Cold Oil Flow Test

[mechtech2]

I saw this in a Bavarian Autosports Newsletter.
The tests were done by Lubro Moly [Liqui Moly].
It was a Pie Chart.

Concerning how long it took for oil flow to the most remote engine parts at 32 deg F:

0-40 full synthetic :4 seconds
5-40 full synthetic :8 sec
10-40 semi synthetic :28 sec
15-40 mineral [dino] :48 sec

32F is not really cold to most of us. So this information is enlightening. Imagine what things are like at 0 deg F!
I sure would have liked to see 0-20, 5-20, and 5-30 in this test.
When people say that no oil is too thin at start up, they have good reason to do so.

 

[Steve S]

Drain the oil from your motor and see how long it will run. When people say that no oil is too thin at startup they really may not have any real idea what they are saying. The proper oil viscosity for the starting temps is most important.

 

[Steve S]

When I used to have my boat the big block chev would pump oil to the top end instantly when adjusting the valves with 20w-50 oil an 60*f . 15w40 at 29*f would cause my drill motor to smoke when priming the engine . 10w-30 would not seem to load the same drill motor an the same 29*f temps when priming the motor. Some times you get the urge to go for a boat ride in January and nothing will cure the urge like an actual boat ride. One year I had the urge to waterski in January, even with a wetsuit on it was cold!!!

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2

Concerning how long it took for oil flow to the most remote engine parts at 32 deg F:


Does this mean the most remote bearing? or just some corner under the valve cover?

Are smaller oil passages that much smaller that they would restrict oil flow that much? Does that sound realistic to you?
I'm asking because I haven't even had a valve cover off either of my cars. I assume the valve train recieves the least amount of oil and has the smallest passages?

My Tracker makes a racket from the head for about 2 seconds on a cold start, at 20F with 5W40 rotella T, then sounds normal. Are there bearings somewhere not recieving oil for some time after that?

 

[ps49556n]

This test is far to vague for it to lend ANY credibility other than what we all know already....synthetics and 0W or 5W have much better cold pour points... To just say "the most remote engine parts" is meaningless without more specifics on the tests.

 

[mechtech2]

So their tests/conclusions are not valid unless I drain the oil from my engine, and also describe which end of the OHC was at the end of the line?

C'mon now... The obvious trends and comparisons are pretty clear.

But really.. draining the oil would prove something to you?

 

[Steve S]

The oil that is on the parts will lube the parts for quite a while , though using the proper viscosity for startng temps is most important. Other that how long it takes in those tests for the oil to reach the most remote engine parts it is meaninless unless you understand at least the basics on how engines lube.