Well I'd switch over to 10w30 if that's the best thing to do because I don't want to cause any harm down the road. However, if I'm going to be opening up a problem like consuming oil or smoking heavily and have to do a ring job...I'd rather put that off.

I don't think my motors hurt other than having 200+ thousand miles. I have 50 lbs of oil pressure when I'm driving and no knocks or ticks. I notice it smoking a bit under acceleration and when I let it idle for a while. I can deal with that though. It ALWAYS takes two cranks of the starter to fire up, but it's consistant.

I've put off my oil change for today since I was trying to get my pop's old log splitter humming for father's day. But tomorrow I will be changing the oil.

SO...should I buy 10w30 and see what happens or stick with what the PO has been running in it (20w50)? Mostly city driving and light off-roading occasionally on the weekends.

 

For $15-$20 why don't u just try 6 qts of 5W30 and a new filter and then make you're own decision. Also, did you read Motor Oil 101? That article is written by an expert and there's no oil myths in his write-up. Seems like there's more oil myths than facts on the Internet these days.

http://www.supramania.com/aehaas/