May car manual states that 5w30 oil should be used but I am using GC 0w-30. Will the 0w provide enough protection at cold/hot start up?
0W Oil Question
- Thread starter yankees1
- Start date
- Status
Both a 0w30 and a 5w30 are 30-weight oils at full operating temperatures. GC will provide plenty of cold or hot start-up protection for your engine. No worries.
Greetings. I'm new to the site. I'm a mechanical engineer and ASE Master & L1 working at Shell/Pennzoil/Quaker State R&D in Houston.
The 0w30 and 5w30 are the same vis (theoretically) at 100C as previously stated and the 0W should provide better cold performance compared to a 5W. But don't forget that the 0w30 may have a higher volatility compared to a 5W or it may be better if you compare a conventional versus a blend versus a full synthetic. Also depending on the basestocks, the 0w30 may contain more VI improver which, dependng on the VI improver, may shear more resulting in viscosity breakdown.
Just something else to consider.
The 0w30 and 5w30 are the same vis (theoretically) at 100C as previously stated and the 0W should provide better cold performance compared to a 5W. But don't forget that the 0w30 may have a higher volatility compared to a 5W or it may be better if you compare a conventional versus a blend versus a full synthetic. Also depending on the basestocks, the 0w30 may contain more VI improver which, dependng on the VI improver, may shear more resulting in viscosity breakdown.
Just something else to consider.
Patman
Staff member
First of all, welcome to the site Ferndog!
In the case of the German Castrol 0w30, because of the extremely good base oil they use, it does not contain any VI improvers, which is why this oil will retain it's viscosity very well in long drain intervals, unlike a lot of 0w30s which like you mentioned, would thin out quite easily.
In the case of the German Castrol 0w30, because of the extremely good base oil they use, it does not contain any VI improvers, which is why this oil will retain it's viscosity very well in long drain intervals, unlike a lot of 0w30s which like you mentioned, would thin out quite easily.
I'm not as confident as Patman about whether GC has VI improvers, but from used oil analysis posted here, it is clear that shearing is not a problem. I use it..my manual also says 5W30 only.
- Status
Similar threads
