A PAO morning

[2.7ecoboostFordBronco]

I had to startup a Bronco at about -28C with Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-30 on the 8th. It had been sitting out in this for about 6 days as I had to make a business trip to Asia. The cranking was somewhat labored and it took a second or two longer than usual for the engine to start, but it did. We have it easy compared to Fairbanks (300 miles north) that was seeing -45C in this same time period. I should probably be using 0W oil but am dealing with it to see if this Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-30 has any noticeable impact on the engine deposits I have observed. 4,000 miles in and not really. 5W is just viable for my local climate but the inland areas become off limits in winter without a block heater.

Another owner in our local Bronco group reported that he somehow lost 2/3rd of his oil and into limp mode on a 100 mile drive in -45C, even with the vehicle being on the block heater before starting the drive, I'm waiting to hear what the solution was, but he was on the Motorcraft 5W-30 blend.

 

[D1dad]

I keep all 3 of my cars on battery minders or Pulsetechs, basically all newish batteries. My oldest car, 2018 has valvoline advance and struggles more than the 21 and 24 that have Schaefers. All 0w20. I guess I can chalk it up to an older started versus the valvoline…maybe.

 

[goingplacesanddoingstuff]

My Pathfinder has HPL 0w-30 in it and my CX-30 has Castrol Edge 5w-30 in it. The Pathfinder is noticeably easier to start in this 0F weather.

 

[IndyIan]

We had -32C on Saturday morning at our place and I was wondering how the Impreza would do with Mobil 1 5W30, and a new-ish cheap discount battery(previous owner) would do? Turned over much slower than normal, but fired up on all four with maybe an extra second before the oil pressure light went off. A minute later we drove away keeping the rpms low for a couple miles.

In our area, it is almost always dead calm to get into the -30's range, and then usually bright sun, so its not bad outside at all. We went skiing and for our little hill, just a thin face covering is fine to keep frostbite away the windchill for our short runs, and then the chair lift faces the sun.

 

[Hohn]

GTL also has no waxes, so it can deliver some of the PAO-like cranking ability until you’re colder than the 0w delineation.

Some PAOs can achieve something like a -5w or -10w if those grades existed.

I wish SAE would consider adding 00w and 000w winter grades, just dropping the test points for each linearly. This would really highlight the difference in oils in extreme cold.

I’ll be getting the opportunity to acid test my 15w-40 HPL PCMO as the GX has to park outside during this storm due to extenuating circumstances. Tomorrow should be the coldest crank I’ve attempted yet on the 15w.

Also, I grabbed several bottles of thicker oils and set them out back. I’ll do a pour test tomorrow of: HPL 15w-40, HPL SAE 40, VR1 20w-50, Valvoline Advanced 20w-50, and Delo XSP 15w-40. The 0w-30 ESP will provide the 0w reference for our contrast.

View attachment 321418

This oils are still sitting on that chair, but it's crazy cold and they're under a foot of snow. Might get to it later today.

 

[Hohn]

GTL also has no waxes, so it can deliver some of the PAO-like cranking ability until you’re colder than the 0w delineation.

Some PAOs can achieve something like a -5w or -10w if those grades existed.

I wish SAE would consider adding 00w and 000w winter grades, just dropping the test points for each linearly. This would really highlight the difference in oils in extreme cold.

I’ll be getting the opportunity to acid test my 15w-40 HPL PCMO as the GX has to park outside during this storm due to extenuating circumstances. Tomorrow should be the coldest crank I’ve attempted yet on the 15w.

Also, I grabbed several bottles of thicker oils and set them out back. I’ll do a pour test tomorrow of: HPL 15w-40, HPL SAE 40, VR1 20w-50, Valvoline Advanced 20w-50, and Delo XSP 15w-40. The 0w-30 ESP will provide the 0w reference for our contrast.

View attachment 321418

Well, better late than never? I almost forgot about my oil in the porch, but I wanted to pour them before it got warmer. It was about 15f when I poured them, having sat outside for a week and overnight in the snow with a 5F morning low. My patio is north facing and well shaded in winter.

 

[OVERKILL]

Only -16C today and the Jeep almost didn't start, so I think I need a new battery. The remote start has been temperamental this winter and I'm guessing that's why. Original battery, but I expected to get more than 6 years out of it.

New battery solved everything, remote start now works when it's -20C again.

 

[Chief2025]

It was -28C here this morning, although a bit warmer in the garage. Crosstrek did fine with whatever 0W-20 oil the dealer put in there, although it cranked pretty slow.

Get battery warming blanket........cranking will greatly improve

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

I thought it was colder than normal in Ontario until I saw the ramp lead marshalling us in to park in the Bahamas…. with a winter ski jacket on.

Lots of snow on the ground heading south for almost 1 hour looking out the window.

It’s been a long, cold, snowy winter.