5w30 in a 2019 5.3L with cylinder deactivation

[AJMBLAZER]

110,xxx miles mostly highway as I drive 45 miles each way 3-4 days a week. Oil changes with synthetic 0w20 and a WIX filter every 5,000 miles. Think I’m starting to hear a bit of a tick.

Been doing some reading and a lot of people say the 0w20 is just for emissions and 5w30 fixes everything but also 5w30 will trip sensors and stop the cylinder deactivation from working correctly.

Vettes run 5w30 with similar engines. Why can’t I?

 

[fastazz81]

It’s due to the fact the cylinder deactivation system is designed to work with a specific oil weight , all the orifices and solenoid on and off time are all calibrated to the specified oil weight, thicker or thinner oil will cause things to not react in the correct amount of given time and codes set ,things quit working properly.
This is how the newer cars can even set codes for incorrect oil type or set codes for the oil being degraded.

 

[CT-BLAZER]

Ok. . It 5-30 would run, raise oil pressure... possibly delay cylinder deactivation.....and or throw a code....

F it...... Run the thick oil and remove the deactivate system .....tune the computer to be a dedicated V-8...…Mobil 1 15-50 .

 

[Blue85]

Is there much to lose by trying it?

What seems strange is that DoD started in something like 2008 and was rated for 5W30 for a long time. Plus, the actual viscosity of the oil changes a lot over a 6000-mile life, and over all possible temperature extremes. Even if the system uses coolant temp to adjust timing calculations, that's not exactly the same as oil temp.

Have you verified the noise is valvetrain?

 

[ZooMad75]

It’s due to the fact the cylinder deactivation system is designed to work with a specific oil weight , all the orifices and solenoid on and off time are all calibrated to the specified oil weight, thicker or thinner oil will cause things to not react in the correct amount of given time and codes set ,things quit working properly.
This is how the newer cars can even set codes for incorrect oil type or set codes for the oil being degraded.

Dead on correct. Viscosity is important for the cylinder deactivation and the variable valve timing. Both require a thinner weight oil.

It’s not that it won’t work right with heavier oil, but until you tune it to shut off those features it’s going to set codes.

 

[Blue85]

Why would you want to eliminate variable valve timing? Just for reliability?

And there are many vehicles running VVT and AFM with 5W30.

 

[Chevy305]

Just try it. I doubt it'll set codes but if it does just do an oil change and go back to the thin stuff.

 

[ZooMad75]

The ecotec (LT) v8s all went 0w20 when they came out in 2014. It coincided with the “dexos” formula of the oil. I’m not sure what the hell additive package is in “dexos” but I do know when you have the wrong stuff in there the engine runs like crap and sets codes for cam phasing and if you go far enough the DOD system flakes out too. With doing nothing other than a dump and fill with the correct oil, the engine went back to running smooth, and all codes that had been set went to history. Check engine Light went off on its on. Had I not been standing next to the truck when it was fired up I would have called bs on it.

Don’t forget many of the LT engines are having lifter problems too. That might be masked by thicker oil but it’s not fixing the problem if it does actually have a lifter issue.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

I haven't verified anything. Just started noticing it lately as the temp has cooled down from "immediately run AC and roll windows up" to "back out of garage with windows down and drive a bit". Has me wondering. Might be a bit jumpy. Thing is almost paid off.

There's a big post about it over on the GM-forum but lots of theory and no actual experience. One guy is about to try it. I figured somebody here with history in the business like Zoo or some of the rest of you guys might have seen it or done it.

I do have notions of saving for a more powerful 5.3L build if it ever gives me mechanical issues.

 

[Truckman4life]

I don't run that thin ass 0w20 in anything. I have a 2020 silverado here at work with 15k miles or so that has been on 5w20 since day one. Doesn't hurt a thing.
My wife's 2008 6.2L gets 15w40 or 10w30 or whatever I have and it's about to break 290k.

 

[Wes Harden]

I put 5w20, calls for 0w20, in my wife's 2016 Scion TC 2.5l vvt, it almost immediately set vvt codes. Very low mileage at the time might have been it's 2nd oil change.

 

[ZooMad75]

Don’t forget the direct injected engines are a lot noisier than the port injected versions they replaced. As soon as you mentioned you heard it with the windows down tipped me off.

We had complaints of light lifter ticking or exhaust leak noises when the di engines came out in ‘14. Almost every time the customer noted they heard it when the window was down or standing outside next to the truck.

The ticking isn’t a lifter or exhaust leak. It’s the injectors popping at some insane pressure north of 20,000psi. They are noisy. It explains every ounce of sound deadening under the hood of the truck, including on top of the valve covers. They did such a good job you can’t hear it inside the truck with the windows up.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Huh. I swear it's new but probably just my mind playing tricks on me.

 

[jake 03]

5w-30 or even 5w-40 is fine in the Direct Injection V8 engine. The 0w-20 only exists in the trucks for fuel economy reasons.
If you compare the 6.2l L86(truck) and the LT1 they are the exact same long block and yet the truck calls for 0w20 and the camaro 5w30, and the corvette can use up to 5w50 for track use.
The AFM and VVT will continue to function and the variable displacement oil pump will continue to control oil pressure.
I personally use 5w30 in my 2018 and much prefer that over the 0w20 if you plan on using your truck as a truck.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

Two weeks into running 5w30. No issues or lights. Cylinder deactivation is working fine. Seems to run a bit smoother and definitely starts nicer during auto start/stop. If I lost any mile per gallon, it’s a fraction.