Are there situations where the shear-down of VI improvers can actually help a machine, with respect to flow rates during cold weather operation?
Let me see if I got this correctly.......I was thinking of using a certain 5w-40 during the summer and having it reduce its viscosity by the time the colder months came along (with no servicing required).
Oil doesn't know when it's fall or winter time to thin out. But in general if you start your oil run in spring it should shear down a bit by fall, winter. What that viscosity is going to be at that certain time periods is anyones guess unless you do a few UOA's to see the results of the viscosity.I’m talking about having the lubricant gradually transition from a 40-grade down to a 30-grade and timing that (roughly) with the change in seasons.
Is all shearing detrimental to an engine’s performance when another variable (ambient temperature) trends lower at the same time?
No. Picking the right oil for the equipment and the temperature it will be operating at would be the better way to go. How would one know if the oil is shearing to the desired viscosity, and precisely when the temperature requires a thinner oil.Are there situations where the shear-down of VI improvers can actually help a machine, with respect to flow rates during cold weather operation?
I’m talking about having the lubricant gradually transition from a 40-grade down to a 30-grade and timing that (roughly) with the change in seasons.
Is all shearing detrimental to an engine’s performance when another variable (ambient temperature) trends lower at the same time?
Why?I’m talking about having the lubricant gradually transition from a 40-grade down to a 30-grade and timing that (roughly) with the change in seasons.
Is all shearing detrimental to an engine’s performance when another variable (ambient temperature) trends lower at the same time?
I was thinking of using a certain 5w-40 during the summer and having it reduce its viscosity by the time the colder months came along (with no servicing required).
VI improvers are activated by heat so I would say the answer is there will be no improvement in cold weather flow.Are there situations where the shear-down of VI improvers can actually help a machine, with respect to flow rates during cold weather operation?