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Unpopular opinion: my 2019 Corolla got worse gas mileage after I switched to the 'right' oil
I tracked every fill up for 14 months in a little notebook. First 8 months on 0W-20 I averaged 36.2 mpg, mostly city driving here in Dayton. Then my mechanic talked me into 5W-30 for "engine protection" and it dropped to 33.8 mpg over the next 6 months. Same routes, same driving, same gas station on Miller Lane. So either the thicker oil costs me real money or my car is just getting old. I can't tell if this is proof or just a coincidence and I don't want to pay for another oil change to test it. Did anyone else actually track this or am I the only weirdo with a mileage notebook?
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cameronn6212d ago
Man, I always brushed off the oil weight thing as internet nitpicking. I figured oil is oil and the manual just picks whatever helps them hit a number. Then I watched a buddy's mpg drop about 2 after his shop put 5W-30 in a car spec'd for 0W-20, and it went right back after the next change. Your numbers are pretty tight too, same route, same station, 2.4 mpg is not nothing over 6 months. The age thing is real but it wouldn't hit that fast unless something else changed. If I were you I'd go back to 0W-20 for one round and see if it climbs back. That notebook is doing more than most people's guessing.
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