Shop seems to have put in 0w 20 in 3.8 sedan

[Genesiswonderer]

So title. I watched them from the waiting room and it seems to be the bottle they were pouring in said 0W-20. I had asked simply for a full synthetic oil change. However, on the receipt, it says 5W-30 Synthetic oil change. As far as I’m aware, the lambda 3.8 recommends 5W-30.

So that brings me to my question. Is it bad if a 5W-30 motor uses 0W-20? Should I worry about this? (Who knows I’ve been using this shop for a while but this is the first time I watched them from the waiting room) also weird but unrelated I brought the car in with the tires at 34 psi and when I left they were at 42 psi. I don’t remember that happening previous times.

Or perhaps they were reusing a bottle that happened to be labeled that?
Thoughts?

 

[Andyj]

Should be harmless to run 0w20 in the 3.8 for a while especially when the weather is cold. I would change oil to 5w30 before the weather gets hot depending on where you are.

 

[Genesiswonderer]

Should be harmless to run 0w20 in the 3.8 for a while especially when the weather is cold. I would change oil to 5w30 before the weather gets hot depending on where you are.

Yeah but I’m in DFW Tx and we’re getting a cold front coming later this week, but next week, we have a high of 68. So?

Should I worry about it or ask the shop? Is it possible they’ve been putting this in the whole time because that’s the only full synthetic oil they have?

 

[Andyj]

That's why I change my own oil and filter. Many dealers including mine use a synthetic blend oil which is ok and charge for full synthetic. But they should use the recommended weight for the engine. 5w30.

I would ask the service rep or manager what weight oil was used.

 

[Genesiswonderer]

That's why I change my own oil and filter. Many dealers including mine use a synthetic blend oil which is ok and charge for full synthetic. But they should use the recommended weight for the engine. 5w30.

I would ask the service rep or manager what weight oil was used.

Okay. Do you think it’s apporitpate if I tell them I was watching from the waiting room and seem to have seen a bottle that appeared to say 0w 20 and ask if 0w 20 was used? The bottle did say full synthetic on it. Maybe they used it because that was the only full synthetic blend they had? Also, on the service reminder windshield sticker and the receipt it says 5w 30. So do you think they were just reusing a bottle?

 

[EdP]

Okay. Do you think it’s apporitpate if I tell them I was watching from the waiting room and seem to have seen a bottle that appeared to say 0w 20 and ask if 0w 20 was used? The bottle did say full synthetic on it. Maybe they used it because that was the only full synthetic blend they had? Also, on the service reminder windshield sticker and the receipt it says 5w 30. So do you think they were just reusing a bottle?

Of course it is appropriate. If they didn't want you watching they would not have a window.

It is also possible they needed just a half liter to top off and they grabbed that if it is in a bottle. In that case, not a big deal.

 

[Genesiswonderer]

Of course it is appropriate. If they didn't want you watching they would not have a window.

It is also possible they needed just a half liter to top off and they grabbed that if it is in a bottle. In that case, not a big deal.

Thanks Ed! I guess I’ll call the shop tomorrow morning. Should I ask what weight they used or should I ask why they appeared to be using 0w 20 when the car calls for 5w-30? Also, the receipt and service reminder windshield sticker says 5w 30.

 

[EdP]

Thanks Ed! I guess I’ll call the shop tomorrow morning. Should I ask what weight they used or should I ask why they appeared to be using 0w 20 when the car calls for 5w-30? Also, the receipt and service reminder windshield sticker says 5w 30.

Exactly. its your money they should tell you.

 

[carguy75]

So title. I watched them from the waiting room and it seems to be the bottle they were pouring in said 0W-20. I had asked simply for a full synthetic oil change. However, on the receipt, it says 5W-30 Synthetic oil change. As far as I’m aware, the lambda 3.8 recommends 5W-30.

So that brings me to my question. Is it bad if a 5W-30 motor uses 0W-20? Should I worry about this? (Who knows I’ve been using this shop for a while but this is the first time I watched them from the waiting room) also weird but unrelated I brought the car in with the tires at 34 psi and when I left they were at 42 psi. I don’t remember that happening previous times.

Or perhaps they were reusing a bottle that happened to be labeled that?
Thoughts?

I would change the oil immediately if 0w-20 was used. 0w-20 is too thin of an oil to be used in your engine regardless of climate.

You could probably get away with a slightly thicker oil for a few months like 0w-40, but do not run 0w-20 oil in your engine for an extended period of time. Engine damage can occur!!!!

In the future I would bring up an issue at that moment you notice it; since it may be darn near impossible to prove that 0w-20 was used by the shop if the engine does have problems later since all the shop documentation says 5w-30.

I personally would just change the oil again to be certain. Oil is cheap; engines are not.

 

[Genesiswonderer]

Exactly. its your money they should tell you.

Update: I called the shop this morning and they said sometimes they will reuse old jugs. They said the tech that did my oil change comes in in later this morning and that they would ask him and then let me know. If 0w-20 was for sure used, they’ll rechange it. Still waiting to hear what the tech has to say.

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[Genesiswonderer]

I would change the oil immediately if 0w-20 was used. 0w-20 is too thin of an oil to be used in your engine regardless of climate.

You could probably get away with a slightly thicker oil for a few months like 0w-40, but do not run 0w-20 oil in your engine for an extended period of time. Engine damage can occur!!!!

In the future I would bring up an issue at that moment you notice it; since it may be darn near impossible to prove that 0w-20 was used by the shop if the engine does have problems later since all the shop documentation says 5w-30.

I personally would just change the oil again to be certain. Oil is cheap; engines are not.

I called the shop this morning and they said sometimes they will reuse old jugs. They said the tech that did my oil change comes in in later this morning and that they would ask him and then let me know. If 0w-20 was for sure used, they’ll rechange it. Still waiting to hear what the tech has to say.

 

[Genesiswonderer]

Exactly. its your money they should tell you.

I would change the oil immediately if 0w-20 was used. 0w-20 is too thin of an oil to be used in your engine regardless of climate.

You could probably get away with a slightly thicker oil for a few months like 0w-40, but do not run 0w-20 oil in your engine for an extended period of time. Engine damage can occur!!!!

In the future I would bring up an issue at that moment you notice it; since it may be darn near impossible to prove that 0w-20 was used by the shop if the engine does have problems later since all the shop documentation says 5w-30.

I personally would just change the oil again to be certain. Oil is cheap; engines are not.

So the shop called back and they said the tech was reusing an old jug and the tech was 100 percent sure he put 5w 30 in. Knowing how honest this shop is (they have never tried to rip me off in the 8 years using them), I might take their word for it. Also, one of my other friends who works in the industry says it’s common for them to reuse jugs.

 

[carguy75]

I called the shop this morning and they said sometimes they will reuse old jugs. They said the tech that did my oil change comes in in later this morning and that they would ask him and then let me know. If 0w-20 was for sure used, they’ll rechange it. Still waiting to hear what the tech has to say.

The most important question is why is the shop using old oil jugs to store/transport fresh engine oil? Weird practice that can cause some mistakes to happen since they are using old oil containers with different oil weights than what is needed.

I would use a different shop for oil changes.

 

[Genesiswonderer]

The most important question is why is the shop using old oil jugs to store/transport fresh engine oil? Weird practice that can cause some mistakes to happen since they are using old oil containers with different oil weights than what is needed.

I would use a different shop for oil changes.

Yeah. The shop called me back a little earlier and said that the tech was 100 percent sure he put 5w 30 in. He was using an old jug for measuring. Knowing how trust worthy this shop is in my experience (in my 8 years of using them, they have never tried to rip me off and have saved me from getting ripped off), I might take their word for it. But yeah, that is a weird practice.

 

[carguy75]

Yeah. The shop called me back a little earlier and said that the tech was 100 percent sure he put 5w 30 in. He was using an old jug for measuring. Knowing how trust worthy this shop is in my experience (in my 8 years of using them, they have never tried to rip me off and have saved me from getting ripped off), I might take their word for it. But yeah, that is a weird practice.

I hear you. If you trust them; then you trust them. You are a more trusting man than me especially when it comes to my engine. Fresh oil usually come in 1 quart bottles or 5 quarts jugs; so I do not understand why fresh oil needs to moved to a used jug for measuring. However it is your car so if your are cool with it I hope it works out.

 

[Genesiswonderer]

I hear you. If you trust them; then you trust them. You are a more trusting man than me especially when it comes to my engine. Fresh oil usually come in 1 quart bottles or 5 quarts jugs; so I do not understand why fresh oil needs to moved to a used jug for measuring. However it is your car so if your are cool with it I hope it works out.

Yeah, I mean who knows if this is what they’ve been doing the whole time. But if I want it recharged, should I just go to the dealership and explain?

 

[DaleNet]

I hear you. If you trust them; then you trust them. You are a more trusting man than me especially when it comes to my engine. Fresh oil usually come in 1 quart bottles or 5 quarts jugs; so I do not understand why fresh oil needs to moved to a used jug for measuring. However it is your car so if your are cool with it I hope it works out.

Most shops get their oil in bulk and pump it to your car and use a container to top the oil off.

 

[Genesiswonderer]

Most shops get their oil in bulk and pump it to your car and use a container to top the oil off.

Yeah, I think that’s what the guy at the shop was telling me earlier this morning. Also, I asked a friend who has worked in the industry and he said it’s not uncommon for them to reuse old jugs, especially for measuring purposes.

 

[Genesiswonderer]

Most shops get their oil in bulk and pump it to your car and use a container to top the oil off.

Also, now that I think about it I thought I saw the guy in the back trying to what appeared to be opening the jug, but now that I think about it, he might have been pumping it into the jug to measure out and pour into the engine.

 

[carguy75]

Most shops get their oil in bulk and pump it to your car and use a container to top the oil off.

Well it does make sense if the shop is pumping the oil from a drum. I have seen shops use a oil dispenser system to pump oil from drums(or main tanks) directly in the car from a hose, but I guess they can also pump oil in a receptacle like an old jug.

To be honest I have not paid a shop to change my oil in about 20 years and back then I went to a major chain oil change shop to have it done that used the oil dispenser from what I could see from the window into the service bay.