Best Choice for EXTREME Cold

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KevinsDMAX

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Hello All,

I have a '10 Suburban with the 5.3 V8. I currently live in Fairbanks AK, and it gets cold...I'm talking -40s and colder. I have added a transmission, oil and battery warmer along with a block heater, but not always able to plug in every time

I'm trying to really help make this motor last. I look around at different manufactures cold pour temps to see whats best for my climate. Is this what I should use as a guide, or should I be looking at something else?

I currently I run PP 5W30, do you think this is the best?

Kevin
 
The smaller the number before the W, the better. But that won't help much when the temp drops below -20F if the vehicle's not plugged in. Even 0W20 pours like molasses at 0F and -40F is close enough to the pour point that the oil basically won't flow.
 
Find something with a very high viscosity index. Some of the Redline or Renewable Lube oils come to mind.

You could also use 4-cycle snowmobile oil.

Pour point is not that useful, truth be told.
 
I would be looking at Mobil 1, or Amsoil for the best cold temp pour points. I personally feel Amsoil is better. But concede Mobil 1 is easier to get on shelves. They have a distribution center in Anchorage, AK if you go with Amsoil.
 
Look at MRV and CCS viscosities of different oils to decide. Pour point is NOT a very good measure of extreme cold performance but it's better than nothing. Also at those temps, oil temperature is unlikely to be anywhere near what it would be in summer temps so going down a viscosity grade from what the engine calls for is also what I'd do. A 0W-20 oil is probably what these guidelines would move you toward.
 
I watch Fairbanks weather and current conditions. I hope you have a good supply of fire wood, and a reliable generator.

I don't know how hvac guys do it. On a no heat service call he has to go. Find out what these guys run in their vans, and where they get it.

This is the cold temp performance number to use for comparison. For example:

(6,600 Max)
4,583 - 5,806 - 6,362 - 6,077 - 5,924 - 5,625 - 5,653 The first oil with the smallest number 4,583 has the best cold temp performance. It is 5w-30 Petro Canada Supreme. This company also offers synthetic.
 
I have started the work truck without being plugged in and lights and bells went off because of low oil pleasure...I'm sure damage was done with that start up. The wife hasn't told me that this has happened...yet.

How is the PP? We drive enough to switch out before and after winter, but PP will work year round I'll go with it.
 
PP is one of the best majors. Consistently excellent UOA's. I would drop down to 0W-20 for the winter, then back to the 5W-30 when it warms up.
 
Originally Posted By: KevinsDMAX
................I'm talking -40s and colder. .............I currently I run PP 5W30, do you think this is the best?

Kevin


No. Get a 0W-xx with the lowest MRV viscosity specification you can find.
 
Originally Posted By: KevinsDMAX
I have started the work truck without being plugged in and lights and bells went off because of low oil pleasure...I'm sure damage was done with that start up. ..................We drive enough to switch out before and after winter, but PP will work year round I'll go with it.



Oils have their best extreme cold temperature pumpability when they are fresh. In your climate, don't go into winter with used oil.
 
Originally Posted By: garlicbreadman
wow how do people sleep through -40 ????


Sleeping in -40 is easy. It's getting out of bed and out of the house that's the hard part.

For oil, if there's concern it's going to be outside and have some unaided starts, I'd be going to something like PC 0w-30 synthetic or Delvac Elite HDEO or something in that range. The PC 0w-30 is SN/GF-5 if it matters.

I have done a lot of unaided starts, however, in such temperatures using 5w-30 conventional when I had my Town Car. More recently, the vehicles are always in a heated shop.

The issue with the Town Car, however, was that it was in mechanically great shape. Problems with fuel injection or a marginal battery just make things worse. A synthetic 0w-30 can give that extra bit of cushion, and probably help one sleep better at night.

However, I certainly haven't spun a bearing or had an engine explode on me in a cold morning. The most common noise I hear is actually the PS pump groaning from the cold.
 
Maybe Pablo will chime in with a his opinion, I am sure Amsoil has something for weather this extreme
 
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