Oil Question...

I've yet to find a motor oil discussion that has more to do with verifiable facts than personal preference.

 

I would say stay with the 5:30 going to 0 will give ya lil less viscous at lowest temps . I don't think you're out of the range of the 5:30. Lot this oil crap is old wives tales. Redneck engine meeting 103 in mistah kottahs class

 

That's bad advice and would accelerate your oil burning. Please do your homework before listening to bad advice from the internet void. Ask the idiot the basis or OEM documentation to support their position!
If your low oil lamp came on in the middle of the night; would you notice it in your stupor? I would be checking the oil level every night, before running the car all night long to prevent seizing the engine. It's your car, do whatever you want.....

 

All motor oils are much, much thicker, and too thick for optimum efficiency, when they are cold.

0W-30 and 5W-30 and 10W-30 etc., all have the same viscosity, which is sufficient for good wear protection, when fully warmed up.

Switching from 5W-30 to 0W-30 would likely reduce fuel consumption by around one or two percent, depending on operating conditions.
Whether and how the oil consumption would be affected is dependent on so many unknown variables, that I would not venture a prediction.

There is no danger in trying a motor oil with a lower W(Winter) classification. There is no such thing as a motor oil that is too thin for sufficient wear protection when it is cold and also thick enough when it's hot.

On the other hand, using an oil with much too high of a W classification for the ambient temperatures could result in the oil becoming so thick in cold weather, that it doesn't flow through the engine, possibly leading to major engine damage.

These are the reasons that, other than possibly wasting time and/or money on the experiment, there is no harm in trying 0W-30.


P.S. I have been using 0W-30 in my 2007 Prius for over eighteen years and over 400,000 miles in temperatures ranging from below 0°F to over 100°F with absolutely no problem other than the usual gradual rise in oil consumption, which has now reached about one quart every 3,000 miles.

 

Be careful with your advice; he already has an oil burn issue - likely worse than yours. He has oil fouled spark plugs causing misfires. The plugs was changed less than six months ago - according to another one of his treads. That's really bad oil burn to be fouling spark plugs in less than six months while using 5w30. Runs his car all night long to keep warm; so oil change intervals can't be determined by mileage alone. Going thinner will accelerate oil burn in an auto start-stop engine, because your not at 30 weight until the engine fully warms up. In his case, engine off when cabin reaches set temperature, so will that oil ever get up to 30 weight in a parking lot?