Cold weather oil

[Bamboooo]

Hey Brent. While I don't live quite as far north as you do, it does get plenty cold here in the winter. I have a 99 Blazer with the 4.3, 180,xxx miles, and have been running 5w-30 Quaker State High Mileage oil in it. Seems to be doing a terrific job. I also run the same oil in my ol 93 Silverado, with 150,xxx miles on it. Start up is fine.
Also, have you ever thought about changing your OC's to a different time of the year? I do mine in October, and again in April. I add a quart of MMO in December, to clean things up a bit, while it also "thins" out the oil some. Just some food for thought.

 

[Brent_G]

I have though of changing dates for the oci, but i have access to a large shop with hoists so the time of the year doesnt bother me, more depends on milage seeing as sometimes i drive more than other times. The truck has seem 5w30 most winters, but was never drove often, and it let me down last year during one of the coldest nights of the year, it would turn and try to fire but wouldnt start.

 

[mva]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Why not use Mobil 1 AFE 0W20 in the Ford, and 0W30 in the Chevy? Good oils, easy to get, no shipping or any other charges, and you can usually find them on sale as part of an Oil Change Special, or grab them in Walmart.


+1 good advice

I think the 0W20 is a bit thin for the old chevy

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: mva
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Why not use Mobil 1 AFE 0W20 in the Ford, and 0W30 in the Chevy? Good oils, easy to get, no shipping or any other charges, and you can usually find them on sale as part of an Oil Change Special, or grab them in Walmart.


+1 good advice

I think the 0W20 is a bit thin for the old chevy


Me too, and both oils are easy enough to get. As much as I hate to admit it, once my SM Edge 0w20 and 5W30 stash is used up I might just be switching back to Mobil 1.

Maybe?

 

[Patman]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4


Just remember that the thinner the oil is when you shut off the engine, the more it's gonna drain off all the internal parts; leaving next to nothing to coat the engine with for the next start up. I'd rather have a nice film of oil on my internal parts to prevent metal to metal contact until the oil pump gets the oil circulating.


I don't believe this to be true at all, if this were the case then we would all run 40 or 50 weight oils. I don't believe the thinner oils are leaving "next to nothing" on the parts when you shut it down. If this were the case we'd be seeing sky high engine wear numbers on any engine running the thinner oils, and this simply isn't happening.

 

[jorton]

Cam lobes are so smooth that they are almost bone dry after sitting over night. I guess there is a puddle on top of the lifter that prevents metal to metal contact at cold start.

Valvoline and Motorcraft are good cold weather oils, too.

 

[bk111]

Toyotas 0W20 is rumored to have the best cold flow viscosity ever.. Try it and see how you like it

 

[hpichris]

I've always loved the AFE series since it came out. Glad to see the popularity has picked up over the months...

 

[Brent_G]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: mva
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Why not use Mobil 1 AFE 0W20 in the Ford, and 0W30 in the Chevy? Good oils, easy to get, no shipping or any other charges, and you can usually find them on sale as part of an Oil Change Special, or grab them in Walmart.


+1 good advice

I think the 0W20 is a bit thin for the old chevy


Me too, and both oils are easy enough to get. As much as I hate to admit it, once my SM Edge 0w20 and 5W30 stash is used up I might just be switching back to Mobil 1.

Maybe?

That may be true. the 4.3 spends most its days never warming up much, thus why the oil pressure seems the same. I was quite impressed with the 0w30 m1 in my ford last oci, and only reason i switched was due to a friend giving it to me free(he thinks 5w20 is suicide for a motor, than again he does 2k oil changes on syn.) Ill have to give the 0w20 a run. Thanks guys for all your help!

 

[hpichris]

5w-20 is suicide and he does 2k oil changes on FS oil? Introduce him to BITOG. lol

 

[DragRace]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Originally Posted By: Brent_G

While you are true(heck my dads 6.8 v10 in one of his tow trucks has lived off 15W40 in the same weather for over 170k miles now) i prefer my vehicles to have the lightest startup oil possible in the winter, summer it goes to whatever dino on sale, but winter, with its 40 below weather i want my oil atleast a liquid. I have been pleased with afe 0w30 last oci, currently on 5w20, but i was not sure what was truly the lightest oil in the extreme cold. 5w doesnt bother me until the weather starts dipping in the negitives more than once a week, thats why im running 5w20 now


Just remember that the thinner the oil is when you shut off the engine, the more it's gonna drain off all the internal parts; leaving next to nothing to coat the engine with for the next start up. I'd rather have a nice film of oil on my internal parts to prevent metal to metal contact until the oil pump gets the oil circulating.


100% WRONG! Oil continues to cling to engine internals for a loong time. If you ever tore an engine down,it always has a oil film on the cylinder walls,cam lobes,etc.

Being the same location as you, there's not a thing wrong with choosing a "0" weight oil! I've ran 0w30 for the last two winter seasons and plan on running it again these next winter months coming up.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: A_Harman
Yes, since the OP is in South Dakota, I think he needs the 0w oils.


Well, "needs" is iffy; I live substantially north of there and tend to use conventional. In any case, if I had to do a bunch of unaided outdoor starts in the bitter cold up here, I'd probably go to M1 0w-30 or Petro-Canada 0w-30, or even one of the lighter synthetic 5w-30 offerings.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Brent_G
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: mva
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Why not use Mobil 1 AFE 0W20 in the Ford, and 0W30 in the Chevy? Good oils, easy to get, no shipping or any other charges, and you can usually find them on sale as part of an Oil Change Special, or grab them in Walmart.


+1 good advice

I think the 0W20 is a bit thin for the old chevy


Me too, and both oils are easy enough to get. As much as I hate to admit it, once my SM Edge 0w20 and 5W30 stash is used up I might just be switching back to Mobil 1.

Maybe?

That may be true. the 4.3 spends most its days never warming up much, thus why the oil pressure seems the same. I was quite impressed with the 0w30 m1 in my ford last oci, and only reason i switched was due to a friend giving it to me free(he thinks 5w20 is suicide for a motor, than again he does 2k oil changes on syn.) Ill have to give the 0w20 a run. Thanks guys for all your help!


I'm sure the 20 grade oil will be fine in both vehicles. I tend to use what the mfg specs, and only move up a grade if there is a problem I'm trying to resolve. Either way you'll be fine, the GM 4.3 IMO is one of their better engines and will run with just about anything in the sump.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

M1 0w20AFE was poor in our new forester, the Subaru Idemitsu 0w20 Sm which is heavily moly laden was much better all around AFA engine noise and performance impressions behind the wheel goes. The Fuel mileage was similar though.