Hello BITOG,
Long time listener 1st time caller,
In my everlasting quest to find the right answer to my question I find myself once again here. I have searched through these wonderful forums time and time again but, to no avail. The burning question I can't seem to shake is from a personal experience I have had for the past 3 years. Ever since I moved to the central highlands here in Mexico I have maintained an evelation anywhere from 5000ft to 8000ft which I know isn't much but, has caused numorus problems for me and my truck which a 2003 Ford Explorer 4.6 Romeo stock. I start from the begining if u don't mind.
When I first ventured out here to this vast unknown land I came prepared and being the type the goes strictly by the "God Sent" owners manual, after having some bad experiences already before by doing otherwise, I really had no choice. On my trip down here I brought with me 19 quarts of 5w 20 which is what is factory spec'd. I figured it would take me some time before I would find a legitimate point of sale. As I drove down here the trip through the U.S (1,800 miles Pennsylvania to Texas) went without a hitch. Crossing the boarder into Mexico nothing really changed except the roads, it wasn't until I got past Monterrey, Mx that I started to notice something. At 1000ft and climbing the overheated transmission light came on telling me to stop and turn the truck off. Being the believer that I am I quickly obliged. After about an 45 minutes or so I restarted my truck to see that the indicator light had turned off. Seeing that my truck was no longer complaining I got back on the road to continue with my trip. I drove down Mexico 54 through Zacatecas which is almost 8000ft with out a problem but, once I started to climb Los Altos de Jalisco after Zacatecas is where I got the dreaded overheated transmission light once again. Now this was the case for next 15,000 miles anytime I would ascend for more then 30 minutes I would get the overheated transmission light. I did my research trying to figure out what was the problem and first thought that the transmission was to blame. I quickly realized that the transmission was not at fault. The transmissions vacuum is the same as the engines. What I did notice but never thought it would make a difference is that my engine would harder then normal such as revving higher up the RPM band just to get it's momentum going. I completely attributed this to the loss of power at 8000ft (less oxygen) and realized that this is only partly true. It felt as if I had no type of torque what so ever.
So then one day while at Autozone in Uruapan, Mich I see some Lucas Oil Treatment and being the big fan I am of it, decide to try some for old time sake. Well, I'm not too sure which one I bought either the synthetic or non synthetic the results were astounding! I mean as soon as I applied the treatment I immediately noticed an increase in torque. It was like I had gained twice the torque with this stuff. Needless to say I knew that the Lucas Oil Treatment had something to do with this new found power. As returned home and ascended up the road to 8000ft I could feel that my truck was no longer struggling like before. It would pull itself up the road with purpose like never before and wouldn't you believe it, the overheated transmission light has never come back on since! That was about little over 2 years (25,000 miles) ago now and I have used 15w 40 dino ever since that day for that fact it was similar to what 5w 20 and Lucas Oil Treatment would've been if it were an oil (I think?).
It did seem a little difficult to find 5w 20 here in Mexico because most of Mexico uses heavier grade oils but, was available none the less. I do find it interesting how almost this whole country uses this stuff (heavier grade oils). But who I'm I to question this country's established traditions? I mean it worked for me? Now in the case where majority rules I guess this is open and shut case. But something keeps bothering me even after these past 2 years.
And now to the biggest question of my life! Why did this happen? Everybody (including here) says this is not possible! "Higher Viscosity is bad" I have never understood how this happen or why it happen, point is it did HAPPEN and I am living proof.
I am a bit concerned (hence my post) about oil startup and higher viscosities not being particularly healthy for an engine. I have been thinking about using a full synthetic 5w 40 but, worried about it's age and use (103,000 on the clock) carbon deposits, compression and gunk that maybe leftover from the dino oil. And I guess before I get into anything else, I need to find out why switching over to a higher viscosity in my case gave me the described results?
I do appreciate everybody's time in reading my post and hope I come to some type of conclusion and please, any type of theory will be gladly accepted.
Thank you again,
Sincerely,
Testdr2
Long time listener 1st time caller,
In my everlasting quest to find the right answer to my question I find myself once again here. I have searched through these wonderful forums time and time again but, to no avail. The burning question I can't seem to shake is from a personal experience I have had for the past 3 years. Ever since I moved to the central highlands here in Mexico I have maintained an evelation anywhere from 5000ft to 8000ft which I know isn't much but, has caused numorus problems for me and my truck which a 2003 Ford Explorer 4.6 Romeo stock. I start from the begining if u don't mind.
When I first ventured out here to this vast unknown land I came prepared and being the type the goes strictly by the "God Sent" owners manual, after having some bad experiences already before by doing otherwise, I really had no choice. On my trip down here I brought with me 19 quarts of 5w 20 which is what is factory spec'd. I figured it would take me some time before I would find a legitimate point of sale. As I drove down here the trip through the U.S (1,800 miles Pennsylvania to Texas) went without a hitch. Crossing the boarder into Mexico nothing really changed except the roads, it wasn't until I got past Monterrey, Mx that I started to notice something. At 1000ft and climbing the overheated transmission light came on telling me to stop and turn the truck off. Being the believer that I am I quickly obliged. After about an 45 minutes or so I restarted my truck to see that the indicator light had turned off. Seeing that my truck was no longer complaining I got back on the road to continue with my trip. I drove down Mexico 54 through Zacatecas which is almost 8000ft with out a problem but, once I started to climb Los Altos de Jalisco after Zacatecas is where I got the dreaded overheated transmission light once again. Now this was the case for next 15,000 miles anytime I would ascend for more then 30 minutes I would get the overheated transmission light. I did my research trying to figure out what was the problem and first thought that the transmission was to blame. I quickly realized that the transmission was not at fault. The transmissions vacuum is the same as the engines. What I did notice but never thought it would make a difference is that my engine would harder then normal such as revving higher up the RPM band just to get it's momentum going. I completely attributed this to the loss of power at 8000ft (less oxygen) and realized that this is only partly true. It felt as if I had no type of torque what so ever.
So then one day while at Autozone in Uruapan, Mich I see some Lucas Oil Treatment and being the big fan I am of it, decide to try some for old time sake. Well, I'm not too sure which one I bought either the synthetic or non synthetic the results were astounding! I mean as soon as I applied the treatment I immediately noticed an increase in torque. It was like I had gained twice the torque with this stuff. Needless to say I knew that the Lucas Oil Treatment had something to do with this new found power. As returned home and ascended up the road to 8000ft I could feel that my truck was no longer struggling like before. It would pull itself up the road with purpose like never before and wouldn't you believe it, the overheated transmission light has never come back on since! That was about little over 2 years (25,000 miles) ago now and I have used 15w 40 dino ever since that day for that fact it was similar to what 5w 20 and Lucas Oil Treatment would've been if it were an oil (I think?).
It did seem a little difficult to find 5w 20 here in Mexico because most of Mexico uses heavier grade oils but, was available none the less. I do find it interesting how almost this whole country uses this stuff (heavier grade oils). But who I'm I to question this country's established traditions? I mean it worked for me? Now in the case where majority rules I guess this is open and shut case. But something keeps bothering me even after these past 2 years.
And now to the biggest question of my life! Why did this happen? Everybody (including here) says this is not possible! "Higher Viscosity is bad" I have never understood how this happen or why it happen, point is it did HAPPEN and I am living proof.
I am a bit concerned (hence my post) about oil startup and higher viscosities not being particularly healthy for an engine. I have been thinking about using a full synthetic 5w 40 but, worried about it's age and use (103,000 on the clock) carbon deposits, compression and gunk that maybe leftover from the dino oil. And I guess before I get into anything else, I need to find out why switching over to a higher viscosity in my case gave me the described results?
I do appreciate everybody's time in reading my post and hope I come to some type of conclusion and please, any type of theory will be gladly accepted.
Thank you again,
Sincerely,
Testdr2
