20w60 in a cold climate

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I had an interesting email from a guy with a story about using 20w60 of all things in Australia's alpine region. Well he had problems at a reported ambient temperature of -2C, had to push/roll the car to the base of the mountain and let it warm up a little before he could start the car and drive off. He was under the impression that a 20w was suitable for climates down to -15C and that the oil must have been defective. It's obviously not ideal, but I would have thought there would not be a problem at -2C. Could it possibly be too much to ask of a 20w60 or was the oil indeed defective? From what he was saying the stuff was like glue at -2C from testing it in the fridge.

Now from my Toyota owners manual, -7C is the minimum suitable temperature for 20w50. He said he tried another brand and 20w50 and did not have any problems after that so that was proof the oil was defective.
 
IMO, the person you mention did not think his oil choice thru. Also, while we don't have all the specs on the oils in question, a 20W60 will be thicker at all temps than a 20W50. The difference may be enough that one has a problem and the other doesn't. The guy ought to be using a 5W30 but given the Aussie mindset towards heavy oils, perhaps a 10W40 would be as far as he could force himself to go but it would be a HUGE improvement in cold starting over a 20W60 or 20W50.
 
25W-70 started in my Camira wagon at 800(ish) metres, and -7C, as did 20W-50 (+STP) in all of my Holdens in my mis-spent youth.

20W-50, and 20W-40 were nearly the only choices available in the 80s, and cars in the alps started every time.

If he was using (for want of example) Gulf Western, of which the 20W-50 becomes solid in my freezer, then...he probably chose the wrong price point and specs.
 
20w60 is not for sub zero temps. Ozzies
lol.gif
 
Originally Posted By: Jim Allen
The guy ought to be using a 5W30 but given the Aussie mindset towards heavy oils, perhaps a 10W40 would be as far as he could force himself to go but it would be a HUGE improvement in cold starting over a 20W60 or 20W50.


10w40? Don't expect too much change at once, 15w40 may be as far as he would be willing to go.
 
At first: What is a guy from Melbourne doing posting about the Austrian Alps?

Upon further review: Alps in Australia?

Finally: 20W anything in this day and age for what is basically a coastal climate?

Always enjoy reading about Oz. It is a beautiful country with entertaining people.
 
Originally Posted By: DoiInthanon
At first: What is a guy from Melbourne doing posting about the Austrian Alps?

Upon further review: Alps in Australia?

Finally: 20W anything in this day and age for what is basically a coastal climate?

Always enjoy reading about Oz. It is a beautiful country with entertaining people.


It does get cold in certain parts of the country, and there are well developed ski resorts. They attract a certain amount of foreign tourists because the seasons are reversed compared to the Northern Hemisphere.

http://www.aussiesnow.com.au/chains.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skiing_in_Victoria,_Australia

I've been to the a couple of coastal cities during late May/early July, and the cities were temperate like the San Francisco Bay Area or San Diego. However, we took a train overnight from Sydney to Melbourne with the heat not working in our car, and it was very, very cold. I'm guessing overnight temps were maybe in the high 30s F.
 
Originally Posted By: Miller88
If I lived there, I would be forced to use the following for motor oil:

80w90 for winter
85w140 for summer!


That's pretty much the equivalent of 20W50 and 20W60!

If he could find it, Syntec 20W50 would be cool.
 
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