Ditch the 0w-20 before its too late.

[Mtrctylarry]

Since almost new, my 2018 JL started to have a ticking sound from the engine. It would develop into a clattering sound, like a diesel. This was when it was running low on oil. One quart and it went away. The clatter then was around almost all the time, especially when it was warmed up. Oil changes fixed it, temporarily, until it had a thousand or so miles on the 0w-20 oil(full synthetic). Reading every post on this issue was scary, Lifter/Cam failures all over the place. Many point to the oil contributing our 3.6 engine failures.
I also read articles on 0w-20 oil being too thin, getting past the rings, and slowly being burned off. Some said switch to 5w-30 oil. I decided to do just that. Instant silence from the engine. It purred like a kitten. Also, it doesn't burn any oil, anymore. No more ticking, or clattering. No more pondering catastrophic engine failures. It's been well over a year since the switch to 5w-30, and I wish I had done it after my first oil change.

I truly believe that the Auto makers specify light grade oils to reach CAFE standards for mileage ratings. i also notice the same engine noise in summer weather....Thanks for your post, I will be switching to 5wx30 in the Spring.

Sponsored

 

[Valpo Jeep]

I’ll play devils advocate…
What does the JL manual specify???

Remember, if you do have a motor issue and require warranty you will have to provide oil change receipts. Don’t give a dealer a reason to void your warranty.

Side note, I’ve been told the right oil viscosity is more important for the VVT to operate properly than anything else. All my pre JL 3.6 and 3.8 ran 5W20. The 3.8 I bumped up to 5W30 after 100,000klm but our 3.6s always ran 5W20 with no issue.
Checking your oil frequently is a must especially if you have a leaker. Running low on oil can cause permanent damage.

For the 3.6 it indicates there are 5 different oils that can be used. The 0W20 gets recommended for fuel economy

 

[Birdcatcher]

In my opinion (and for me), it's hard to digest any manufacturer would get the recommended oil spec wrong. But then it's a Jeep (thing)!

 

[Xcoaste]

I wouldn't change what the manual states if you value your warranty. Make sure it has the API stamp on it.

 

[Old Jeeper]

Since almost new, my 2018 JL started to have a ticking sound from the engine. It would develop into a clattering sound, like a diesel. This was when it was running low on oil. One quart and it went away. The clatter then was around almost all the time, especially when it was warmed up. Oil changes fixed it, temporarily, until it had a thousand or so miles on the 0w-20 oil(full synthetic). Reading every post on this issue was scary, Lifter/Cam failures all over the place. Many point to the oil contributing our 3.6 engine failures.
I also read articles on 0w-20 oil being too thin, getting past the rings, and slowly being burned off. Some said switch to 5w-30 oil. I decided to do just that. Instant silence from the engine. It purred like a kitten. Also, it doesn't burn any oil, anymore. No more ticking, or clattering. No more pondering catastrophic engine failures. It's been well over a year since the switch to 5w-30, and I wish I had done it after my first oil change.

Brother you are down there in Houston, where the traffic moves at a snails pace.

This is what I run in my JLR-X: Shell Rotella 15-40 and I run it year-round because I am in the south from Florida to Texas. I also run it in my F 450 Diesel grade T6, nothing better!

When I was wheeling all the time and hard I ran the T6 diesel 15-40W

Walmart carries it, NOT Cheap but its the best oil out there with Mobil 1 coming in 2nd place...according to my BIL who works at Mobil R&D.

 

[NWJeepr]

In my opinion (and for me), it's hard to digest any manufacturer would get the recommended oil spec wrong. But then it's a Jeep (thing)!

When FCA switched the oil spec from 5w30 to 5w20 mid-2012 in the midst of early Pentastar head failures, you can be assured the conspiracy theories abounded. A handful of owners found themselves in a predicament over which oil to use. Oil filler cap supply was not exhausted by the time the new owners manuals were printed, so many owners found they had an oil filler cap which stated "5w30" and an owner's manual which explicitly recommended 5w20.

 

[DaltonGang]

OP, can you please post more details on your situation? Region the Jeep lives in, temperature, mileage; etc? Hard to say ditch 0w oil when jeeps manual refers to this oil as one of the ones to actually use.

Houston. Hot sticky summers. Only 35,000 miles on a 2018. Don't believe everything that is told to you. The manufacturers are trying to stretch every last mpg out lf everything. Ultra thin oil is one way.

I truly believe that the Auto makers specify light grade oils to reach CAFE standards for mileage ratings. i also notice the same engine noise in summer weather....Thanks for your post, I will be switching to 5wx30 in the Spring.

Exactly. CAFE standards. Meet certain mpg and certain emissions or get fined by big brother.

.

 

[DaltonGang]

When FCA switched the oil spec from 5w30 to 5w20 mid-2012 in the midst of early Pentastar head failures, you can be assured the conspiracy theories abounded. A handful of owners found themselves in a predicament over which oil to use. Oil filler cap supply was not exhausted by the time the new owners manuals were printed, so many owners found they had an oil filler cap which stated "5w30" and an owner's manual which explicitly recommended 5w20.

You use your oil, that you like. I know mine likes the 5w-30, from "experience" . Not theory, not what manufacturers tell me, but from what my JL tells me.

 

[DaltonGang]

Brother you are down there in Houston, where the traffic moves at a snails pace.

This is what I run in my JLR-X: Shell Rotella 15-40 and I run it year-round because I am in the south from Florida to Texas. I also run it in my F 450 Diesel grade T6, nothing better!

When I was wheeling all the time and hard I ran the T6 diesel 15-40W

Walmart carries it, NOT Cheap but its the best oil out there with Mobil 1 coming in 2nd place...according to my BIL who works at Mobil R&D.

Good stuff.I used that exact same oil in my 2006 Dodge Cummins, the day I changed the Jeeps oil.

 

[Jtphoto]

When FCA switched the oil spec from 5w30 to 5w20 mid-2012 in the midst of early Pentastar head failures, you can be assured the conspiracy theories abounded. A handful of owners found themselves in a predicament over which oil to use. Oil filler cap supply was not exhausted by the time the new owners manuals were printed, so many owners found they had an oil filler cap which stated "5w30" and an owner's manual which explicitly recommended 5w20.

Actually it was earlier than that. My sons 2007 3.8L was spec’d for 5W30 while My 2008 3.8L Wrangler was spec’d for 5W20 including the indicator on filler cap. 5W20 continued from there til the 2018 JK at which point the JL came out spec’d for 0W20…
It’s good to know that 5W30 is an option. But up north 0W20 has not been a problem.

 

[NWJeepr]

Actually it was earlier than that. My sons 2007 3.8L was spec’d for 5W30 while My 2008 3.8L Wrangler was spec’d for 5W20 including the indicator on filler cap. 5W20 continued from there til the 2018 JK at which point the JL came out spec’d for 0W20…
It’s good to know that 5W30 is an option. But up north 0W20 has not been a problem.

The 3.6 was spec'd for 5w30 when it landed in the JK for the 2012 model year. By 2013 they had changed the spec to 5w20. It's just a bit of interesting Pentastar history.

You are correct about the 3.8, it took 5w20.

 

[NWJeepr]

You use your oil, that you like. I know mine likes the 5w-30, from "experience" . Not theory, not what manufacturers tell me, but from what my JL tells me.

But what does it say to you?

 

[Bearded_Dragon]

Walmart carries it, NOT Cheap but its the best oil out there with Mobil 1 coming in 2nd place...according to my BIL who works at Mobil R&D.

No Rotella T6 is NOT the #1 best oil out there and it isn't expensive. That isn't saying it's garbage, maybe top 10. You can find it everywhere too, not just Walmart.

 

[Old Jeeper]

No Rotella T6 is NOT the #1 best oil out there and it isn't expensive. That isn't saying it's garbage, maybe top 10.

NOT what my BIL says, he works in Mobile Oil R&D he know oil, he has been working there for at least 25 years. I belive it.

I also believe a lot of guys I know that drive diesels, especially the HotShot guys those guys knock down over 10k miles a month or more.

I have been running it for years and I am on my 6th F 350 D/F 450 D!

So what is better????

 

[Jtphoto]

NOT what my BIL says, he works in Mobile Oil R&D he know oil, he has been working there for at least 25 years. I belive it.

I also believe a lot of guys I know that drive diesels, especially the HotShot guys those guys knock down over 10k miles a month or more.

I have been running it for years and I am on my 6th F 350 D/F 450 D!

So what is better????

There must be 2 grade of Mobil1 then. I ran it in my old Ram 318 for a few years until it started getting the start up clack then I went back to Dino oil issue solved. Then with my first JK 2008 3.8 I thought I’d give Mobil1 another shot, same issue with start up clack at just over 40,000klm. Switched to Amsoil start up clack gone. That 3.8 stayed quiet till I traded it in with 321,000klm. Been with Amsoil ever since.

Sponsored