USNA wrote:
Hi, I do not understand how 0w-40 Mobil 1 has higher film strength than 5w-40 mobil1.
Both oils meet the high temperature viscosity requirement of greater than or equal to 3.5.
My understanding is Mobil 1 0w-40 is formulated for the wear requirements primarily of gas engines and the cam loads of certain diesels.
The 5w-40 Mobil 1 is formulated to meet the more stringent E series of protocols required for ACEA E-3,4,5 and 7.
I feel that 5w-20 in a diesel would be disastrous. The high temperature viscosity requirement of 2.6 would not be able to withstand the bearing loads irregardless of the increased flow rate.
I am not a tribologist and have no empirical evidence on film strength. I am interpreting data from the oil manufacturers and the requirements API and ACEA. Please use only oils recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
They both meet high temp requirments as you say, the 5w-40 just barely makes the cut off for that qualification, and 0w-40 surpasses it somewhat higher numbers if I am remember correctly. The 0w-40 is the only Mobil 1 oil in US that meets MB spec's for chain driven DOHC engines due to high temp shear ability, the 5w-40 is not in the list of oils to meet that requirement. That is why I do not use the M-1 5w-40 in my twin row chain driven DOHC MB clone engine in my Dodge. Maybe I will be able to use the 0w-40 in the CRD for 10k mile oil changes in the future due to less soot in the oil from ULSD, but only with oil sample testing will I make that decission.
As for as the 5w-20 use in a diesel, as I said I would not use it except unless nothing else was available and I needed an oil change bad or to top it up if I was low on oil and no diesel oil available. This oil could be used without any problems if you changed it every 3,000 to maybe as much as 5,000 miles if not driven hard, towing trailers, off roading in the desert, or other such hard use. The way our CRD is driven we could use the 5w-20 M-1 and never be the worse for wear if I wanted to change it every three thousand miles, but I don't want the expence and loss time of changing the oil that often. Not to mention I may want to tow something some day for what ever reason.
Let me restate here:
I do not recommend the use of Mobil 1 5w-20 synthetic oil in our CRD over M 1 T&SUV or D 1 5w-40 oil or any other brand of diesel rated oil.