Changing viscosity with the seasons?

[CleanSump]

No I have never done it since I started changing oil in the early 1970s. I remember my dad changing to 10 for Winter and 30 in Summer in Nebraska and Minnesota circa 1960. Times and technology change, people not so much.

 

[ATex7239]

I’ve only done this with one vehicle. It was our previous Toyota which diluted a good bit in the winter. So I ran -20 in the colder months to combat the dilution and -16 in the warmer months for max fuel efficiency. Eventually I decided to stick with -20 year around and carried this practice along to our current Toyota. It was more of a hassle than it was worth. Mostly just pick something and stick with it.

 

[Reloader59]

I will be doing it for the first time. Running 0W-20 now and in the spring, going to 5W-30. I feel I don't need a 30 weight during winter for my vehicle when oil temp doesn't get above 180F.

 

[ChrisD46]

I’ve hoarded a bunch of 0w-20 and also a bunch of 5w-30 from sales people have posted here. My new plan to use it up is to put my vehicles on a seasonal rotation where they all get 5w-30 in the spring to run during hot weather and 0w-20 in the fall for the cold.

Do any of you do something similar?

If you had an extreme in temps between seasons I could see it . In my case in the PNW there is not a wide range of temps , so I stay with 5W30 all year .

 

[MrkofXcellence]

My mom f’ed her 1986 Camry up in in 1995 by overheating it. Until we got the engine replaced with an ATK reman we used 10w40 in winter and 20w50 in summer. Definitely helped with oil burning. The 20w50 was noticeably different from 10w40 in winter time. My recollection was that it cranked slower, but how could that be, just more friction causing slower cranking?

 

[OM617YOTA]

I've run 15w40 in the Land Cruiser for the summer and 5w40 the rest of the year purely because 15w40 cost less.

Not worth it. I got sick of watching temperatures, trying to predict the weather 3 months out, wondering if/when I should change oil and get that thicker stuff out of the sump, potentially obliterating the already basically nil cost savings of the less expensive oil by having to change it sooner due to cool weather moving in, etc. One more oil change and my stock of 15w40 will be used up, after that it's getting 0w40 or 5w40 year round. One less thing to think about or keep track of.

 

[ltslimjim]

Does your engine changes operating temperature based on seasons? If not, then, no reason for change.

The times when I did change to a “heavier” oil is when towing in the 95 degree heat.

Yes. Towing, tracking vehicle. Oil temperature can fluctuate 30-60 degrees. On track my BMW was running to 300f before oil cooler was installed.
But just based on season? No.

Exactly. If there isn’t a use condition that significantly raises oil temps above typical operating temps, then viscosity changing doesn’t make sense. For example, starting regularly in Siberian winter weather; then pay attention to the “w” rating and if tracking/towing for extended periods of time, maybe go up a grade or two; depending. If not, stay with whatever is chosen for year round.

 

[Z28racecar]

One oil year round. My truck gets 0W-40, wife's Toyota gets 0W-20, race car gets 5W-30

 

[nickaluch]

On my beater 5/30 winter 10/30 summer

 

[GSCJR]

I got about 100 qts SAE 30 and SAE 40 on incredible clearance, so I used them up by running them May- Nov,

+1

 

[RazorsEdge]

I use 5w30 all year long, always have.

WE are having some pretty cold weather coming up here next weekend -8F for a high temperature and -18F for the low

It does make me "think" about using an 0w30 in the winter months

 

[D1dad]

While I don’t agree with cafe at all, and seldom agree with the engineers. I’ll side with them on oil recommendations. My manual says 0w20, so that’s what it gets. I change oil well before the recommendations so I’m not churning 20wt into 5 while trying to reach long drain interval elite status.

 

[altaylar]

While I don’t agree with cafe at all, and seldom agree with the engineers. I’ll side with them on oil recommendations. My manual says 0w20, so that’s what it gets. I change oil well before the recommendations so I’m not churning 20wt into 5 while trying to reach long drain interval elite status.

 

[bonjo]

Nothing wrong with doing this since you have the stock & are willing.
I don't know your winter/ summer temperature range; if extreme, can help the engine.
I decades back, before multigrade oil era, you changed between summer & winter grade

 

[Zee09]

I do seasonal underwear changes but not oil. However nothing wrong with doing so.

 

[D1dad]

I just started my 18 rogue this morning @-1 and even 0 weight wasn’t happy. I know that many will argue that 5 weight isn’t a whole lot different, my engine would like to have a conversation. My cars are on maintainers when not in use, so no issues there. Now I wait 15 minutes for the cvt fluid warmer to do its job so it will shift at some point the 1st 3 miles. I think I need an oil warmer for the trans.

 

[Titan]

If you change between boxers and briefs depending upon the season, you may find it satisfying to also change oil viscosity depending upon the season.

OOPs, I see Zee09 beat me to it...

 

[iCurious]

I also stick to one grade year round.

 

[Ausfahrt]

Doesn't that big garage have a heater? Even a portable plug in one?

No, but my smaller shop has a diesel heater and a wood stove. But it is not insulated and when it gets really cold like this week then it's just a waste of time unfortunately.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Perfect candidates for insulation and a cold weather heat pump, also for AC in summer.