AK Cold weather, Zinc,HM, 40 wt...compromise

Pennzoil motor oil
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jayg

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Hello all. I recently relocated to Anchorage AK from Atlanta GA and thinking about (and over thinking) oil for my land cruiser. '91 4.0 3fe ancient tractor motor. 208k miles. Stock 4.11 gears on 35 inch mud terrain tires so the motor is working hard. Currently it has Valvoline 5w30 conventional in it and is great for our warm summer right now however it seems to get a little better oil pressure with a 40wt.( Still fine with the 30 though.)

Here's what I'm trying to do: Find an oil that's suitable year round that has lots of zinc, in a 40 wt, with great cold weather performance, AND a high mileage formula to "possibly" combat some of the very minor weep/leaks I have before they get worse.

I have a block heater(freeze plug style)/oil pan heater/and battery blanket for winter and overnight it will be plugged in most nights but not all. I drive all over the state so overnight lows could be -50 F below outside of Fairbanks/Tok/Eagle in the interior and I may or may not have a place to plug in.

Ideally if Mobil 1 just made a high mileage 0w40 I wouldn't be making this post. Zinc over 1000 ppm already, excellent cold weather performance and a 40 wt at operating temp. It just doesn't have the high mileage additives that I'd like to start seeing if they can help the seals.

Mobil 1 10w40 HM has high zinc over 1000 ppm, 40wt, high mileage additives, low pour point from being Full Synthetic yet still I wish it was a 0w40 or 5w40.

Defy 10w40 has the zinc, high mileage additives, but cold weather I'm worried about.

Maxlife 10w40 doesn't have the zinc over 1000ppm, but a 40 wt with high mileage and still worried about cold weather startup.

You can see my thought process here and I'm hoping some of the gurus on here can help me narrow it down.

Thanks
 
I'd go with the Mobil 1 0w40 and live with the leaks. A lot of oil comes out of Alaska's ground, what's a little going back in?
laugh.gif
 
Amsoil Z-Rod 10w30?

Its a thick 3.6 HTHS oil with high-zink & phos.

-49F pour point, and NOACK of 5.0%.

or Mobil 1 0w40. It wont have high ZDDP though. but should do well in the cold.

Another option is Mobil 1 5w30 HM which will Be SL rated and carry more ZDDP than an SN/SM oil. It is a "thicker" 30wt as well. The pour point isn't as impressive as the Z-Rod, however.
 
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Originally Posted By: donnyj08


or Mobil 1 0w40. It wont have high ZDDP though. but should do well in the cold.

Another option is Mobil 1 5w30 HM which will Be SL rated and carry more ZDDP than an SN/SM oil. It is a "thicker" 30wt as well. The pour point isn't as impressive as the Z-Rod, however.


Mobil 1 0w40 and Mobil 1 10w40 HM both have over 1000 ppm per Mobils website.

The Hm 10w40 Mobil 1 has a low pour point as well at -42 I believe.

The Amsoil is a good candidate to consider as well. Thanks.



Also this truck has an 8.3 qt oil capacity as well to think about.
 
Originally Posted By: Danno
You may not have a place to plug in at -50?

Good luck ...

Seriously consider a hydronic heater.

http://www.esparofmichigan.com/techsupport/pdfs/Hydronic 4-5/Hydronic4_5.pdf

Deal with these folks all the time. Recommended.


May not but probably will if I'm in Fairbanks. I was outside of Tok AK last winter and I didn't have a plug in one night at the hotel. I plugged in but it didn't work and the next morning it started but the unhappy noises that it was making was intense!
 
DEFinitely a 0wxx oil is in your future. Amsoil makes 2 0w40s and their SS0w30 is second to none for extended drains.

Plus there's a distribution center right there in Anchorage.
 
Originally Posted By: Danno
You may not have a place to plug in at -50?

Good luck ...

Seriously consider a hydronic heater.

http://www.esparofmichigan.com/techsupport/pdfs/Hydronic 4-5/Hydronic4_5.pdf

Deal with these folks all the time. Recommended.


I thought in places likely to see prolonged periods of those type temps, folks started their cars in the fall, and didn't shut 'em off until spring. (vague memories from the first season of Ice Road Truckers, based out of Yellowknife, NWT)

and unrelated to the oil question, out of curiosity, OP, ever go to St.Mary's AK? it's a tiny town at the Junction of the Yukon and Andreafski Rivers. a Friend of Mine is in the Middle of a 4 year assignment "Doctorin'" there...
 
A high mileage 0w40 or 5w40 would check every box of what I want.

I'm afraid I'll switch to the straight Mobil 1 0w40 and those leaks go crazy.
 
We have people that live in Alaska that will most likely have excellent info for you .
 
Originally Posted By: earlyre


I thought in places likely to see prolonged periods of those type temps, folks started their cars in the fall, and didn't shut 'em off until spring. (vague memories from the first season of Ice Road Truckers, based out of Yellowknife, NWT)

and unrelated to the oil question, out of curiosity, OP, ever go to St.Mary's AK? it's a tiny town at the Junction of the Yukon and Andreafski Rivers. a Friend of Mine is in the Middle of a 4 year assignment "Doctorin'" there...


Heh, yeah it's not quite that way most of the places I'm at. In town in Anchorage, it's a pretty mild (for Alaska) winter.

I haven't been there yet but I'm seeing so much of this place this year and loving all of it.
 
How about Mobil 1 0W40 with some ATP 205 or motor oil saver? The only issue here I see is the leaks. Mobil 1 0W40 is certainly not lacking in any anti wear additives, whatever you can't see on the VOA is meaningless with the approvals it meets. It's certainly light years ahead of any 5w30 that was available when your engine was new.
 
What about a 50/50 split of Mobil 1 0W-40 and Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w40? The exact low temp properties will be unknown but I would think it would be better than the 10W-40.

But why do you need a year round oil? Why not go with Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w40 in the summer and Mobil 1 High Mileage 5w30 in the winter?
 
What about a 50/50 mix of Brad Penn Grade One 0w30 and 10W-40. Both oils are high quality partial synthetics with 1500 ppm zinc and 1400 ppm phosphorous? I'm not sure how combining varying viscosities works, but I think some on this board do so.
 
Originally Posted By: Bandito440
It doesn't get that cold in Anchorage. Mobil 1 High Mileage 10w40 is fine.


I'm afraid you didn't read my original post. I drive all over the state including deep interior where it does get very cold regularly so I am trying to take that in to account.
 
Honestly this is the first cold flow thread I have seen here where the vehicle will actually be ran in the cold. Lots of folks here think they need that 0w in their snow blower at 32*F

Id run Mobil 1 0w40, Castrol 0w30/40 or if you cant find the others, Rotella T6 or Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck. Each oil is an HDEO.

At the moment, Mobil 1 or Castrol 0w40 will be the cheapest if you have a Walmart around. Also, Id avoid the 10w40 if you expect to see the extreme cold temps and just run it in the warmer months if you feel its necessary.

Can you post pics of the truck?
 
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