actual facts or consensus on the argument either way. No one has posted a true fact that going 5W-30 in fine or negative, zero zilch, its all personal conjecture and educated guesses. There are plenty of people for and against it with their own theories to why or why not.

But your warranty of 5 year / 60K on the powertrain isn't conjecture. If they find out you are using anything other than recommended 5W-20 or 0W-20, you could potentially be denied that warranty. This includes proof from oil receipts (if DIY) and sending your oil off for oil analysis.

While under warranty, and with zero proof otherwise, I think you should stick with 5W-20 or 0W-20 Chrysler approved oils. After warranty, then you can do what you want.
Granted...but take the soccer mom or not mechanically inclined person for example. Say they take it to ugghh... iffylube or the likes and some new kid puts 10-30 in it. I'm sure that has had to have happened. I know about the warranty etc. Just hoping for someone to say "yeah I ran it and got a code". Or... "I ran it and nothing happened". That's all. In my old 2001 F-150 I ran 10-30 in it even though it called for 5-20 for it's entire life. Never a single issue doing so. In fact, anecdotally, whenever I smogged her the guy ALWAYS commented on pristine that engine ran on his tests. He actually used the word..."Stunned" how good it was with 155,000 miles on it.

And really hope this thread doesn't devolve into something nasty. 😄 Honestly just looking for someone who might be brave enough to admit they run a heavier oil.
 

SpookyWatcher

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I'm running 0w-30 right now. Bit of an experiment just for the cold weaks of winter, normally I run 5w-30 in the summer months.

Redline 5w-30 is so thick it's almost as thick as some 40 weights. Been running that for 2+ years, never had a code thrown yet. MDS still works fine too, at least the few times I've noticed when I forget to disable it as normally I run around with MDS off.
Awesome! Very Much appreciated! This is exactly what I was hoping to hear and see. Real user experience!
 

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Granted...but take the soccer mom or not mechanically inclined person for example. Say they take it to ugghh... iffylube or the likes and some new kid puts 10-30 in it. I'm sure that has had to have happened. I know about the warranty etc. Just hoping for someone to say "yeah I ran it and got a code". Or... "I ran it and nothing happened". That's all. In my old 2001 F-150 I ran 10-30 in it even though it called for 5-20 for it's entire life. Never a single issue doing so. In fact, anecdotally, whenever I smogged her the guy ALWAYS commented on pristine that engine ran on his tests. He actually used the word..."Stunned" how good it was with 155,000 miles on it.

And really hope this thread doesn't devolve into something nasty. 😄 Honestly just looking for someone who might be brave enough to admit they run a heavier oil.

Some say they got a code, but most say no. I also had a 2000 F150 and ran 5W-20 (back-specced from 5W-30) and drove into high mileage, no issues either.

It probably won't devolved into something nasty because people are tired, they waged too long a war on other threads already. They aren't really going to post unless someone says something crazy at this point.
 

BowDown

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care to elaborate?

The aftermarket lifters in my LS powered car specifically state not to run anything heavier than 5w30 or lifter/valvetrain damage can occur. My guess is that the lifter would not bleed down correctly. The MDS lifters likely have similar reasonings, for the lifter to bleed down at a specific rate in order for MDS to operate correctly as well as repressurize
 

bigdodge

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The aftermarket lifters in my LS powered car specifically state not to run anything heavier than 5w30 or lifter/valvetrain damage can occur. My guess is that the lifter would not bleed down correctly. The MDS lifters likely have similar reasonings, for the lifter to bleed down at a specific rate in order for MDS to operate correctly as well as repressurize
makes sense
thanks
 

silver billet

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The aftermarket lifters in my LS powered car specifically state not to run anything heavier than 5w30 or lifter/valvetrain damage can occur. My guess is that the lifter would not bleed down correctly. The MDS lifters likely have similar reasonings, for the lifter to bleed down at a specific rate in order for MDS to operate correctly as well as repressurize

For the OP: the quote above is a common thought, but a few years ago the manual still said 5w-30 could be used. The engine hasn't been revised in the last 6 years, but we've gone from 5w-30 to 0w-20 according to the manual.

I'm sure it's a non issue, guys on another forum have done this for years without any trouble whatsoever, either with lifter errors or MDS codes.

Not only that, the drivetrain quiets right down. It's noisy on that ditch water, but give it some thick 30 weight and it sounds a lot better.

All my opinion of course. Should mention that you may/will void your engine warranty if you run 30 weight and they find out about it. That should be balanced against how long you plan to keep your truck, and whether you really do think (like I do) that these trucks run far better on 30 weight.
 

SpookyWatcher

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For the OP: the quote above is a common thought, but a few years ago the manual still said 5w-30 could be used. The engine hasn't been revised in the last 6 years, but we've gone from 5w-30 to 0w-20 according to the manual.

I'm sure it's a non issue, guys on another forum have done this for years without any trouble whatsoever, either with lifter errors or MDS codes.

Not only that, the drivetrain quiets right down. It's noisy on that ditch water, but give it some thick 30 weight and it sounds a lot better.

All my opinion of course. Should mention that you may/will void your engine warranty if you run 30 weight and they find out about it. That should be balanced against how long you plan to keep your truck, and whether you really do think (like I do) that these trucks run far better on 30 weight.
I agree 100%. The other post about the LS engine and lifters is great food for thought...but the post is still conjecture regarding these engines. And could you imagine if it really was a problem running 10w-30 in these engines? That'd be a sh*tshow with all the "Woops I put accidentally put 10w-30 in and the engine grenaded itself". I'm still on the fence but if I was living in AZ there would be no doubt I would run the 10w-30. I do plan on keeping this at least 15 years like my old truck.
 
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