10w40 in Winter

[bobfather99]

Question about my Dad's car.

Its a 2000 Park Avenue with the 3800 V6, currently running 10w40 Superflo. My dad drives about a 4 mile commute to work(school bus driver)

The oil only has about 900-1000 miles on it. Should I change it out before winter for a 10w30, or just leave it in??

 

[addyguy]

GM already specs 10W-30 as the grade to use in that car, so your 10W-40 isn't that much different than what is recommended - it is a bit thicker, but still meets the 10W cranking specs. There shouldn't be a problem at all......

 

[Drew99GT]

When was it last changed? With only a 4 mile commute, in cold temps, you need to start taking time into consideration. If it's taking 3 or 4 months to only rack up 1500 or so miles, then the oil will likely load up with contaminants (fuel and moisture).

Does he do any longer driving, like a weekly trip of say, 20 or 30 miles? That helps tremendously to burn out the crud.

So if the oil in there only has say 2 months on it, then I wouldn't worry about it, but if it's been like 4 months already, I'd let it go till it really starts getting cold, and switch to 5w-30, and continue using 5w-30 during the winter. It can get brutally cold in northwest Indiana - 10 degrees or more below 0, and you don't want to be running 10w-40 conventional in those temps IMO!

 

[Junior]

If I were going to the effort of changing it, I would go to a 5W30. That being said, in your location you should be fine.

Why the move to 10W40? Oil consumption?

 

[XCELERATIONRULES]

I would be using 5 w 30.

 

[Junior]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
It can get brutally cold in northwest Indiana - 10 degrees or more below 0,

Cold is just a matter of perspective. I find -10 to only be a minor inconvienence. Grew up in northern ND. Remember times when it wouldn't get above zero for a high for a couple weeks at a time. One just needs to be smart about travel.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: Junior
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
It can get brutally cold in northwest Indiana - 10 degrees or more below 0,

Cold is just a matter of perspective.


And it's also something that needs to be taken into consideration when choosing oil viscosity. The record low for northwest IN was -24 degrees F. No one knows when that'll ever happen again, but it's likely every year to get to between 0 and -10 degrees (it does here on average). I started my car at -15 with 10w-30 and an oil thickening additive (SLOB), and like I stated in a post I made about that morning, my engine sounded like a can full of BBs rolling down Mt. Everest!

 

[bobfather99]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
When was it last changed? With only a 4 mile commute, in cold temps, you need to start taking time into consideration. If it's taking 3 or 4 months to only rack up 1500 or so miles, then the oil will likely load up with contaminants (fuel and moisture).

Does he do any longer driving, like a weekly trip of say, 20 or 30 miles? That helps tremendously to burn out the crud.

So if the oil in there only has say 2 months on it, then I wouldn't worry about it, but if it's been like 4 months already, I'd let it go till it really starts getting cold, and switch to 5w-30, and continue using 5w-30 during the winter. It can get brutally cold in northwest Indiana - 10 degrees or more below 0, and you don't want to be running 10w-40 conventional in those temps IMO!

Oil was changed in mid-August. Its 10w40 Superflo with a Proline filter. I used the 10w40 because it was 99c/quart and the Proline was leftover from a BOGO sale. There are no consumption issues, and the intake has been repaired. Its driven once a week for about 20 miles to warm up, and to burn off fuel/moisture.

 

[Junior]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: Junior
Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
It can get brutally cold in northwest Indiana - 10 degrees or more below 0,

Cold is just a matter of perspective.


And it's also something that needs to be taken into consideration when choosing oil viscosity. The record low for northwest IN was -24 degrees F. No one knows when that'll ever happen again, but it's likely every year to get to between 0 and -10 degrees (it does here on average). I started my car at -15 with 10w-30 and an oil thickening additive (SLOB), and like I stated in a post I made about that morning, my engine sounded like a can full of BBs rolling down Mt. Everest!


Back when I was young and dumb, I used 10w40 and 10w30 in those ND winters and the engines survived. It's not like a few starts at -10 is going to cause an engine to blow up. I know it's not ideal and I agree, 5w30 would be better, I just don't see any reason to panic. Change to 5w30 the next time it is due which looks like would be about December (4 months).

 

[TallPaul]

I've run 10w40 Durablend and Maxlife Blend in winter here in Detroit, but we have a moderated winter that rarely gets below zero F. In your case, and it you really want to go 40 wt, a synthetic would be a good deal, why not try Synpower 5w40?

However, with a 4 mile commute, you could run 5w20 and it won't get warmed up enough in that distance so it will remain fairly thick. You definitely don't need a 40 wt in winter for that trip, and in summer 30 wt will be sufficient. Now if you are going to take long trips on occasion then go 30 wt winter and 30 or 40 summer.

 

[JHZR2]

30 vs 40 is irrelevant, that is an operating temp viscosity... its the 5 vs. 10w- number you should consider for cold starts. It is entirely dependant upon ambient temperatures.

 

[bobfather99]

Originally Posted By: Junior
Change to 5w30 the next time it is due which looks like would be about December (4 months).


Looks like a warm day in December for an oil change. Im thinking maybe RTS 5w40, so my Dad can run it til the end of school year(late May-early June) We'll see...

Thanks for the advice!!

 

[Lazy JW]

Every 10-40 oil I have tried gives noticeably slower cranking in winter than every 10-30 I have tried. Since joining BITOG I have now switched to 5-30 year 'round.
YMMV
Joe

 

[Audi Junkie]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
GM already specs 10W-30 as the grade to use in that car, so your 10W-40 isn't that much different than what is recommended - it is a bit thicker, but still meets the 10W cranking specs. There shouldn't be a problem at all......


10w-40 is quite thicker than 10w-30, I dunno what the reason for using it is, but I would not use it in winter if it could be avoided. As for the 10w "specs", although both oils meet it, the "spec" is different for the different grades. 10w-30 is quite a bit thinner at all temps than 10w-40 and would be prefered in your climate. Don't worry about changing until late Dec-Jan.

 

[Junior]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
30 vs 40 is irrelevant, that is an operating temp viscosity... its the 5 vs. 10w- number you should consider for cold starts. It is entirely dependant upon ambient temperatures.


Compare the viscosities of 5W20 vs. 5W40 from -35C to 40 C The 5W40 will be thicker at every temperature point except at maybe -35 where they could be close to the same.

 

[oilyriser]

At this rate, the engine will wear out in... 103 years. I'd also use 5w30. Even if it burns or leaks some, it still needs to come out every 6 months to keep things clean.