Best cold flowing oil for winter temps?

[tig1]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
All but a very few (handful) of engines have positive displacement oil pumps. As long as the oil reaches the pump intake (no screen clogging) they will push any liquid the same distance in the same amount of time.


That's not entirely true, or at least the more viscous oil doesn't necessarily flow in the same pattern through the engine, as demonstrated by skipping to 5:00 and following in this video. Same exact engine (with the same exact oil pump) started at -34C with different oil grades with the valve cover off and watching flow from the cam tower squirters...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWiQyR7PWII

Ignore the salesman voice-over about "metal-to-metal contact!!!" but the difference in actual oil flow is obvious. The pump may be displacing the same amount of oil per turn, or it may not. The thicker oil may be causing the pump to cavitate. Or it may be causing the pressure relief valve to lift rather than pushing the thicker oil to the last cam bearing in the system.

Of course as others have pointed out... this is not an issue that will EVER happen in Florida. At least not in this geological epoch...



+1. In very cold temps thicker oils(10-40) flow to the cam area slower than thinner oils(0-20 or 0-30). I saw that myself while living in Maine for several very cold winters.

 

[53' Stude]

Tig1: I'm enjoying the Mobil 1 Extended Performance 0w20 so far

 

[BrocLuno]

The thing is you have a new'ish car. You will be operating in various places. You will have cold mornings as in freezing. So why not just use 0W for piece of mind and be done with it...

 

[jayg]

Originally Posted By: BrocLuno
The thing is you have a new'ish car. You will be operating in various places. You will have cold mornings as in freezing. So why not just use 0W for piece of mind and be done with it...

The fact the people think they need a 0w for peace of mind in temperatures near freezing that they (might) go to is ridiculous.

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: Artem
Goodness gracious some of you took this WAY too serious.

Yea I live in FL but I also do a little thing called TRAVEL, especially up north to visit the parents and work related. Was in Harrisonburg VA the other day and it was 26F in the morning and it isn't winter YET. Just planning ahead.

I asked a simple question regarding what oil flows best, REGARDLESS of what my location is. Perhaps the answers will help fellow BITOG-ers who live in way colder places who might have the same question. Geez. No need to go off on me. All info on this topic is old. It's technically 2017 and maybe there's some new info about which oil brand and viscosity simply flows better then others in "cooler" weather.

Who cares if the engine will be fine with 20w50 in the sump, that's not the point.

The lowest MRV for a 0w20 mass market oil is Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy. But the normal winter starting viscosity of AFE, say at 32F isn't much different than Mobil 1 5w20. It's low temperature flow benefits don't really kick in until the temperature gets down to -20F or lower. Anywhere within the lower 48, I say you're good to go with 5wXX.

 

[4wd]

The 1.8T Oil Pressure Survival Guide has a chart with oil flow distribution -
Does anyone know how this chart was composed?

 

[slybunda]

Why does most 5w30 have less cts at 40c than 0w30 oil? Shouldnt it be the otherway round and the 0w30 having the less 40c cts?

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
That's not entirely true, or at least the more viscous oil doesn't necessarily flow in the same pattern through the engine, as demonstrated by skipping to 5:00 and following in this video. Same exact engine (with the same exact oil pump) started at -34C with different oil grades with the valve cover off and watching flow from the cam tower squirters...

Note that's a failure in the MRV of that oil. It simply can't be pumped correctly in that situation. Under a sensible temperature, it wouldn't make any difference comparing that grade to a 0w-20 when it comes to pumping. You know the difference, but a lot of readers aren't aware.

Also, we have to watch when commenting on pour points. I can find 15w-XX examples with -45 pour points. I wouldn't try them in -45, though.