2015 LR4 3.0 V6 supercharged.

Does anyone have any experience using 5w-30 engine oil on this engine?

Yes, it does not sound right using a different oil vs. 0w-20 that is on the oil filler and the workshop manual.

But there is a belief that all auto manufactures (not just Land Rover) often spec engine oils to benefit miles per gallon and emissions if only for a faction of gain to help them meet government standards but with detriment to the engine when it has higher milage past the warranty and most likely the 2nd or 3rd owner of the vehicle.

My main concern is better protection for the timing chains.


Thanks,

 

Todays measurements specifications and tolerances are significantly more accurate than yesterdays. Moreover those purporting some conspiracy theory …

Todays Toyota engines use 0w16! And there can be little negative commentary about that platform.

My last input is that many think of oil weight via some historic mineral oil notion that just does not apply to the modern synthetic oils of today, versus just 10 years ago.

concerned about life of the timing chains…. the damage that has been, is done. Keep up your frequent scheduled oil and filter changes is the best that you can do.
Your engine, your choice. I believe in the engineering versus internet opinion.

 

Engineer here, 35+ years experience. There is no tolerance or material or lubricant science that prevents wear with thinner oils. It comes down to viscosity, fluid shear strength, and film thickness. If they engineer the new oils with higher shear strength, then that higher shear strength is built in to the 5w40 just like it is in the 0w16 or 0w20. Engineering study here: https://www.enginelabs.com/engine-te...-the-gauntlet/ Thousands of anecdotal engine destruction stories about timing chains and thrown connecting rods starting with model years about 2010. Outside of the ill fated BMW M62TU you never heard of timing chain issues on engines. Post 2010 with the switch to 0w20 oils everything is blowing up, Jag engines, BMW engines, VW engines, Dodge engines, you name it. Why do you think race cars use 20w50 or straight 50w?

 

but these aren’t racing engines…. and the oil and filter change schedule extended to road cars is not as frequent as “after every race”… some were actually sticking to 15000 km changes!

Can you imagine the effect on oil after 15000 km of typical urban, rural driving. Contaminants. Stop/start. Engine not up to operating temperature…. and the lack of top end cleaning due to the emphasis on direct injection engines. Couple that with not changing the coolant, air filters, pcv valve…
Isn’t that the majority of wear, right there?!

That suzuki katana spins at 10000 rpm, and we put in motul 10w40…. but its changed every 3500 kms. As are the air filters. There’s no issues there. No stretched timing chains, no bent rods…. And we “give ‘er” the throttle.

The F350s at work are diesels, we use the spec’d 10w30…. and no issues after 500,000 kms.. And they are work horses.
Bent rods?! Trying to compress coolant in the cylinders?? Cheap fuel?

I digress, but I enjoy the discussion.

Incidentally, I read the study without emphasis on any one particular sentence. In the closing arguments the statement was clear… again, not supporting the notion of moving to higher viscosity.

Cheers all.