ginandtonic
Senior Member
Alright! Picked up Lubegard so we’ll see how this goes! I’ve heard somewhere that it can take a few hundred miles to work its way in and become effective?
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The hemi is happier if it's drove a bit on the aggressive side,it's babying them they don't like.Ended up trading the truck in last week. Just a tidal wave of little issues with it building up so it was time to go. only 160,000km on it but apparently wasn't one of the good trucks haha. Got a 2020 Limited that sounded nice and smooth so I'll baby this one in hopes that I don't end up with another mopar bucket of parts.
I used 0w-20 since I'm in the frigid north. I also added the Lubegard to it and even after 500km the whole thing actually sounded worse than before I did the oil change and biotech addiditive (not speculating that it was the oil change as a cause, just the truck plummeting itself to the junk yard lol). Along with an engine that likely would have required a full and expensive rebuild, was suspension issues, front diff issues, rust starting to bubble on the bottom of the doors.. to get the thing to a place where I was happy with it would have likely been in the realm of 15k which is surprisingly all that I got for it at trade inThe hemi is happier if it's drove a bit on the aggressive side,it's babying them they don't like.
Quit using a 20w oil to.
Did you ever get yourself some Lubegard BioTech,i gave you the link to the guys in Edmonton that sell it.If you're gonna use PUP at least add some Lubegard to it.
Read the note at the bottom,even Ma Mopar says you can run 5W-30.
I'm in Alberta,so i doubt you're anywhere in the frigid north that's colder then where i am,lol. At least run this truck on a decent 0W-30 in the winter,and 5W-30 in the summer.That 0W-20 isn't doing you any favours especially if you run it year roundI used 0w-20 since I'm in the frigid north. I also added the Lubegard to it and even after 500km the whole thing actually sounded worse than before I did the oil change and biotech addiditive (not speculating that it was the oil change as a cause, just the truck plummeting itself to the junk yard lol). Along with an engine that likely would have required a full and expensive rebuild, was suspension issues, front diff issues, rust starting to bubble on the bottom of the doors.. to get the thing to a place where I was happy with it would have likely been in the realm of 15k which is surprisingly all that I got for it at trade in
Cold enough to maintain -20 weekly and dip to near -40C! the 20 refers to the viscosity at running temps which isn't really an issue for the ram, IMO. It's the cold start-ups when it's running dry so that's where the 0W or 5W is relevant. The 5th gens call for 0w-20 I believe actually, maybe as of 2024 not sure.I'm in Alberta,so i doubt you're anywhere in the frigid north that's colder then where i am,lol. At least run this truck on a decent 0W-30 in the winter,and 5W-30 in the summer.That 0W-20 isn't doing you any favours especially if you run it year round
0W would be better for your truck if you're in a cold climate regardless of the second number. I wonder if Redline makes a 0W-30, that'd work better for anyone northern than their 5w-30 does.I am in the frigid north too and would not run 0W20 Oil in anything if you paid me.
I have Redline 5W30 in my Hemi and it is nice and quiet.
Easy enough to bypass alot of cold starts by either plugging it in,or run an oil pan heater.I run pan heaters on my winter driven vehicles that sit outside. 2 hours with the block heater and pan heater plugged in,and at -35C they start like it's 20CCold enough to maintain -20 weekly and dip to near -40C! the 20 refers to the viscosity at running temps which isn't really an issue for the ram, IMO. It's the cold start-ups when it's running dry so that's where the 0W or 5W is relevant. The 5th gens call for 0w-20 I believe actually, maybe as of 2024 not sure.
0W would be better for your truck if you're in a cold climate regardless of the second number. I wonder if Redline makes a 0W-30, that'd work better for anyone northern than their 5w-30 does.
ya totally, I've been using the block heater on the new truck and it's great - takes a lot more than 2 hours at -35 though, more like 6 to get the coolant temp to about 20C and the oil ends up around 4-8C.Easy enough to bypass alot of cold starts by either plugging it in,or run an oil pan heater.I run pan heaters on my winter driven vehicles that sit outside. 2 hours with the block heater and pan heater plugged in,and at -35C they start like it's 20C
You might want to read the note at the bottom.This is from the 700 page printed manual for my 14,so it applies to your 14 as well.You don't have this manual,as you had to phone to get it.
Put a oil pan heater on it,and 2 hours with it and the block heater turned on,and it'll start like it's a summer day.The block heater does squat for warming up the oil,as the block is several inches above the oil in the pan.ya totally, I've been using the block heater on the new truck and it's great - takes a lot more than 2 hours at -35 though, more like 6 to get the coolant temp to about 20C and the oil ends up around 4-8C.
Ram does allow 5w-30 as a substitute for 5w-20 "when not available" whatever that means haha. I'm talking about the first number though which is the one that applies to cold starts, rather than the running temp viscosity. 0w is also recommended on the newer trucks and at running teams doesn't make a difference, so 0w-2 being more "watery" than 5w-20 is a myth.
Actually, I assume the ambient heat radiating from the block heater does in fact warm the oil up a fair amount, though not nearly as much as the coolant, as like you said, the oil isn't as close to the heater. On a -25 night, I left the truck plugged in from around 10pm to 6am the next day and the coolant temp was something like 33C and the oil was 8C. Without the block heater both those temps would obviously be closer to the outdoor temp at the time. Not saying the pan heater isn't good, just explaining that I feel happy enough with the temps generated by the "free" block heater! I don't necessarily need hot oil right away, just something above 0C would keep me happy and feeling less worried about the top end running dry for too long on those super cold nights.Put a oil pan heater on it,and 2 hours with it and the block heater turned on,and it'll start like it's a summer day.The block heater does squat for warming up the oil,as the block is several inches above the oil in the pan.
You can believe whatever you want about 0W-20,but not a chance in hell would i run it in a hemi,if you want go for it,but i prefer to have an oil that provides a cushion,and 0W-20 isn't good at providing that oil cushion
Pull your dipstick the next time and feel the oil.Actually, I assume the ambient heat radiating from the block heater does in fact warm the oil up a fair amount, though not nearly as much as the coolant, as like you said, the oil isn't as close to the heater. On a -25 night, I left the truck plugged in from around 10pm to 6am the next day and the coolant temp was something like 33C and the oil was 8C. Without the block heater both those temps would obviously be closer to the outdoor temp at the time. Not saying the pan heater isn't good, just explaining that I feel happy enough with the temps generated by the "free" block heater! I don't necessarily need hot oil right away, just something above 0C would keep me happy and feeling less worried about the top end running dry for too long on those super cold nights.
For the 0W-20, that's fine! Mopar recommends it nowadays anyways (since 2022 maybe?) and it has the exact same running temp viscosity as your 5w-20. Remember, the only real difference between the two is at very cold temperatures at start up.
Little tidbit for you,there is no oil temp sensor anywhere near the oil in the pan,the oil temp sensor is about 2 ft ahead and about a foot higher then the bottom of the oil pan where the oil sits.That 8C was not even close to being the oil temp,as the sensor would of been reading block temp ,not oil temp as it's above the oil filter.When it's -25 and plugged in, if you crawl under the truck with an infrared thermometer and measure the temp of the bottom of the oil pan where the oil and oil pick-up tube is,it's not going to be much warmer then -25Actually, I assume the ambient heat radiating from the block heater does in fact warm the oil up a fair amount, though not nearly as much as the coolant, as like you said, the oil isn't as close to the heater. On a -25 night, I left the truck plugged in from around 10pm to 6am the next day and the coolant temp was something like 33C and the oil was 8C. Without the block heater both those temps would obviously be closer to the outdoor temp at the time. Not saying the pan heater isn't good, just explaining that I feel happy enough with the temps generated by the "free" block heater! I don't necessarily need hot oil right away, just something above 0C would keep me happy and feeling less worried about the top end running dry for too long on those super cold nights.
For the 0W-20, that's fine! Mopar recommends it nowadays anyways (since 2022 maybe?) and it has the exact same running temp viscosity as your 5w-20. Remember, the only real difference between the two is at very cold temperatures at start up.
Are you suggesting that the oil temp sensor is just relaying the temp of the coolant to the computer?Little tidbit for you,there is no oil temp sensor anywhere near the oil in the pan,the oil temp sensor is about 2 ft ahead and about a foot higher then the bottom of the oil pan where the oil sits.That 8C was not even close to being the oil temp,as the sensor would of been reading block temp ,not oil temp as it's above the oil filter.When it's -25 and plugged in, if you crawl under the truck with an infrared thermometer and measure the temp of the bottom of the oil pan where the oil and oil pick-up tube is,it's not going to be much warmer then -25
I thought we were talking 0W vs 5W. I'm sure there's plenty of Hemi's here running forever on 5w-20 - the tough part with the tick is sometimes it's inevitable and only affects certain trucks, so it makes reporting on the solution very difficult! For myself I'll stick with what the engineers that designed the truck recommended (and have updated over the last few years) and if I'm wrong you'll likely see a thread about it five years down the roadPull your dipstick the next time and feel the oil.
If you want your hemi to last you won't run anything with 20 in the viscosity description,maybe a 0W-30 at most
Yes the oil temp sensor is reading block temp,when you flip the ignition on.Next time you're under your truck,you'll notice there is no oil temp sensor in the oil pan,the actual sensor is in the block above the oil filter,along ways away from the bottom of the oil pan,where the pick-up tube is located.Are you suggesting that the oil temp sensor is just relaying the temp of the coolant to the computer?
I thought we were talking 0W vs 5W. I'm sure there's plenty of Hemi's here running forever on 5w-20 - the tough part with the tick is sometimes it's inevitable and only affects certain trucks, so it makes reporting on the solution very difficult! For myself I'll stick with what the engineers that designed the truck recommended (and have updated over the last few years) and if I'm wrong you'll likely see a thread about it five years down the road![]()
Well I suppose a warmer block flows cold oil better too then so I'll take what I can get here, the pan heater may be an add-on later as money become available. Good to know though.Yes the oil temp sensor is reading block temp,when you flip the ignition on.Next time you're under your truck,you'll notice there is no oil temp sensor in the oil pan,the actual sensor is in the block above the oil filter,along ways away from the bottom of the oil pan,where the pick-up tube is located.
Read the note at the bottom,even Ma Mopar says 5W-30 is okay to use.You'll also notice nowhere do they say anything about 5W-20 prolonging the life of the engine,and if they thought 5W-20 prolonged the life of the engine,they'd be spouting about it,but nowhere do they mention anything about it prolonging the life expectancy of the engine.
Read what you want into that,but 5W-30 is perfectly fine in the 5.7

The engine hasn't changed since they redesigned it for VVT way back in 2009,but everytime they go after better milege numbers all the fluids get lighter. Nothing is ever done to gain life expectancy from the engine,everything is done to gain that 0.001 mpg gain.Well I suppose a warmer block flows cold oil better too then so I'll take what I can get here, the pan heater may be an add-on later as money become available. Good to know though.
For this 20 vs 30 strawman debate going on here, if you read my previous posts you'll see I have already mentioned what that manual says - 5w-20 is recommended but 5w-30 will do in a pinch. As of 2022 I believe it's switched to 0W-20, at least as of 2022 or so. We agree on the second number already![]()
I run 89 octane 5W30 like the original engineers wanted. I can always do 87 octane or 20 weights if in a bind. These lowering of standards wasn’t to address a problem but to increase CAFE numbersThe engine hasn't changed since they redesigned it for VVT way back in 2009,but everytime they go after better milege numbers all the fluids get lighter. Nothing is ever done to gain life expectancy from the engine,everything is done to gain that 0.001 mpg gain.
You can buy cheap oil pan heaters on Amazon,i've never used the cheap ones,but i'm sure they'll probably work okay,and most are far cheaper to run then a block heater.I usually spring for the Polar Pad heaters,but they are fairly expensive
Amazon.ca: Engine Heaters - Engines & Engine Parts: Automotive
Online shopping for Engine Heaters - Engines & Engine Parts from a great selection at Automotive Store.www.amazon.ca
Car Engine Silicone Pad Heater, 110V Engine Heater Oil Pan Heater Pad Replacement Block Heater, Car Truck Oil Pan Heater Pad for Metal Surface, Constant Temperature 200℃ Max, Engine Heaters - Amazon Canada
Car Engine Silicone Pad Heater, 110V Engine Heater Oil Pan Heater Pad Replacement Block Heater, Car Truck Oil Pan Heater Pad for Metal Surface, Constant Temperature 200℃ Max in Engine Heaters.www.amazon.ca