Hi Jim;
Thank you for yet another great and very accurate article.
One thing I would like to add is that you do not need to choose Mobil 1 0W20 or another equally expensive 0W20 full-synthetic to get the many benefits this oil weight can offer.
If you own a Toyota or Honda you can get manufacturer branded 0W20 oil that is just $1-2$ more expensive than their regular oils and significantly less expensive than Mobil 1 0W20. This oil is usually referred to a "blend" and on most vehicles, offers most if not all of benefits of a fully synthetic at a lower price point.
With the tighter tolerances build into today's modern engines the 0W20 oil weight should not be just a requirement for hybrids any more. The bulk of the non-hybrid vehicles sold today as well as their owners (and us all) could benefit from a greater use of these blended 0W20 oils.
Again, we are talking about dramatically lower engine wear, better all year performance, particularly for the colder provinces... and significant improvements in fuel economy with equally lower emissions.
Finally, and as you stated: It is true that many good folks in the automotive service industry continue to advise against the use of 0W20 especially for winter time operation. This is not only sad but also an indicator that they lack the information and the inability to seek it out (if not for their own professional competency, at least for the benefit of their customers).
Cheers;
MSantos
