Benefits of 0W

[Trackspec]

Been researching oil for a few months now, starting to get the terminology etc.

I am trying to understand if there are any drawbacks to using a 0W oil if climate isn’t really a factor (I am in Florida where it’s almost always above 40°F).

My understanding is that 0W..

1. Better for cold starts (irrespective of ambient air temperature)
2. Better for cold climates (offers “better” protection for ambient temps -40°F to -13°F (-40°C to -25°C))
3. More fuel efficient (for both cold starts or cold climates, irrespective of operating temperature viscosity)

Can the claims above be applied across the board?

I haven’t read much of a downside to 0W, but am wondering..

1. In a multigrade oil, does the delta in grade for cold vs hot matter? For example, the difference in cold/hot between a 0w40 is greater than the difference between a 5w40, does this matter in any scenario? (e.g. an oil shears out of grade and becomes closer to a 30 at operating temp, offering less protection)
2. If my manual calls for 10w30, would it ever/always/never make sense to choose a lower Winter grade like 0w30 or 5w30?

 

[zfasts03]

0w’s are fine, but built with more VII, and thinner base stock, the oil is more likely to shear out of grade as the VII break down.

Also higher % of VII, means less % of the other ingredients (base oil) that is important to lubrication.

So 0w’s are a trade off.

 

[330indy]

Benefits Minnesotans and Canadians

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Been researching oil for a few months now, starting to get the terminology etc.

I am trying to understand if there are any drawbacks to using a 0W oil if climate isn’t really a factor (I am in Florida where it’s almost always above 40°F.

My understanding is that 0W..

1. Better for cold starts (irrespective of ambient air temperature)
2. Better for cold climates (offers “better” protection for ambient temps -40°F to -13°F (-40°C to -25°C))
3. More fuel efficient (for both cold starts or cold climates, irrespective of operating temperature viscosity)

Can the claims above be applied across the board?

I haven’t read much of a downside to 0W, but am wondering..

1. In a multigrade oil, does the delta in grade for cold vs hot matter? For example, the difference in cold/hot between a 0w40 is greater than the difference between a 5w40, does this matter in any scenario? (e.g. an oil shears out of grade and becomes closer to a 30 at operating temp, offering less protection)
2. If my manual calls for 10w30, would it ever/always/never make sense to choose a lower Winter grade like 0w30 or 5w30?

Your first #1&2 will not matter whatsoever in Florida. #3 is more dependent on oil grade rather than winter rating.

0w will generally require more VII than a 5w but also pretty much excludes synthetic blends, so you “may” be getting a better overall oil.

IMO in Florida, run a 10w-whatever your car requires to minimize volatility. Even a 10w has zero issues or concerns starting on the coldest day in Florida.

 

[Trackspec]

Your first #1&2 will not matter whatsoever in Florida. #3 is more dependent on oil grade rather than winter rating.

Doesn’t 80% of engine wear happen during cold start? For example, starting the car in the morning with an ambient air temp of 60F

 

[Kalle.J]

Doesn’t 80% of engine wear happen during cold start? For example, starting the car in the morning with an ambient air temp of 60F

Perhaps, but the difference between 0W 5W 10W in Florida at 60'F will be miniscule.
Run whatever xW30 and change it often enough.

Or rather to clarify cold starts produce more wear regardless of oil choice.

 

[Trackspec]

Benefits Minnesotans and Canadians

I like this response! For those like myself lucky enough to live in warmer climates, the Winter rating is almost irrelevant then, would you agree?

 

[fantastic]

Generally, you are not in the target climate for that particular designed grade & 0w-xx are usually for colder climates. However, that doesn't mean that a 0w-xx is the wrong grade or that somehow wouldn't work for your application. You could use 0w-xx in FL.

I haven’t read much of a downside to 0W, but am wondering..

1. In a multigrade oil, does the delta in grade for cold vs hot matter? For example, the difference in cold/hot between a 0w40 is greater than the difference between a 5w40, does this matter in any scenario? (e.g. an oil shears out of grade and becomes closer to a 30 at operating temp, offering less protection)

The more VI's used in a wide spread oil like a 0w-40 could cause some more shearing than say a 5w-40 but if this is going in a car that goes OEM intervals then there's no problem.

1. If my manual calls for 10w30, would it ever/always/never make sense to choose a lower Winter grade like 0w30 or 5w30?

The only thing I'd consider would be availability, cost, & length of interval would be something you should think about. 0w-30 may be more expensive than say a 5w-30 as an example. If going with a full synthetic 5w-30 or 10w-30 would meet all of your requirements for less money then why change? Those are just some of my thoughts but a 0w-30 may start shearing out of grade sooner than say a 10w-30 would over longer intervals beyond OEM & in hotter climates may make that happen sooner. Using a Euro 0w-30 should work & is a good starting point for OEM intervals but start going beyond them then I'd recommend you follow UOA data but that advise goes for any oil used IMO.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Been researching oil for a few months now, starting to get the terminology etc.

I am trying to understand if there are any drawbacks to using a 0W oil if climate isn’t really a factor (I am in Florida where it’s almost always above 40°F).

My understanding is that 0W..

1. Better for cold starts (irrespective of ambient air temperature)
2. Better for cold climates (offers “better” protection for ambient temps -40°F to -13°F (-40°C to -25°C))
3. More fuel efficient (for both cold starts or cold climates, irrespective of operating temperature viscosity)

Can the claims above be applied across the board?

I haven’t read much of a downside to 0W, but am wondering..

1. In a multigrade oil, does the delta in grade for cold vs hot matter? For example, the difference in cold/hot between a 0w40 is greater than the difference between a 5w40, does this matter in any scenario? (e.g. an oil shears out of grade and becomes closer to a 30 at operating temp, offering less protection)
2. If my manual calls for 10w30, would it ever/always/never make sense to choose a lower Winter grade like 0w30 or 5w30?

There are no real drawbacks other than maybe cost.

 

[kschachn]

Doesn’t 80% of engine wear happen during cold start? For example, starting the car in the morning with an ambient air temp of 60F

Your posts are a litany of misconceptions. Did you hear all of that on the Internet or here somewhere?

 

[Nuclear_42]

I wouldn't think twice about running 5w-30 in FL for the average pax car unless you have some warranty limits.

 

[kschachn]

I wouldn't think twice about running 5w-30 in FL for the average pax car unless you have some warranty limits.

Warranty is predicated on oil grade? I thought it was predicated on damage.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Doesn’t 80% of engine wear happen during cold start? For example, starting the car in the morning with an ambient air temp of 60F

At 60F the winter rating doesn’t mean anything at all. It’s purely the viscosity of the oil at that temp, and the 0wXX may actually be the thickest! Again, in 60F (or even 40F), knowing how hot the summers are, I’d run a 10wXX and never worry again.

You could also run a straight 20 grade and not have any statistically significant differences at that starting temp…

 

[Nuclear_42]

Warranty is predicated on oil grade? I thought it was predicated on damage.

Well what's your plan if the dealership requests your purchase receipt and it shows a different grade of oil?

 

[kschachn]

Well what's your plan if the dealership requests your purchase receipt and it shows a different grade of oil?

Well my plan with the Tiguan when it was in warranty was to ask my dealership to use 504 00 oil instead of 508 00, which they did.

 

[kschachn]

The answer to the OP question is fuel economy and nothing else.

 

[jetman]

 

[burbguy82]

The answer to the OP question is fuel economy and nothing else.

Not cold starts? And by cold I mean cold like -40 cold? Not ambient 70 degree Fl winter.

Sure in FL, it does not matter, but 0w30 really made a big difference in startup in -40 temps. Is that not due to the "0" as opposed to "10"

 

[1blkc5]

I have been putting 10w-30 in all of my vehicles with no worries check my signature I'm in central florida

 

[oil pan 4]

Been researching oil for a few months now, starting to get the terminology etc.

I am trying to understand if there are any drawbacks to using a 0W oil if climate isn’t really a factor (I am in Florida where it’s almost always above 40°F).

My understanding is that 0W..

1. Better for cold starts (irrespective of ambient air temperature)
2. Better for cold climates (offers “better” protection for ambient temps -40°F to -13°F (-40°C to -25°C))
3. More fuel efficient (for both cold starts or cold climates, irrespective of operating temperature viscosity)

Can the claims above be applied across the board?

I haven’t read much of a downside to 0W, but am wondering..

1. In a multigrade oil, does the delta in grade for cold vs hot matter? For example, the difference in cold/hot between a 0w40 is greater than the difference between a 5w40, does this matter in any scenario? (e.g. an oil shears out of grade and becomes closer to a 30 at operating temp, offering less protection)
2. If my manual calls for 10w30, would it ever/always/never make sense to choose a lower Winter grade like 0w30 or 5w30?

The main down side of a 0w-30 vs a 10w-30 is less shear stability, higher cost.
The only way a 0w is going to save any fuel vs a 10w is if all you do is short trip. But then you're fighting fuel dilution and probably doing 3,000 mile oil changes and you would be better off and save money going with a cheap 10w-30.
If you want better fuel economy I'm guessing you are looking for lowered cost in general.
For me the cheapest 10w-30 is like $13 a gallon. Assuming 0w-30 is around the same price as other mobil1 oil it's going to be more like $30 a gallon.
Yeah no way a 0w is saving $20 worth of gas over 10w or a 5w oil per oil change.

Well what's your plan if the dealership requests your purchase receipt and it shows a different grade of oil?

Yeah if I was in Florida I would probably run straight 30 weight in most things if I could find an oil with appropriate ratings.