Autozone guy trying to confuse me

[cheesepuffs2]

I took this from the Castrol webpage. Maybe they oversimplified?

If you need a 15W-40 diesel oil, Castrol® GTX® Diesel helps extend engine life, protecting against the wear and tear of severe weather, rough roads and heavy tows. As a 15W-40 viscosity grade, it flows like a 15 weight oil from start up in Winter, but provides the protection of a 40 weight once the engine reaches full operating temperature.

I think what confuses people about this is that we tend to envision what the oils flow/feel like at room temperature.

Flowing "like a 15 weight in winter" means that it flows like a COLD 15 weight, which is still thick. It's just less thick than a 40 would be when cold.

 

[factorytuned2012]

I bought a quart of rotella 15-40 for my lawn mower and he started to argue with me about the thickness of the oil. I said the 15 is the viscosity of the oil in cold and the 40 is the weight at operating temp. He said he’s changed thousands of gallons of oil and oil is always thinner when hot than cold, basically saying I had the numbers of the weight backwards…

ok.

 

[ZeeOSix]

I say - 4 gallons is 16 quarts - she says no a gallon has 5 quarts. So 4x5 = 20.

 

[Blagoje]

You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, never start a land war in Asia and never presume to think that people working in auto parts stores know what they're talking about.

 

[Gene K]

I just wish I could find thinner 0W-8 for my cold starts.

 

[ZeeOSix]

I just wish I could find thinner 0W-8 for my cold starts.

Mix it with some sewing machine oil.

 

[irollo]

I live in Alaska. Anyone know where I can score some -50W-50

 

[OVERKILL]

You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, never start a land war in Asia and never presume to think that people working in auto parts stores know what they're talking about.

Inconceivable!

 

[Patman]

Inconceivable!

I read that in the voice of Vizzini from the Princess Bride!

 

[factorytuned2012]

I bought a quart of rotella 15-40 for my lawn mower and he started to argue with me about the thickness of the oil. I said the 15 is the viscosity of the oil in cold and the 40 is the weight at operating temp. He said he’s changed thousands of gallons of oil and oil is always thinner when hot than cold, basically saying I had the numbers of the weight backwards…

From what you just said he never doubted your 15w40 claim. But he is correct oil does get thinner when hot. Basically why 3/4 of the members on here start 0w20 wars.

 

[Hootbro]

One of my experiences with AutoZone.

I went to dump my used motor oil at AutoZone -

The lady ask how much I had -

I had two two gallon buckets one was almost full the other part way - 11-12 quarts.

She then ask how large my buckets were - I said 2 gallons each.

So then she says - I need to use the capacity of the container even if it isn't full so that is 20 quarts. I can only take 15 quarts max. I say - 4 gallons is 16 quarts - she says no a gallon has 5 quarts. So 4x5 = 20.

I open the container and show her it is not even half full - and she says I will call it 15 quarts and let you dump it THIS time but next time I will only let you dump one.

Oh, I would have loved that to happen to me. I take pleasure in grinding down simple math stupid people.

Had a lady argue with me one time that 1/3 was more than 1/2 because the "3" part of the fraction was higher than "2".

 

[ZeeOSix]

Had a lady argue with me one time that 1/3 was more than 1/2 because the "3" part of the fraction was higher than "2".

 

[ATex7239]

One of my experiences with AutoZone.

I went to dump my used motor oil at AutoZone -

The lady ask how much I had -

I had two two gallon buckets one was almost full the other part way - 11-12 quarts.

She then ask how large my buckets were - I said 2 gallons each.

So then she says - I need to use the capacity of the container even if it isn't full so that is 20 quarts. I can only take 15 quarts max. I say - 4 gallons is 16 quarts - she says no a gallon has 5 quarts. So 4x5 = 20.

I open the container and show her it is not even half full - and she says I will call it 15 quarts and let you dump it THIS time but next time I will only let you dump one.

I usually just lie my pants off and tell people what they want to hear in these situations instead of educating…. I would be like “that’s my fault, you’re right, ma’am. I meant they are actually 1.5 gallon buckets - we’re all good. “

 

[z71bill]

Oh, I would have loved that to happen to me. I take pleasure in grinding down simple math stupid people.

Had a lady argue with me one time that 1/3 was more than 1/2 because the "3" part of the fraction was higher than "2".

Well I had two buckets of oil I was trying to dispose of and if I didn't play my cards right I would be going home with them.

My mom (RIP) use to say -

Don't act like you are better than someone else EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE.

She also would sometimes change it up and say -

Don't act like you are smarter than someone else EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE.

I followed that rule - mostly- and I still think it is good advice.

 

[Hootbro]

Well I had two buckets of oil I was trying to dispose of and if I didn't play my cards right I would be going home with them.

My mom (RIP) use to say -

Don't act like you are better than someone else EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE.

She also would sometimes change it up and say -

Don't act like you are smarter than someone else EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE.

I followed that rule - mostly- and I still think it is good advice.

Trust me, I do not go around picking on the mentally challenged or the short school bus crowd, but if someone of reasonable intelligence wants to come at me with such stupid things, I am going to call them to task over it, especially if they are incumbering me from going about my daily business of whatever task at hand I am trying to accomplish.

 

[Gene K]

Trust me, I do not go around picking on the mentally challenged...

I'm dumb enough already.... I don't think lowering my level any more is advisable.