5w-30 in a MDS hemi?

[bjayscanlon]

Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W30. No codes. Oil pressure range high 40's to high 50's psi.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W30. No codes. Oil pressure range high 40's to high 50's psi.

Although I haven't used it yet myself, I have been hearing great things about Valvoline, for the motor, the 8-speed, the transfer case, and both diffs.

 

[mikeru]

After reading all these posts, I need some clarification.. all refer to my 2013

1. Changing the oil weight will (can) make it throw CEL issues? Just because of heavier oil?

2. What can I safely use? I literally just had a new cam, lifters and pushrods put in to cure the ‘tic’. 5-30 is ok? I’m partial to Vavoline full synthetic.

3. What about filters? What is the longest, biggest diameter I can use? It is a 4WD if that makes a difference. I’ve always used Fram filters.

No, it won’t throw a CEL for viscosity by switching to 5w-30 on your truck. Many people say that’s the best viscosity to use. But just like many other things regarding oil, there are lots of different opinions on that.

5w-30 will work fine for your engine regardless of brand.

The biggest filter I’ve used on 4th and 5th gen 1500’s (hemi) is the Royal Purple 20-820. I can’t give you the dimensions of those because I don’t have any on hand.

 

[Curmudgeon]

No, it won’t throw a CEL for viscosity by switching to 5w-30 on your truck. Many people say that’s the best viscosity to use. But just like many other things regarding oil, there are lots of different opinions on that.

5w-30 will work fine for your engine regardless of brand.

The biggest filter I’ve used on 4th and 5th gen 1500’s (hemi) is the Royal Purple 20-820. I can’t give you the dimensions of those because I don’t have any on hand.

Maybe I missed it, but if someone is looking for dimensions, I have the RP 20-820, the RP 20-500, and I think I have an OEM equivalent size filter all on hand, in the garage.

Need it? @wcsgorilla
.

 

[mikeru]

Maybe I missed it, but if someone is looking for dimensions, I have the RP 20-820, the RP 20-500, and I think I have an OEM equivalent size filter all on hand, in the garage.

Need it?
.

The user I quoted asked 3 questions, the last one was…
“3. What about filters? What is the longest, biggest diameter I can use? It is a 4WD if that makes a difference. I’ve always used Fram filters.”

 

[TimboRam77]

Just do it.
Those saying run these watery oils are the same ones saying your 8 speed has lifetime fluid.
Zero oils are zero protection but yield more pleasing numbers to please gov.
If one thinks you are saving the planet you need to look at the environment cost of all the destroyed engine parts to accurately compare zero oils.
The truth is revealed with the word zero.
just like carbon zero.
humans are carbon based units.
Zero carbon = zero humans.
hello.
Save people not the planet.
The elements shall melt with fervent heat.
I love oil threads I cannot lie.

 

[Dusty]

This may have been mentioned before, but just for clarity the allowance of 5W-30 appears in only a couple (few?) years of Ram manuals. Outside the discussion of opinion on viscosity usage, newer manuals contained the following:

Engine Oil Viscosity (SAE Grade) — 5.7L Engine Mopar SAE 5W-20 engine oil approved to FCA Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil, Shell Helix or equivalent is recommended for all operating temperatures. This engine oil improves low temperature starting and vehicle fuel economy.

The engine oil filler cap also shows the recommended engine oil viscosity for your engine. For information on engine oil filler cap location, refer to the “Engine Compartment” illustration in this section. Lubricants which do not have both the engine oil certification mark and the correct SAE viscosity grade number should not be used. [emphasis added]

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 134017 miles.

 

[Wild one]

This may have been mentioned before, but just for clarity the allowance of 5W-30 appears in only a couple (few?) years of Ram manuals. Outside the discussion of opinion on viscosity usage, newer manuals contained the following:

Engine Oil Viscosity (SAE Grade) — 5.7L Engine Mopar SAE 5W-20 engine oil approved to FCA Material Standard MS-6395 such as Pennzoil, Shell Helix or equivalent is recommended for all operating temperatures. This engine oil improves low temperature starting and vehicle fuel economy.

The engine oil filler cap also shows the recommended engine oil viscosity for your engine. For information on engine oil filler cap location, refer to the “Engine Compartment” illustration in this section. Lubricants which do not have both the engine oil certification mark and the correct SAE viscosity grade number should not be used. [emphasis added]

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 134017 miles.

It was in the manuals longer then you think,from 09 to 17,they only removed it when the gubbermint nannies came down on them,as apparently the trucks weren't EPA complinent with 5W-30.
Also you'll notice they don't mention 5W-20 as promoting engine longevity,and you can be damn sure if they thought 5W-20 promoted engine life,they'd be shouting it to the moon and back.All they mention is "cold weather starting" and "fuel economy" ,and we all know 5W-20 doesn't do a hell'va lot for fuel economy on each individual truck,but across a million trucks it's enough to keep the gubbermint nannies happier.
We should remind the gubbermint nannies they work for us,we don't work for them,but that seems to have gone by the wayside in the last 40 years.

 

[Dusty]

It was in the manuals longer then you think,from 09 to 17,they only removed it when the gubbermint nannies came down on them,as apparently the trucks weren't EPA complinent with 5W-30.
Also you'll notice they don't mention 5W-20 as promoting engine longevity,and you can be damn sure if they thought 5W-20 promoted engine life,they'd be shouting it to the moon and back.All they mention is "cold weather starting" and "fuel economy" ,and we all know 5W-20 doesn't do a hell'va lot for fuel economy on each in dividual truck,but across a million trucks it's enough to keep the gubbermint nannies happier.
We should remind the gubbermint nannies they work for us,we don't work for them,but that seems to have gone by the wayside in the last 40 years.

The problem is that when many folks have a chance to remind the "nannies" who works for who, the nannies seem to keep their jobs.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 134061 miles.

 

[mikeru]

Just do it.
Those saying run these watery oils are the same ones saying your 8 speed has lifetime fluid.
Zero oils are zero protection but yield more pleasing numbers to please gov.
If one thinks you are saving the planet you need to look at the environment cost of all the destroyed engine parts to accurately compare zero oils.
The truth is revealed with the word zero.
just like carbon zero.
humans are carbon based units.
Zero carbon = zero humans.
hello.
Save people not the planet.
The elements shall melt with fervent heat.
I love oil threads I cannot lie.

0W versus 5W isn't the issue. 0W oils flow slightly better at cold temps, provides the same protection, and make no difference at operating temps. It's the second number, or hot viscosity number that makes more of a difference, and where your engine spends most of it's time doing work. Switching from 5w-20 didn't matter to me. It's the switch from 5w-30 to 5w-20 that bothers me much more. I use Redline 5w-30 because I bought several cases of it a couple years ago. But I'd have no issues using 0w-30 if I had that instead.

 

[06 Dodge]

I recall a SM back in 2017 telling me that reason they had to go to 20 weight oil was because the oil opening were made smaller thus it required thinner oil, thinner oil could flow through the smaller opening through out the engine and keep every part of the engine properly oiled, I thought he was joking, he said he was not...

 

[Wild one]

I recall a SM back in 2017 telling me that reason they had to go to 20 weight oil was because the oil opening were made smaller thus it required thinner oil, thinner oil could flow through the smaller opening through out the engine and keep every part of the engine properly oiled, I thought he was joking, he said he was not...

The engine hasn't changed since they added VVT to it back in 09,and from 09 to 17 this note was in the bigger manuals .
Even Ma Mopar says 5W-30 is okay

 

[06 Dodge]

The engine hasn't changed since they added VVT to it back in 09,and from 09 to 17 this note was in the bigger manuals .
Even Ma Mopar says 5W-30 is okay

I agree, but that is what they Ram claimed was the reason for the thinner oils, I was shocked recently when a Ram SM admitted he puts an oil additive in his Hemi at every oil change..

 

[Mojo88]

I agree, but that is what they Ram claimed was the reason for the thinner oils, I was shocked recently when a Ram SM admitted he puts an oil additive in his Hemi at every oil change..

Hahahhaa, even the SM fears the infamous 'hemi tick'..............

 

[Wild one]

I agree, but that is what they Ram claimed was the reason for the thinner oils, I was shocked recently when a Ram SM admitted he puts an oil additive in his Hemi at every oil change..

Alot of service managers aren't really clued in as much as they should be in regards to the engines internals.

 

[Dusty]

I recall a SM back in 2017 telling me that reason they had to go to 20 weight oil was because the oil opening were made smaller thus it required thinner oil, thinner oil could flow through the smaller opening through out the engine and keep every part of the engine properly oiled, I thought he was joking, he said he was not...

Some 5.7 Eagle blocks have different casting numbers, so it's possible there was some sort of change.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 134122 miles.

 

[SpaceRanger1]

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

Hello,
I have a 2017 Rebel with the 5.7 hemi.. I've been running 5w-40 full synthetic since the first oil change. I change it around every 6-7K. I just turned 326K on it without codes or the tick. I live in Arizona where its HOT, all the better!!

 

[SpaceRanger1]

I have a 2017 Ram Rebel 4x4.. Got 328,750 Using 5W-40 in it since first oil change. No codes, no MDS problem, no ticking.!!

 

[06 Dodge]

I have a 2017 Ram Rebel 4x4.. Got 328,750 Using 5W-40 in it since first oil change. No codes, no MDS problem, no ticking.!!

Until I went to full time Diesel in 06 I use to run Rotella T-6 5w40 in every Dodge I owned, including the wife's Nitro with 4 cly, then her 2 Journey with the V-6, oh cant forget her Caravans with its 3.6.

 

[delf]

When I acquired my 2011 RAM 5.7L, it had been running with 5W-20 Royal Purple and filter. I scanned it for codes and one mentioned incorrect oil viscosity. Since then, still using 5W-20, it would still throw that code from time to time. Since switching to PUP 5W-30, I still get the code. My brother was meticulous on his oil change intervals and used only premium oil of the correct viscosity and high-end filters, so I'm not thinking there is likely an oil restriction somewhere, if that would even have a bearing on the viscosity determination the engine is reporting.

I realize that 5W-30 is ok, per manufacturer, but it makes me question the system's reliability in determining the viscosity of the oil in the engine. How is it determined? Is there some algorithm in the responsiveness of some sensor or combination of sensors that makes the call?