Death Valley Drive Using Thin Oil

[OilUzer]

Summer is approaching and we do one trip to Nevada with a loaded car and I change to a Euro A3/B4 40 grade (M1 or Catrol) and make sure tires, PSI, coolant and cooling system is in good shape ...

My car OM says 20 grade but I normally run 5/10W-30 with M1 EP being the only 10W I use and I sometimes even use Euro 30 locally in the summer months.

That was just some background info but here is the question or concern:
If I ever owned a car with 0W-8/16 spec, I would really be afraid of driving a loaded car uphill at the speed limit (high RPM) when it's ~120°F outside with the air conditioning running full blast (dog must stay very cool ) ... Wouldn't that be a valid concern?

For example some of the hybrids don't aid with the electric motor going uphill. Do they? Do they have engine oil cooler?

I mean is there adequate MOFT for a summer time Death Valley drive using 8 or 16 grade under these conditions?

 

[RooflessVW]

Is this hypothetical car air-cooled?

 

[Lockasiam]

OEMs claim 0w8/16 is good at all temps

 

[MurkyAsparagus]

The hybrid system question is heavily heavily dependent upon the manufacturer. For example, Toyota and Honda use electric motor assist as much and as often as possible, especially the newer Hondas that are pretty much an electric motor with a generator.

Now, about the oil. IMO, it depends on the engine if I would feel the need to up the viscosity of the oil.

 

[We're Metals]

Im not kidding when I say this but I tow up Towne Pass with my Rav4 Hybrid loaded with 2 dual sport motorcycles and camping gear. Albeit, in spring around 90 degrees at Stovepipe Wells and 70 at the top of the pass. The car works hard but never any problems. I use 0w-20. Im not sure I would try it with temps above 110+ but.

I have taken the same load up 9 mile canyon which I would say is even more tougher. Temps arent as extreme but speeds are ALOT slower and more taxing on a CVT.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/9...try=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDUxMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw==

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

plenty of toyotas live life as taxis in Vegas and do fine on 0w20/0w16. I'm sure your car will be just fine

 

[Sienna dude]

Summer is approaching and we do one trip to Nevada with a loaded car and I change to a Euro A3/B4 40 grade (M1 or Catrol) and make sure tires, PSI, coolant and cooling system is in good shape ...

My car OM says 20 grade but I normally run 5/10W-30 with M1 EP being the only 10W I use and I sometimes even use Euro 30 locally in the summer months.

That was just some background info but here is the question or concern:
If I ever owned a car with 0W-8/16 spec, I would really be afraid of driving a loaded car uphill at the speed limit (high RPM) when it's ~120°F outside with the air conditioning running full blast (dog must stay very cool ) ... Wouldn't that be a valid concern?

For example some of the hybrids don't aid with the electric motor going uphill. Do they? Do they have engine oil cooler?

I mean is there adequate MOFT for a summer time Death Valley drive using 8 or 16 grade under these conditions?

Yes they have oil cooler. I have driven through Nevada in the summer on 0w16. Toyota's 2.5 runs cool. I have never seen my oil temperature cross 180 degrees.

 

[JavierH19]

With any engine as long as the radiator can dump out the heat in the oil cooler it should keep the oil from getting too hot though it will run hotter than usual but at the same time the AW additives need heat to work but that's 160-170 minimum for most oils if i'm not mistaken. But toyotas don't tend to run hot from what i've heard about.

 

[Sienna dude]

Highway speeds charge the hybrid battery and that will take care of the AC. The engine will get many opportunities to shut off and cool. My engine shuts off at 70 mph all the day long, multiple times.

Engine is completely off in this picture. These Toyotas will take you to hell and back. You are wasting your time and energy worrying. Go have fun.

 

[Sienna dude]

If you are so worried get one of these gadgets and watch your hybrid Toyota's oil temperature. You will be surprised. That 0w16 is behaving like a freakin 0w30 at those temperatures.

 

[edyvw]

Summer is approaching and we do one trip to Nevada with a loaded car and I change to a Euro A3/B4 40 grade (M1 or Catrol) and make sure tires, PSI, coolant and cooling system is in good shape ...

My car OM says 20 grade but I normally run 5/10W-30 with M1 EP being the only 10W I use and I sometimes even use Euro 30 locally in the summer months.

That was just some background info but here is the question or concern:
If I ever owned a car with 0W-8/16 spec, I would really be afraid of driving a loaded car uphill at the speed limit (high RPM) when it's ~120°F outside with the air conditioning running full blast (dog must stay very cool ) ... Wouldn't that be a valid concern?

For example some of the hybrids don't aid with the electric motor going uphill. Do they? Do they have engine oil cooler?

I mean is there adequate MOFT for a summer time Death Valley drive using 8 or 16 grade under these conditions?

No. Extreme altitude is what you should worry, not place below sea level.
I drove Tiguan at 127f (showing on screen) 100-110mph on I8 for good period of time. Coolant needle did not move.
But it did go from 1/2 to 3/4 on Pikes Peak climbing at 35mph at 45f, but Pikes Peak is at 14,112ft.

 

[CharBaby]

I drove a rental Chrysler Minivan(0W20) from Phoenix to Southern California near the Mexican boarder in 120*F )))HEAT(((
to see my nephew(US Boarder Patrol) and the engine never faltered. I actually got a speeding ticket for going over 80 mph.

 

[Lockasiam]

I actually got a speeding ticket for going over 80 mph

speeding tickets are bull

 

[scoot]

speeding tickets are bull

LoL , anarchy anarchy . First to get paid first to get xxxx . Ricky Bobby.

 

[RDY4WAR]

I've monitored oil temps in most of our vehicles in various climates and conditions. 2002 Tahoe 5.3L, 2012 Mustang 3.7L, 2007 Grand Caravan 3.3L, and 2006 Altima 2.5L. Cruising at 70 mph on the highway, all of them showed less than a 10°F change in operating oil temp with an 80°F swing in ambient temperature. The biggest difference was just in how long it took to get there, and even that wasn't a substantial margin.

I don't think the oil cares as much about ambient temperature when it's surrounded by 200°F coolant, passing through 250°F bearings, and splashing on 450°F cylinder walls.

 

[Lockasiam]

2007 Grand Caravan,

3.3/3.8?

 

[Chris142]

plenty of toyotas live life as taxis in Vegas and do fine on 0w20/0w16. I'm sure your car will be just fine

And Vegas,needles,bullhead etc.

 

[RDY4WAR]

3.3/3.8?

3.3L. I updated my comment.

 

[Lockasiam]

3.3L. I updated my comment.

Do you feed it Xw30 or 5w20

 

[RDY4WAR]

Do you feed it Xw30 or 5w20

HPL PCMO 10W-20