5w-30 in a MDS hemi?

[Alkali]

Hi all,

I've seen many people say good things about switching to 5w-30 oil in their hemi. However, I've also seen people say it will throw a code for incorrect oil viscosity.
My question is, is it okay for me to run 5w-30 in my 2017 Hemi with MDS?

I also own a 2006 2500 that takes 5w-30 and it would be nice having both trucks run the same oil.

Thank you for your help,


Alkali

 

[IDSandman]

Lots of threads on this subject. 5w-30 is approved oil by stelanis. I personally run it in penn ultra platinum with a bottle of biotech. Moved to it when I first bought the truck after reading through the oil threads here. Very noticeable difference.

 

[HEMIMANN]

Hi all,

I've seen many people say good things about switching to 5w-30 oil in their hemi. However, I've also seen people say it will throw a code for incorrect oil viscosity.
My question is, is it okay for me to run 5w-30 in my 2017 Hemi with MDS?

I also own a 2006 2500 that takes 5w-30 and it would be nice having both trucks run the same oil.

Thank you for your help,


Alkali

If it's not, my truck would have blown up long ago. Been using Red Line 5W-30 for tens of thousands of miles, where the manual says to us 0W-40 (which shears down rapidly, btw) for any possible truck application.

 

[joesstripclub]

I ran 5w-30 in my 2018 1500 Hemi with no codes or issues. And like Hemimann, I'm not worried about a good 5w-30 in my 6.4 vs 0w-40.

 

[G-Ride990]

I have only heard of 3rd gens tossing a code for incorrect oil weight. I haven't seen it or heard of it happening on a 4th gen.

I ran Redline 5w-30 in my 2016 for many years and I have swapped over to it in my 2022 now. You'll be just fine running it. I'd suggest using a high quality oil filter like the Royal Purple 20-820 or 10-48 if you want the stock size.

 

[HEMIMANN]

Don't do the stock size - members have shown problems with these. Use mid or large size filters only.

 

[mikeru]

You'll be fine. It won't throw a code for viscosity or affect MDS in your 2017.

 

[1999 White C5 Coupe]

Hi all,

I've seen many people say good things about switching to 5w-30 oil in their hemi. However, I've also seen people say it will throw a code for incorrect oil viscosity.
My question is, is it okay for me to run 5w-30 in my 2017 Hemi with MDS?

I also own a 2006 2500 that takes 5w-30 and it would be nice having both trucks run the same oil.

Thank you for your help,


Alkali

What ever you do - just don’t ask what is the best oil filter to use.................

 

[HEMIMANN]

In 2025, it's back to oily toilet paper rolls!

After the filter companies bought and sold each other at a frantic pace the past 5 years.
Race to rock bottom!

 

[ramffml]

Hi all,

I've seen many people say good things about switching to 5w-30 oil in their hemi. However, I've also seen people say it will throw a code for incorrect oil viscosity.
My question is, is it okay for me to run 5w-30 in my 2017 Hemi with MDS?

I also own a 2006 2500 that takes 5w-30 and it would be nice having both trucks run the same oil.

Thank you for your help,


Alkali

I ran 0w-40 for a whole summer once, no issues, no CELs.

Oil is not a single viscosity/thickness. It gets thicker as temperatures change. Which means your truck already sees oil that might appear as a 30 grade, it just happens at a different temperature than 100C which is where the rating occurs at.

 

[MrBonez]

I ran 0w-40 for a whole summer once, no issues, no CELs.

Oil is not a single viscosity/thickness. It gets thicker as temperatures change. Which means your truck already sees oil that might appear as a 30 grade, it just happens at a different temperature than 100C which is where the rating occurs at.

Yes, as it heats up viscosity begins to thin - It's the same basic thing between cold and hot molasses as an example.

Oil has to flow into places it needs to right when it starts running and it also needs to keep flowing while it's running with enough pressure or you'll have a bad engine in short order.

Too cold/thick and it's starved for oil upon a cold engine start leading to "you-know-what" problems.

Too hot/thin and it's viscosity becomes almost like water, oil pressure drops and it's the same basic effect of oil starvation like when it's first started cold BUT if your engine is running hot enough to cause that already, you've got other issues to worry about.
Loss of oil pressure just makes things worse on top of what's already going on and is a symptom - Not "A"/"The" source of your problem(s) in this case.

All that will cost you to get fixed or even to replace the engine - Neither option is cheap.

Where I am it's not a huge concern - We do have to be mindful during winter months (January - March) because it can get cold enough here (Cold shot/blast) to possibly cause a problem.... Then it will warm back up in a couple of days to a more tolerable temp.

Currently running 5W-20W and I'm using Lucas in it at a 90/10 mix, brought up oil pressure a little while both, cold and hot and in my case it was a take what I could get kind of thing.
It's hot right now and it's doing fine, I will keep an eye on it when the weather changes later on.

Don't do the stock size - members have shown problems with these. Use mid or large size filters only.

BTW speaking of oil filters, I agree the stock spec'ed ones are too small.
How about some filter part numbers for good filter choices?

Just remember many of us (Like me) have to go to a place like Autozone or wherever else to get our filters and all those guys can do is guess, they normally don't have a book to use for cross-referencing different filter options....
Or even know how to do that if they did have a book/reference in some cases.

 

[EdGs]

My 2015 SLT with the 5.7 spec's a Fram XG10060, but thats a skinny, short filter. You can use an XG10575, which is same diameter, but longer.

I've been using Fram XG2 and more recently, the FE2 with no issues.

I'm not sure if there's a difference in filter placement between your year and mine. I have heard that some cannot get the XG2 size filters to fit in the space provided.

 

[MrBonez]

I used a Wix 57899 on mine when it was done and it's not a big filter at all.
I'll need to do a little digging to see if I can't come up with one that's longer, not fatter because it's already getting close to the block when I install it, not to mention I can't get one too much longer because of the frame/mount directly under it.

It's making me wonder about a remote oil filter setup/kit (If available) so I can install a filter elsewhere of the size I want like my S10 has - BTW that was a factory option it came with for it's towing package, it's called a remote "Oil Cooler" even though there isn't anything like a rad connected to it..... May help to cool the oil, maybe not but it's there.

Only things you'd have to worry about are how you run the hoses, run them/secure them in place and where to mount the filter block itself.

One more thing comes to mind too, over time it's hoses can get brittle and start seeping oil but that normally takes a long time to happen if the hoses are of any real quality to begin with.
Had to replace the ones on my S10 a few years ago and they were original to the truck but that was also when it was over 25 years old too with 250,000+ miles on it at the time.

 

[Wild one]

I used a Wix 57899 on mine when it was done and it's not a big filter at all.
I'll need to do a little digging to see if I can't come up with one that's longer, not fatter because it's already getting close to the block when I install it, not to mention I can't get one too much longer because of the frame/mount directly under it.

It's making me wonder about a remote oil filter setup/kit (If available) so I can install a filter elsewhere of the size I want like my S10 has - BTW that was a factory option it came with for it's towing package, it's called a remote "Oil Cooler" even though there isn't anything like a rad connected to it..... May help to cool the oil, maybe not but it's there.

Only things you'd have to worry about are how you run the hoses, run them/secure them in place and where to mount the filter block itself.

One more thing comes to mind too, over time it's hoses can get brittle and start seeping oil but that normally takes a long time to happen if the hoses are of any real quality to begin with.
Had to replace the ones on my S10 a few years ago and they were original to the truck but that was also when it was over 25 years old too with 250,000+ miles on it at the time.

View attachment 569783

That Lucas ain't doing you much good,as it's an oil thickener. You'd be better off running a good quality synthetic 5W-30 then 5W-20 and Lucas.
I run dual remote filters

 

[Wild one]

Hi all,

I've seen many people say good things about switching to 5w-30 oil in their hemi. However, I've also seen people say it will throw a code for incorrect oil viscosity.
My question is, is it okay for me to run 5w-30 in my 2017 Hemi with MDS?

I also own a 2006 2500 that takes 5w-30 and it would be nice having both trucks run the same oil.

Thank you for your help,


Alkali

Read the note at the bottom,even Ma Mopar says 5W-30 is perfectly fine.

 

[ramffml]

That Lucas ain't doing you much good,as it's an oil thickener. You'd be better off running a good quality synthetic 5W-30 then 5W-20 and Lucas.
I run dual remote filters

If you need to add Lucas or other junk to your oil, then your oil ain't good enough IMHO.

That's why I run HPL. Fully formulated, best in class oil you can find.

Adding Lucas to your oil just means you're diluting the other stuff in the ad pack, ending up with a less quality oil.

 

[Alkali]

That Lucas ain't doing you much good,as it's an oil thickener. You'd be better off running a good quality synthetic 5W-30 then 5W-20 and Lucas.
I run dual remote filters

Woah nice setup, how does one go about setting this up?

Thanks.

 

[RamDiver]

Hi all,

I've seen many people say good things about switching to 5w-30 oil in their hemi. However, I've also seen people say it will throw a code for incorrect oil viscosity.
My question is, is it okay for me to run 5w-30 in my 2017 Hemi with MDS?

I also own a 2006 2500 that takes 5w-30 and it would be nice having both trucks run the same oil.

Thank you for your help,


Alkali

I had 5W30 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum used at the last OCI with a Fram XG10575.
The XG2 doesn't fit my truck.

The Hemi runs great, as always, and I believe the oil pressure has moved up a few PSI.
No DTCs!

The tech at the dealership noted on the work order, "Not the correct oil".
I have yet to discuss it with the service manager, but looking forward to that conversation.

.

 

[RamDiver]

Woah nice setup, how does one go about setting this up?

Thanks.

Use the search function in the upper right corner or keep communicating with Rick, Wild one.

https://www.ramforum.com/search/3306600/?q=filter+relocation&o=relevance

.

 

[EdGs]

I had 5W30 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum used at the last OCI with a Fram XG10575.
The XG2 doesn't fit my truck.

The Hemi runs great, as always, and I believe the oil pressure has moved up a few PSI.
No DTCs!

The tech at the dealership noted on the work order, "Not the correct oil".
I have yet to discuss it with the service manager, but looking forward to that conversation.

.

I knew there were some here that cannot fit the larger diameter filters.

Why exactly doesn't it fit on your truck? Do you have a 4x4?

On mine, I have to tip it to get it up in there. I prefill my filters, and I have to pour some off so it doesn't spill when I'm finagling with it.