Oil in Hot Weather Area

My 2016 Ram 1500 Big Horn Hemi has been in Belize since 2018, I am wondering if I should change from 5W20 to a 10W30 synthetic oil or blend version.

The reason being that the low temperature averages about 63 F degrees during the seasonal cool months of January and February, while the high ranges about 95 to 110 F going through summer time. In reality, there is only two seasons in Belize, rainy and not rainy.

I have kept to a 5k oil and filter change regiment since day one with the Ram. Just curious if going with 10W30 oil would be okay.

Let me know

Your Hemi won't tell the difference at those temps. 0W, 5W, 10W, 15W would work for you.

Depends on the 10w30, look up operating temperature viscosities. In some cases a 10w30 can be a single grade sae 30 weight, basically means no vii's. Even though it is warm, the 5 and 0 winter rated oils will still get to the lifters faster then single grade oils, so you can make an argument either way. 0 winter rated oils are in most cases best effort oils, I dont even think you can get hpl SC in 5w30, so that weight is for their super car formula. Your an old man driving on bumpy roads, meaning the engine likely is not seeing high rpm. Get what is on sale, can you even get sales down there? no walmarts?

I may be old but I can still out do many who are half my age. It's all in the genes...LOL.
The roads are greatly improved and my Ram is delighted for the paved smooth roads and not having to mess with bumpy roads everyday.

Sales are not an issue. There are several part stores that carry good quality name brand parts.

Thanks for the answer. I am still debating if the change is worth it from 5W20 to 10W30.

I am concern in the engine well-being. I have not any problems with the Ram.
It is getting near the 80k mileage.

As for front and rear differential fluid changes, all were done 4 month ago.

I'm in north central Texas. In 2022 our low for the year was 10*F and the high was 106*F. I run the 5w20 full synthetic in our Charger and Challenger 5.7's year round and don't have any issues.

Texas I'd run 10W-30.

A full synthetic won't have any VII additive ro shear down or deposit, and you get some wear reduction vs. the 20 weight.

at that temperature I would run 5w30 synthetic year round at least. you could also use a quality 10w30 synthetic if you wish. I used 10w30 synthetic in my 06 hemi in the summer around here. it was fine.
Now I have settled on a winter (0w30) and summer (5w40) fills but thats a different story of temperature swings that you dont have there

happy motoring!

hemihustlin said:

at that temperature I would run 5w30 synthetic year round at least. you could also use a quality 10w30 synthetic if you wish. I used 10w30 synthetic in my 06 hemi in the summer around here. it was fine.
Now I have settled on a winter (0w30) and summer (5w40) fills but thats a different story of temperature swings that you dont have there

happy motoring!

Click to expand...

Great post.

It does get cold in Texas a few months, so maybe 5W-30 year round would be best. A shear-stable synthetic: Red Line, HP Lubricants, Amsoil.

If budget is tight, you can go with PUP + LubeGard (Moly additive). PUP is an API Group III+ base oil (GTL), improved over the average Group III catalytic-cracked crude base oils.

My next oil change I will try 10W30 Synthetic or Synthetic Blend. No need for thinner oil since the temperature never get below 60 F. My Ram just hit 80K miles. Plugs are next on the agenda.

El Guapo Phil said:

My next oil change I will try 10W30 Synthetic or Synthetic Blend. No need for thinner oil since the temperature never get below 60 F. My Ram just hit 80K miles. Plugs are next on the agenda.

Click to expand...

5w or 10w is just the starting temp oil rating. 30w is the running weight. You'd do fine with 5w30 also, if that is more easily available (it is in my area of Texas.....10w30 is getting harder to find). I only use 10w30, or straight 30w in my mowers/tractors. And even then, I most likely use 5w30, or 5w20 in the mowers, because that's what I have in the garage. They run just fine with it, but I change it every year. I also run 5w30/5w20 in irrigation pumps and farm equipment where I'm a volunteer mechanic.....again, ZERO issues in any temp, and we are really hard on equipment.

Today's oils are WAY better than oils from 20-30 years ago. 5w20/5w30 is good for almost any climate, period. Regular oil changes are the key. It's folks that run their oil to death that run into problems.