5w20 used instead of 5w30 - now have front main seal or oil pan leak

Shop used 5w20 oil instead of 5w30 at last oil change on my 2010 4.0L V6 and now 4000 miles later it seams I have an oil leak coming from either my front main seal or oil pan. I have never had a problem with this truck and not sure if it's just in my head or if the seals are breaking down and causing the leak.

Thoughts?

 

Highly unlikely the oil caused the leak. I'd consider that a coincidence.... IMHO

 

This^^^

 

Clean it all up and verify that it isn't the notorious timing cover leak at the top of the passenger side front of the engine.

 

Probably not the oils fault from just one fill-up. But why are you not using 5w30 oil? Your oil choice seems a little out of spec to me.

 

Read the post again. He said shop used 5w20 instead of 5w30. Think he intended for them to install 5w30.

 

Thanks holeshot, I missed that part. Yea, if you regularly run 5w30 then you're fine. New or used doesn't really matter.

Sounds like one of those "coincidences".

 

Had the same thing happen on my 2015 at the first "free" oil change at the dealer. Got home and looked closer at my service ticket and saw 5w20 installed. Took truck back to dealer and they immediately moved my truck to front of service line and changed to 5w30 while I watched to see it done correctly.
Glad I reviewed my service ticket or invoice and spotted error right away.

 

The oil wouldn't have caused the leak. It may be that the gasket or seal was already compromised, and by using a slightly thinner oil it started to seap through under hot engine conditions.

You could try and clean the area and change the oil back to the regular 5-30 and see if it stops. Of course it will start to leak again at some point as the gasket or seal gets worse, or just continue to leak with a heavier weight oil.