# Oil Change Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** dodge, grandcaravan, oil\ **Created:** [February 22, 2012, 9:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083 "2012-02-22T09:02:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jezze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/35a633/32.png) [@jezze](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jezze)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 9:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/1 "2012-02-22T09:02:43Z")
I have a Dodge Grand Caravan 1998 with 92000 miles. What type of oil should I use? Currently I’m using 20-50W but a friend of mine told me that oil is too thick The owner’s manual specifies 5-30W Thanks Jesse ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 9:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/2 "2012-02-22T09:09:21Z")
Try using 5W-30 oil. If the engine starts using/burning oil the rings are worn. So go back to 20W-50 oil. Tester ---
**Author:** ![macfisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@macfisto](https://community.cartalk.com/u/macfisto)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 9:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/3 "2012-02-22T09:48:01Z")
This is where a 5W50 synthetic might help - it’ll smoke less and might help pass emissions testing if you’re burning oil. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/4 "2012-02-22T18:37:54Z")
It could depend on your locale and driving habits. The 20/50 might be a bit thick if you live in a northern climate this time of year and not so good if most of your driving is short hop. Here in OK in the summertime running 20/50 is not unheard of at all due to the wide open spaces and brutal heat but if the locale and driving habits involve a cooler climate and short hops then I’d use something a little thinner. ---
**Author:** ![JosephEMeehan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@JosephEMeehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JosephEMeehan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/5 "2012-02-22T18:39:30Z")
``` Always start with the manufacturer's recommendations. I doubt if 20W50 was recommended by Dodge. Why are you using 20W50? ``` ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/6 "2012-02-22T18:50:03Z")
It would help to know a few things. Where does this car reside? Specifically, what is the current temps in the morning when you start the car to go out for the day? Why have you deviated from the recommended 5W-30 to 20W-50? Is the car burning oil, leaking oil, clouds of blue smoke following you wherever you go? Many motors with 90K miles are still in good shape do fine with the original factory recommendations for oil weight. 20W-50 oil is thick when cold and will not do much lubricating until it warms up and flows more freely. This will cause more wear on cold start up and I wouldn’t use such a thick oil unless I was trying to nurse a very old tired engine along for a few more miles before either trashing it or rebuilding it. If the temp is 50 degrees or lower when you start the motor you are getting more wear on cold start up using the thick oil. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/7 "2012-02-22T19:10:41Z")
20/50 would be like molasses here in NH when temps drop below 0…Although it doesn’t look like that many happen soon. Going to be near 60 today. I would stick with what the owners manual says. 5w-30 is what I’ve been using for 20+ years… ---
**Author:** ![Smallengine123](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Smallengine123](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Smallengine123)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 5:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/8 "2012-04-28T05:24:14Z")
I would say use 5w-20, 5w-30, 10w-30, or 10w-40. Those are most common for dodge grand caravans. ---
**Author:** ![Ferdy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/90db22/32.png) [@Ferdy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ferdy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 2:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/9 "2012-06-04T02:01:33Z")
Use 5W-30 ---
**Author:** ![dagosa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dagosa/32/9837_2.png) [@dagosa](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dagosa)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/10 "2012-06-04T02:58:27Z")
Why trust the manual ? ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/11 "2012-06-04T03:14:39Z")
@dagosa, is there a “not” missing in that sentence? … as in “Why not trust the manual?” ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Marc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Big\_Marc](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Big_Marc)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/12 "2012-06-04T19:03:35Z")
I would follew the manuel unless it has an appatite for burning oil, if it is leaking it, i would try to repair the leak ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/13 "2012-06-04T19:13:28Z")
^ Personally, I have always found Jose to be more knowledgeable than Manuel, but you are free to take advice from anyone you choose. **;-))** ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/14 "2012-06-04T19:53:46Z")
Unless you have a major engine problem, use 5W30 or 10W30. Personally, I’d use the 10W30, but thats my preference. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-change-question/71083/15 "2012-06-04T20:35:58Z")
What the heck ever compelled you to use 20W50? Enquirng minds want to know.