5-40 too thin in this warm weather?

[chrisbouchard]

switched to 5-40 synthetic for winter time, but its doesnt seem to be very wintery out... taking 6 full grown men from vernon to whistler this afternoon over the duffy, wondering if I need to worry about the oil being too thin to do its job. any need to worry?

[jessef]

No need to worry.

Lots of oil burners run 5w40 Synthetic year round.

[chrisbouchard]

thanks dude, good to know!


Happy olympics everyone, let the madness begin!

[chrisbouchard]

OK i know this post is old but It is now getting into the 20's in the okanagan now...

at what temps do i need to worry about changing to a heavier weight oil?

also, I have heard rumours that synthetic oils can be ran for 10,000 km,s instead of the usual 5k, any truth to this? I spent a 100 bucks on the last oil change and intend on getting every last dollar out of it!


-Chris.

[FalcoColumbarius]

I have heard from a very venerable diesel sage that it is better to use lower grade oil and change often than to use higher grade oil (including synthetic) and not change as often...........

How many kilometres are you at?

Falco.

[konadog]

If you start seeing drops under yer bus switch back to 15 40. And I'm with you Falco - changing oil is a good thing - more often is better...

[fexlboi]

Changing oil is a good thing - more often is better...

Except you have a bypass filter

[jessef]

I'm running 5w40 synthetic year round and change every 4k.

[fexlboi]

I'm running 5w40 synthetic year round and change every 4k.

Do you change it again in summer or can you use it (5w40) all year around?

As for the 15w40. I switch back in spring/summer.

Why can't you use the other oil also in the summer?

Too light viscosity. In the summer months, these little 4 cyl diesels need heavy oil.

Is there anything new in terms of engine oil I have missed? Your opinion about 5W40 was a little bit different a while ago.

[EnviroImports.com]

If you can wear shorts and a t shirt outside all day, its time to go back to 15w40

[thedjjack]

From the L300 Manual in the download section:
Edited to the 4G5 oil picture.

[jessef]

I'm running 5w40 synthetic year round and change every 4k.

Do you change it again in summer or can you use it (5w40) all year around?

As for the 15w40. I switch back in spring/summer.

Why can't you use the other oil also in the summer?

Too light viscosity. In the summer months, these little 4 cyl diesels need heavy oil.

Is there anything new in terms of engine oil I have missed? Your opinion about 5W40 was a little bit different a while ago.

Let me rephrase.

L300 I switched over to 15w40 in June/July.

L400 I didn't switch and continued running 5w40 Rotella Synth since last year. No leaks and ran/runs like a top.

[thedjjack]

I just picked up 18.9L of Rotella 15W-40 for $66.00 at (I hate to say it) Walmart. That is about $3.50/L.

That should cover my summer oil changes.

[Erebus]

I'm thinking that graph of temperatures looks like it is for the gas engine.

Let's be clear on what the two numbers mean.

5W40 means it will have a viscosity of 5 when the oil is at ambient temperatures, and 40 when the engine is up to operating temperature.

15W40 means it will have a viscosity of 15 when the oil is at ambient temperatures, and 40 when the engine is up to operating temperature.

So, when the engine has warmed up, there will be NO DIFFERENCE. Hence you can run 5W40 all rear round, as I plan to do from now on. Given that daytime high temperatures here in Calgary can vary from 0 one day to 25 the next, one can't really do the winter/summer routine.

Unless you have oil leaks from bad seals, staying at 5W40 avoids having to schedule your oil changes to match the seasons.

And from everything I've heard, synthetics can go much longer between changes. Whether you do it is you choice. Oil changes are cheaper than new engines.

Just my two cents.