You'll be perfectly fine with a 5w-30 for barely below freezing. Switching to a 5w-20 from 5w-30 will NOT change cold weather viscosity for cold starts. Both those weights are still a 5w- oil, which means 5winter. The oil is a 5 weight when cold, and a 30 weight when warmed up due to polymers in motor oil. If you lived in a ridiculously cold climate up north, that's when a 0w-20 will come in handy. A 0 weight in the cold will flow really well.
Change from 5w30 for colder months?
- Thread starter NavyVet88
- Start date
- Status
I plan on running PP 10-30 in my altima from here on out in ohio. Actual air temps in January are -5 and below and I see no issues. My wife had a VW Routan that was speced for 10-30 and it always started for the 6 plus years we had it, and until it was totaled was one of the best engines I'd ever owned.
Originally Posted by D1dad
I plan on running PP 10-30 in my altima from here on out in ohio. Actual air temps in January are -5 and below and I see no issues. My wife had a VW Routan that was speced for 10-30 and it always started for the 6 plus years we had it, and until it was totaled was one of the best engines I'd ever owned.
I don't understand, what does a 10W get you when the temperature falls below 0F other than hard starting?
What 10W-30 oil were you using that had the appropriate VW approval required for your vehicle? Ravenol?
I plan on running PP 10-30 in my altima from here on out in ohio. Actual air temps in January are -5 and below and I see no issues. My wife had a VW Routan that was speced for 10-30 and it always started for the 6 plus years we had it, and until it was totaled was one of the best engines I'd ever owned.
I don't understand, what does a 10W get you when the temperature falls below 0F other than hard starting?
What 10W-30 oil were you using that had the appropriate VW approval required for your vehicle? Ravenol?
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Originally Posted by kschachn
Originally Posted by D1dad
I plan on running PP 10-30 in my altima from here on out in ohio. Actual air temps in January are -5 and below and I see no issues. My wife had a VW Routan that was speced for 10-30 and it always started for the 6 plus years we had it, and until it was totaled was one of the best engines I'd ever owned.
I don't understand, what does a 10W get you when the temperature falls below 0F other than hard starting?
What 10W-30 oil were you using that had the appropriate VW approval required for your vehicle? Ravenol?
Routan is not VW, it is rebadge Dodge Caravan with Chrysler engine. VW specifications do not apply to that engine.
Originally Posted by D1dad
I plan on running PP 10-30 in my altima from here on out in ohio. Actual air temps in January are -5 and below and I see no issues. My wife had a VW Routan that was speced for 10-30 and it always started for the 6 plus years we had it, and until it was totaled was one of the best engines I'd ever owned.
I don't understand, what does a 10W get you when the temperature falls below 0F other than hard starting?
What 10W-30 oil were you using that had the appropriate VW approval required for your vehicle? Ravenol?
Routan is not VW, it is rebadge Dodge Caravan with Chrysler engine. VW specifications do not apply to that engine.
Originally Posted by edyvw
Routan is not VW, it is rebadge Dodge Caravan with Chrysler engine. VW specifications do not apply to that engine.
Yes I know what it is. But there is still a published spec. in the Routan manual, correct? VW doesn't spec a grade.
Routan is not VW, it is rebadge Dodge Caravan with Chrysler engine. VW specifications do not apply to that engine.
Yes I know what it is. But there is still a published spec. in the Routan manual, correct? VW doesn't spec a grade.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Originally Posted by kschachn
Originally Posted by edyvw
Routan is not VW, it is rebadge Dodge Caravan with Chrysler engine. VW specifications do not apply to that engine.
Yes I know what it is. But there is still a published spec. in the Routan manual, correct? VW doesn't spec a grade.
I seriously never ventured into Routan manual, nor I will, but I can guarantee it is not VW 502.00.
And VW has tendency to actually specify grade regardless that they also put actual specification.
It is VW< they cannot get their act together around oils since 1997!
Originally Posted by edyvw
Routan is not VW, it is rebadge Dodge Caravan with Chrysler engine. VW specifications do not apply to that engine.
Yes I know what it is. But there is still a published spec. in the Routan manual, correct? VW doesn't spec a grade.
I seriously never ventured into Routan manual, nor I will, but I can guarantee it is not VW 502.00.
And VW has tendency to actually specify grade regardless that they also put actual specification.
It is VW< they cannot get their act together around oils since 1997!
Originally Posted by NavyVet88
My ranger specs 5w20, but I currently have 5w30 Castrol Edge in the sump and as far as I can tell...it loves it. However, "cold" weather here in bama May see temps around the mid 20's at worst for a couple weeks worth of days and that's it with temps hovering in the mid 40's mostly.
Would 5w30 be fine to keep year round with my temps? Or do I need to go back to 5w20 for the colder months coming?
5W30 year round.
My ranger specs 5w20, but I currently have 5w30 Castrol Edge in the sump and as far as I can tell...it loves it. However, "cold" weather here in bama May see temps around the mid 20's at worst for a couple weeks worth of days and that's it with temps hovering in the mid 40's mostly.
Would 5w30 be fine to keep year round with my temps? Or do I need to go back to 5w20 for the colder months coming?
5W30 year round.
Originally Posted by edyvw
Originally Posted by kschachn
Originally Posted by D1dad
I plan on running PP 10-30 in my altima from here on out in ohio. Actual air temps in January are -5 and below and I see no issues. My wife had a VW Routan that was speced for 10-30 and it always started for the 6 plus years we had it, and until it was totaled was one of the best engines I'd ever owned.
I don't understand, what does a 10W get you when the temperature falls below 0F other than hard starting?
What 10W-30 oil were you using that had the appropriate VW approval required for your vehicle? Ravenol?
Routan is not VW, it is rebadge Dodge Caravan with Chrysler engine. VW specifications do not apply to that engine.
You're absoloutely correct although the wife liked it so that's what we got. I actually made sure we got the 4.0 which imo is one of Chryslers best engines. And yes, it was speced for 10-30 which I didn't understand but that's what I used and never any issues during the winter.
Originally Posted by kschachn
Originally Posted by D1dad
I plan on running PP 10-30 in my altima from here on out in ohio. Actual air temps in January are -5 and below and I see no issues. My wife had a VW Routan that was speced for 10-30 and it always started for the 6 plus years we had it, and until it was totaled was one of the best engines I'd ever owned.
I don't understand, what does a 10W get you when the temperature falls below 0F other than hard starting?
What 10W-30 oil were you using that had the appropriate VW approval required for your vehicle? Ravenol?
Routan is not VW, it is rebadge Dodge Caravan with Chrysler engine. VW specifications do not apply to that engine.
You're absoloutely correct although the wife liked it so that's what we got. I actually made sure we got the 4.0 which imo is one of Chryslers best engines. And yes, it was speced for 10-30 which I didn't understand but that's what I used and never any issues during the winter.
*I recall reading where the cross over to where 5W gives better start up protection than 10W occurs at approx., 23 degrees F. Above 23 degrees F. there is no difference - as you drop below 23 degrees F the gap widens and then down at 0 degrees F. the gap in start up protection between 5W and 10W is quite noticeable (on paper) .
Originally Posted by kschachn
Originally Posted by D1dad
I plan on running PP 10-30 in my altima from here on out in ohio. Actual air temps in January are -5 and below and I see no issues. My wife had a VW Routan that was speced for 10-30 and it always started for the 6 plus years we had it, and until it was totaled was one of the best engines I'd ever owned.
I don't understand, what does a 10W get you when the temperature falls below 0F other than hard starting?
What 10W-30 oil were you using that had the appropriate VW approval required for your vehicle? Ravenol?
Originally Posted by kschachn
Originally Posted by D1dad
I plan on running PP 10-30 in my altima from here on out in ohio. Actual air temps in January are -5 and below and I see no issues. My wife had a VW Routan that was speced for 10-30 and it always started for the 6 plus years we had it, and until it was totaled was one of the best engines I'd ever owned.
I don't understand, what does a 10W get you when the temperature falls below 0F other than hard starting?
What 10W-30 oil were you using that had the appropriate VW approval required for your vehicle? Ravenol?
I've run Mobil 1 and EP 10W-30 and 5W-30 in my Toyota V6 pickups and V8 4Runner for many years here in Colorado, hot summers and very cold winters in the mountains... with no problems. Alabama winters would be a breeze for these oils.
- Status
