5W30 or 0W40

[lightrider]

Keeping your car in a garage helps the car and oil last longer. A garage is helpful at cold start because the car is not as cold (as outdoors). I think if the garage is at least 50F it's good. 65-68F is ideal.

My climate is wet 5-7 months a year, and cool in winter. Sometimes cold in winter. High humidity year round.

When I used to parked my car outdoors I had constant brake problems from rusty rotors, battery didn't last as long, and oil became wet and dirty within a year (or less). I was doing short hop city driving weekdays and a highway drive 1 or 2 times a month.

Now I have a garage and drive less. Still mostly short hop city driving and a highway drive once a month. A tank of gas now lasts 4.5 months.

My garage is ¾ underground and is passively heated by the earth, and by whatever heat leaks into it from my house floor. My garage never gets colder than 55F, never hotter than 75F. It's usually around 65-70F.

My brake rotors last a lot longer now (and work better) because they don't rust. No more electrical problems because the air is dry enough. Battery lasts years longer (with trickle charger and no real cold starts). Motor oil now lasts 3-5 years because it's not driven much and never gets a cold start colder than 60F, usually 65-70F.

Point being... Keeping your car in a garage is extremely helpful, especially if the garage doesn't get colder than 40-50F. Ideally 60-68F. For some garages that might require an active heat source. Whether the cost of electricity to heat your garage is worth it is your choice. If it needs active heating, it would cost a lot less to keep the garage in the 40s or 50s than to keep it warmer.

The car battery will last longest if stored anywhere from 50-68F. Easiest on starter is 50+, ideally 65+. Warmer the better for starter. Easiest on oil is 55-75F, IMO. Windshield wipers and paint last many years longer. Brake rotors and electrical wiring connections don't care about temp, but do benefit from being dry and in less humidity. Heating a garage tends to somewhat dry the air.

In my case, I don't need to use any electricity to heat my garage because it's passively heated for free. I'm lucky.

Addendum...I always put a battery maintainer/ "trickle charger" on the battery. Works fine. Brand of charger is "Schumacher"

 

[Carlostrece]

Same here. Short trips store & back etc. And every month I do an "Italian Tune up" LOL

What temp range inside your garage in winter? I suggest keeping your garage 50F if cost of heating is a concern. If heating cost is not a concern, then mid to high 50s is better. In the 60s is best. Ideal is 65-68F.

But of course you have to balance heating cost against benefits to car. If heating cost is a concern, then 50F is adequate to benefit the car. Even 40F is helpful compared to sub freezing temps.

 

[Carlostrece]

Addendum...I always put a battery maintainer/ "trickle charger" on the battery. Works fine. Brand of charger is "Schumacher"

How old is your Schumacher trickle charger?

Prior to 3 months ago, I used a 30 year old Schumacher trickle charger. Then I upgraded to a new Battery Minder brand trickle charger that is much nicer and works much better.

If your Schumacher is old, I suggest upgrading. If your Schumacher is newish (within 5 years) then it's good enough.

 

[lightrider]

How old is your Schumacher trickle charger?

Prior to 3 months ago, I used a 30 year old Schumacher trickle charger. Then I upgraded to a new Battery Minder brand trickle charger that is much nicer and works much better.

If your Schumacher is old, I suggest upgrading. If your Schumacher is newish (within 5 years) then it's good enough.

Schumacher is about 3 years old. Works like a charm so far! (See photo below) Thanks for your reply!!

 

[Carlostrece]

Schumacher is about 3 years old. Works like a charm so far! (See photo below) Thanks for your reply!!

View attachment 304572

OK. That's a modern, computer controlled Schumaker.

 

[live_to_hunt]

i run Valvoline Advanced 5w30 in our hyundai I do 3 months 3000 mile changes.. so far so good its what I do. Car is at 80k miles

 

[lightrider]

i run Valvoline Advanced 5w30 in our hyundai I do 3 months 3000 mile changes.. so far so good its what I do. Car is at 80k miles

Does your Hyundai have a turbo?? Model & year?