Winter Oil Changes?

[Bob]

We had a small dump of snow this weekend.

I cleaned Sparky off before the picture but my brother's is still playing hide and seek. But the question is, does anyone who deals with a Canadian winter change the oil they use in the winter? I'm running 5W20 Syntec right now... but should I be something even lighter for those winter start-ups?

[Jian]

5w-40 synthetic is good to -30f does it get colder than that?

[dunno513]

I love the snow.. I can't wait..

Unfortunately, most of the time we get crappy ice/snow and its a Biotch to clean off of the cars...

Thats it I'm moving north.....

[Fowvay]

Lets say its -40f/c outside and the car has been sitting all night.

Your engine will be extremly cold and you will need a 0W oil to get proper protection during start up.

Now you drive the car for 30 minutes. Its all warmed up. Heat is pumping. The cooling fan has come on a few times at lights. Your engine now needs a 40w oil.

Well that is what a 0W40 does. It gives you the correct flow of a thin oil at start up but the protection of a thick oil when hot.

Just because it is cold outside doesnt mean you should stop using a 40w oil.

That 5W20 doesnt flow any better when cold than a 5W40 it just gives you less protection once the engine warms up.

I have been running Mobil1 0W40 during the winter and 5W40 Pentosin or LubroMoly during the summer.

Tom aka Fowvay.

[hannaco]

Just a suggestion. Use Esso 0w-40 full synthetic oil year around. Easy to find at most Esso stations, and Canada Tire sometimes will carry it. A second choice would be PetroCanada Duron 0w-30.

[yodabug]

Originally Posted by Fowvay

Just because it is cold outside doesnt mean you should stop using a 40w oil.

That 5W20 doesnt flow any better when cold than a 5W40 it just gives you less protection once the engine warms up.


Tom aka Fowvay.

So if there were such a thing as 0W50 would that protect you better on a day that is 115*F than Ow40?

[Fowvay]

Originally Posted by yodabug

So if there were such a thing as 0W50 would that protect you better on a day that is 115*F than Ow40?

No. You wont need the 0 part on a 115* start up and unless you cooling system can not handle the 115* days You wont need the 50 part either.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by Fowvay

Lets say its -40f/c outside and the car has been sitting all night.

Your engine will be extremly cold and you will need a 0W oil to get proper protection during start up.

Now you drive the car for 30 minutes. Its all warmed up. Heat is pumping. The cooling fan has come on a few times at lights. Your engine now needs a 40w oil.

Well that is what a 0W40 does. It gives you the correct flow of a thin oil at start up but the protection of a thick oil when hot.

Just because it is cold outside doesnt mean you should stop using a 40w oil.

That 5W20 doesnt flow any better when cold than a 5W40 it just gives you less protection once the engine warms up.

I have been running Mobil1 0W40 during the winter and 5W40 Pentosin or LubroMoly during the summer.

Tom aka Fowvay.

You are using a block heater too right? Looks like I'll pick up some 0W40 thanks man

[Fowvay]

Originally Posted by Bob

You are using a block heater too right? Looks like I'll pick up some 0W40 thanks man

Nah... no block heater here. I have no place to hook it up to. The coldest temp we have ever seen is -21*F (-30c). Now if we saw regular winter temps of -40 to -80 (-62c) that would be an enterily different story.

Down to -40 a 0W40 will be plenty good.

[Bob]

Originally Posted by Fowvay

Nah... no block heater here. I have no place to hook it up to. The coldest temp we have ever seen is -21*F (-30c). Now if we saw regular winter temps of -40 to -80 (-62c) that would be an enterily different story.

Down to -40 a 0W40 will be plenty good.

My average winter temperature is -32 to -40 celsius, so Sparky's getting a block heater. He was always garaged before I got him, poor guy