what oil to use for an American CX-5 in Asia?

[incitenoob]

Hello,

My CX-5 was sold in the USA, and I brought it to the Philippines. Should I follow the owner's manual provisions for CX-5s in the USA or in the rest of the world, as the USA specified engine oil is 0w-20, and the rest of the world is specified to use 5w-30?

I should note that the owner's manual in my USA model lists both of the above regional specifications. So, it isn't clear if the USA version has any mechanical difference or not to those sold abroad (such as an oil cooler) that affects this.

It would seem to me that 5w-30 might be more appropriate to tropical heat, but I'd prefer confirmation. I think that is what the local dealers use.

Thanks!

D

 

[erhayes]

I would certanly use a quality 5w30 oil. Only in the USA & Canada are the recomendaton for 0w20.

 

[incitenoob]

Thanks. Just out of curiosity, why does it have a different recommendation in the USA? Is it for the EPA or for colder temperatures?

 

[leeharvey418]

I beg to differ, erhayes...

The oil operating temperature isn't really a function of the ambient temperature as much as it is engine and cooling system design. That and there are places in the US that are just as hot as in the Philipines... and there are places where the CX-5 is sold that are a hell of a lot colder on average than the US.

Mazda specs 0w-20 in the US because of fuel economy considerations. That being said, I'd still run 0w-20 in the Philipines... mainly because gas still costs money there, and you're going to burn more of it pumping and working against thicker oil.

 

[erhayes]

You make a good point leeharvey418, but this is not the question the Op was interested in. I agree that in the US & CAN, the EPA has forced manufactures to get the best possible fuel mileage. I would use 5w30 because of the expected safety margin. Ed

 

[katman]

I was reading the fine print on a bottle of m1 0-20
Fuel saving oil and basically it said that it got around
1.14 % better mpg ( I'm going by memory here)
as a result of thinner viscosity.
Not a lot!

 

[incitenoob]

Well, fuel economy is terrible here in Manila anyway, AC is always on, traffic is very heavy, and efficient driving approaches are impossible. My car reads 18 MPG at the moment and has been as low as 13. On the highway, it is 28-30. My main concern would be what is best for engine longevity. It also isn't easy to find 0w-20.

 

[erhayes]

If a 0.15 MPG increase at 15 MPG average is your goal, then go for 0w20. If engine longevity is the goal then I'd go for 5w30.

 

[leeharvey418]

If engine longevity is the goal then I'd go for 5w30.

Not true... if the bearing isn't critically loaded (and a properly designed bearing never should be) then the bearing and journal will actually see more metal erosion with a thicker oil.

Again, though, you're talking about marginal differences on either side of the equation. If you sleep better at night thinking that your engine is getting a little more protection, that's fine. If saving a tiny amount of gas money is more your thing, then go for it.

 

[incitenoob]

Is there a consensus that 5w30 is the best for engine longevity? Thanks again!

 

[erhayes]

If 5w30 is the prefered viscosity in hot or EU countries then I think that answers the question incitenoob

 

[MikeM.]

Not true... if the bearing isn't critically loaded (and a properly designed bearing never should be) then the bearing and journal will actually see more metal erosion with a thicker oil.

Interesting. Can you elaborate on the mechanism involved here?

 

[leeharvey418]

Interesting. Can you elaborate on the mechanism involved here?

Not incredibly technically, but in a nutshell, thicker oil gives a higher shear rate at the bearing surface. Higher shear rate translates to higher stress in the bearing material, and at the end of the day, the bearing will wear faster.

The upside to thicker oil is that it will support a higher load at a lower speed for a given oil pressure, so you're less likely to ever see metal-to-metal contact. Again, though, as long as the bearing was properly designed in the first place, that shouldn't ever be a real concern.

 

[JM33]

My Honda manuals said to use 0W-20 so I contacted several Australian Honda dealers and asked them what the Honda manuals in Australia listed as the appropriate oil to use. Their reply was 10W-30 or 5W-30. I bought my CX-5 last week and the Mazda manual states to use 0W-20. I contacted several Australian Mazda dealers again and they said 5W-30 was the recommended oil, but the dealer recommended 5W-40 for most of the vehicles that they sold. And the Mexico manual states 5W-30 should be used. I don't care what the EPA states because an extra 1/10 mile per gallon of gas doesn't impress me!