Can't find a thread...

[NovaMan]

It was originated mid-summer, and I searched for it but I couldn't find it. It's about 5W30 vs 10W30 and shearing out of viscosity and cold start ups and stuff like that. Can anybody find the thread I'm talking about?

I'm thinking of using a thinner oil for the winter, since my 1990 Taurus needs all the help it can get.

 

[dave1251]

NovaMan are your cold startups up there below 0F?

 

[NovaMan]

Not typically, but there is a chance that it may happen a couple times in a winter. I'm in southwest Michigan, so it's not as bad as it is farther north.

It knocks a little right after start up, and I think it's a lifter. It's not a big bother, but it makes me feel like I should start treating it better (it's my beater, which selflessly sacrifices its sheetmetal to the harsh Michigan winter salt in order to spare the beautiful, classic curves of my 1970 Nova). It has less than 150k on it, but they're mostly city miles and not really very long trips. My current commute is 5 miles, but it was used for getting to and from high school for a couple years, which was barely far enough to get it warmed up.

 

[dave1251]

If you must use a 5w-30 for temps below 0 from the uoa's that i have seen castorl gtx stays in grade best. So you might want to give it a try.

 

[XB70]

Here are some to try: Eenie, Meenie, Minie and Mo, though Mo's a bit too new to fit the mid-summer qualification.

 

[NovaMan]

Yeah, I think it was one of those threads.

I can't decide, so I'm going to change this to another "what oil should I run?" thread...
My daily driver is a 1990 Taurus with a 3L V6; it has a little lifter noise at startup, about 138k miles, and my commute is 5 miles city each way. Let's assume -1°F is the lowest startup temp in the winter. It's a beater, so I don't really want to use expensive oil (i.e. synthetic/blend/maxlife/etc.), but I don't want to mistreat it either. It has always had 10W30 in the past, but I wonder if I should try something with better cold flow for the winter. However, I'm worried that 5W30 will shear to 5W20 and not be thick enough at operating temp. 10W30 has worked in the past, and I have lots of Pennzoil and Quaker State 10W30 dino oil I bought on sale in my pre-BITOG days. Should I try a 5W30, or should I just stick with 10W30?

 

[dave1251]

What do have again a 5W-20? But I think that your over worried about the problem. If 10W-30 worked in the past stick with it.

 

[dave1251]

The reason why I said my last post is because I dont think using a 5W is going to make that much of a difference in start up noise over a 10W. But since your getting ready for a MICHIGAN winter I know that it can be cold since I am from INDIANA. A 20 wt might just be what you need since your not really getting up to oprating temps.

 

[Al]

Well the new oils will shear down to 8.5 to 9.0 cSt. Thats probably s as low as it will go within a couple of thousand miles. But guess what???...it doesn't matter. Wear numbers are fine. Unless your vehicle starts using excessive oil just go with the 5W stuff. One thing that could change the picture is fuel dilution. And perhaps with your driving habits (short winter runs), that could happen. Oil analysis anyone??

 

[eljefino]

Tropartic/Kendall/Motorcraft 5w30 should work for cheap money. Save the stash of 10w30 for the summer.

And you can always get a remote car starter so you won't hear the complaining.

 

[NovaMan]

quote:

---

Originally posted by dave1251:
...I think that your over worried about the problem.

---

You are absolutely correct. I tend to worry too much, but it's what I do.

This used to be my Dad's car, and today I found out that he always had 5W30 in it because that was/is the manufacturer's recommendation. I guess I'll try 5W30 for the winter and see how the lifter sounds. I really ought to do an Auto-Rx too... and struts, rear springs, tires, and CV joints.