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Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:13 pm
by supa_fox
Hey again y'all
I have searched a little bit on the site, and without getting to specific on oil types.... what is the best oil weight I can run for the winter time?
its -30 in cowtown right now, im due for an oil change, and wondering if a lighter oil might be better for the bitter temps? I would drop down a notch on our townace and it helped with the cold starts a fair bit.
Advice?
side note, we were at -31 this morning,,, and with a bit of grumpiness, the deli started up... much to my surprise,,, I had counted on taking a bus to work! even my wifes TDI golf was pissy at her this morning... pretty happy with the performance of the deli... our townace would have to have been coddled for 2 days to start in weather like this!
Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:51 pm
by jessef
0W40 if it's constant -20 or lower
5W40 if it's hover below 0 to -15 at most.
When it warms up above 0, switch to 5W40, above 5-10 switch to 15W40.
Synthetic is your friend. Oil changes every 4k.

Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 9:31 am
by supa_fox
hmmm
so what do you use in calgary where the temps go from -30 to 15 within a day or two?
Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 11:03 am
by tonydca
You don't. You move out here to the Wet Coast where we all pee our pants when it hits -10

Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 11:40 am
by jessef
supa_fox wrote:hmmm
so what do you use in calgary where the temps go from -30 to 15 within a day or two?
0W40
Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 8:00 pm
by mac_stang
there are few choices for diesels. that being said 15-40 is Diesel specific, it does not break down due to soot contamination nearly as quick as a conventional oil. Just do what the rest of the diesel driving world does and get a block heater.(thats what they do in the arctic)
Brad.
Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 12:48 am
by dasein
I run 0W40 year round. At the Shell card lock, the price of 0W40 is slightly cheaper than the 5W40. The 0W40 is a PAO base stock: this is good, don't worry about what it means...
The 5W40 is a group III synthetic, not as good.
I buy the Esso XD3 extra 0W40, $7.40 per litre. Now, it has been replaced by Delvac 1 0W40. Same price, supposedly the same product.
I go 10,000 KM per change, cost for my L400 is around $90. I change in 5000 KM if I can't get 0W40 and have to use 15W40. Price for that change is $40. I ski a lot, so cold weather performance is important to me. It sure starts easier in the cold with the 0W40.
If you want to see something interesting, put a cup of 15W40, 5W40, and 0W40 in your deep freeze overnight. You will be buying the 0W40 if you operate in cold temps, believe me.
I did this with little applesauce cups from single serving apple sauce containers. The 15W40 would not pour, the 5W40 was like molasses, and the 0W40 was pretty much the same as it was at room temp.
Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 9:09 am
by supa_fox
I think your right, the end solution would be to move to the coast.... anybody want to swap a house in calgary for a house in vancouver ;)
Brad, got an inline heater put in, it helps, but a day in the mountains, or parking on the street for work will find me without a plug in for it... not to mention, my wife takes the sweet parking spot right in front of the house since she gets home from work before me... im stuck parking down the block, and the deli wont even come close to fitting in the garage!
Dasein, thats great advice, wicked idea to test them out in the deep freeze like that!
0W40 is what I think I will try, I usually go 5K between oil changes with synthetic, should I look at doing it sooner with the lighter weight oil? does the turbo break down a lighter oil faster?
cheers
Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 12:00 am
by dasein
A PAO base stock syn can go much further than 10K and is designed for turbo diesel engines in heavy transports. Go 10,000 k, otherwise you are wasting a lot of money.
Some transports have run Delvac 1 with and oil analysis program and run 100,000 k on an oil change.
Don't believe me? Google Delvac 1 extended drain interval, or delvac one base stock. I think that is where i found the delvac one extended drain info page.
Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:04 am
by supa_fox
I went with mobile1 out of convenience, no one seems to have much in the way of 0w40, the lubromoly was special order only from the auto value warehouse and was 15$ a litre!
The start up was a lot easier already, glad I went lighter!
any comments on the mobile1 stuff?
Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 12:22 pm
by Pajerist
Mobile1 is a great stuff. Is it particular for diesel? And $15/L is ouch!
I am going to get Shell Rotella T6 5W40. $38 for 4L, do your math...
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/4 ... QAWidgetID
Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 3:46 pm
by Pajerist
Well, I knew Crappy Tire has no trust...just dropped by the store listed Shell Rotella T6 5W40 in stock on their website. Of course, not in your life...bought Shell Rotella T5 0W40 SB=synthetic blend which is not "fully synthetic" as Shell Rotella T6 5W40 but for the same price...

Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 4:20 am
by dasein
supa_fox wrote:I went with mobile1 out of convenience, no one seems to have much in the way of 0w40, the lubromoly was special order only from the auto value warehouse and was 15$ a litre!
The start up was a lot easier already, glad I went lighter!
any comments on the mobile1 stuff?
I don't believe Mobil One carries a diesel engine rating (CL-4or CL-5). Not good stuff for your deli.
Delvac one is what you want. I can sell it to you for $8 per litre, 50 cents more than I get it at the cardlock for, but if you go to the cardlock, you should be able to get it for $7.50. Any Esso Cardlock, but they will likely have to order it, takes a day or two.
Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 12:11 pm
by supa_fox
dasein, where are you located?
I got this from the mobile one website for 0w40
Applications
Mobil 1 0W-40 is recommended for all types of modern vehicles, especially high-performance turbo-charged, supercharged gasoline and diesel multi-valve fuel injected engines found in passenger cars, SUVs, light vans and trucks.
Mobil 1 0W-40 meets or exceeds the requirements of: 0W-40
API SM/SL/SJ/CF X
ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4 X
I will switch for the next change to the delvac, in the mean time, this looks ok?
Re: Cold Weather oil weight
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:48 am
by eldercaddy
Hi Pajerist. I think that Mobile1 is particular for diesel but 15$/L is so much. I will calculate it.