GDI Winter Fill : 5W20 or 5W30 ?
- Thread starter ChrisD46
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Winter in GA? 5w30 is a normal fill in Canada. Stick with what you are doing.
Switching from a 30 to a 20 in the winter will not help you in a cold environment, and especially not in a Georgia winter. The Winter rating will make a difference, but that would only be in extreme cold scenarios that you'll never see in the deep South. Stick with the 5w30 and motor on.
A 5w30 should provide you with more than adequate cold flow characteristics given your location.
Don't fix what ain't broken...
Don't fix what ain't broken...
I would stay with 5W30 winter & summer for your vehicle in GA.
I realize the Georgia did get some snowfall and cold temperatures in some recent years/winters.
However, here in the NE, we get temps below 0 degs F down to the -20s degs F or colder on occassions and often we still use a 5W30 or 5W20.
Even though these days, we do use lots of 0W20 full syn.
I realize the Georgia did get some snowfall and cold temperatures in some recent years/winters.
However, here in the NE, we get temps below 0 degs F down to the -20s degs F or colder on occassions and often we still use a 5W30 or 5W20.
Even though these days, we do use lots of 0W20 full syn.
Originally Posted by JustN89
Switching from a 30 to a 20 in the winter will not help you in a cold environment, and especially not in a Georgia winter. The Winter rating will make a difference, but that would only be in extreme cold scenarios that you'll never see in the deep South. Stick with the 5w30 and motor on.
I disagree that a 20 grade will not help you in a cold environment. but I think the OP should stick with a good 5w30.
a typical 5W20 KV40 is 10cSt less viscous than a comparable 5W30
- and that is near 100 deg F.
I've never had any luck switching grades for winter. Maybe some here have and can chime in.
Switching from a 30 to a 20 in the winter will not help you in a cold environment, and especially not in a Georgia winter. The Winter rating will make a difference, but that would only be in extreme cold scenarios that you'll never see in the deep South. Stick with the 5w30 and motor on.
I disagree that a 20 grade will not help you in a cold environment. but I think the OP should stick with a good 5w30.
a typical 5W20 KV40 is 10cSt less viscous than a comparable 5W30
- and that is near 100 deg F.
I've never had any luck switching grades for winter. Maybe some here have and can chime in.
Given a choice between 5W20 and 5W30 for the winter, I'd use 5W30 year round. I see no upside using a 5W20 in a GDI engine, turbo or not.
NO Kidding. I used to have cars that had Choke and Throttle knobs!
I think we ran 10w30 in the winter in the Buick Nailhead and 10w40 in the mild weather.
And that was Multigrade.
Folks forget it used to be hard to get a car started in sub freezing temperature in the 60's and 70's
I think we ran 10w30 in the winter in the Buick Nailhead and 10w40 in the mild weather.
And that was Multigrade.
Folks forget it used to be hard to get a car started in sub freezing temperature in the 60's and 70's
Originally Posted by ARCOgraphite
NO Kidding. I used to have cars that had Choke and Throttle knobs!
I think we ran 10w30 in the winter in the Buick Nailhead and 10w40 in the mild weather.
And that was Multigrade.
Folks forget it used to be hard to get a car started in sub freezing temperature in the 60's and 70's
I hear ya. I had a few cars I fit with a hand choke, to ease starting.
NO Kidding. I used to have cars that had Choke and Throttle knobs!
I think we ran 10w30 in the winter in the Buick Nailhead and 10w40 in the mild weather.
And that was Multigrade.
Folks forget it used to be hard to get a car started in sub freezing temperature in the 60's and 70's
I hear ya. I had a few cars I fit with a hand choke, to ease starting.
Originally Posted by demarpaint
Given a choice between 5W20 and 5W30 for the winter, I'd use 5W30 year round. I see no upside using a 5W20 in a GDI engine, turbo or not.
My VW uses 0W20 LE IV 508.
No problem so far with that high specification fluid.
NO clue what the dealer just put in though they said Castrol Edge - it better be VW508.00/509.00
.
But they are a bunch of fakers. My tread depth reading on the courtesy safety check was totally pencil whipped.
Fronts are down to 6/32 already in 5K miles! They reported 9/32 F an R I knew that was wrong and cued me to check.
Given a choice between 5W20 and 5W30 for the winter, I'd use 5W30 year round. I see no upside using a 5W20 in a GDI engine, turbo or not.
My VW uses 0W20 LE IV 508.
No problem so far with that high specification fluid.
NO clue what the dealer just put in though they said Castrol Edge - it better be VW508.00/509.00
.
But they are a bunch of fakers. My tread depth reading on the courtesy safety check was totally pencil whipped.
Fronts are down to 6/32 already in 5K miles! They reported 9/32 F an R I knew that was wrong and cued me to check.
Last edited:
wemay
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Either will work just fine. Pick the one that puts your mind at ease. From what i remember, your intervals aren't long...
Originally Posted by ARCOgraphite
Originally Posted by demarpaint
Given a choice between 5W20 and 5W30 for the winter, I'd use 5W30 year round. I see no upside using a 5W20 in a GDI engine, turbo or not.
My VW uses 0W20 LE IV 508.
No problem so far with that high specification fluid.
NO clue what the dealer just put in though they said Castrol Edge - it better be VW508.00/509.00
.
But they are a bunch of fakers. My tread depth reading on the courtesy safety check was totally pencil whipped.
Fronts are down to 6/32 already in 5K miles! They reported 9/32 F an R I knew that was wrong and cued me to check.
Interesting. Scary though, not having a clue what oil they put in. Good luck getting the tire issue sorted out.
Originally Posted by demarpaint
Given a choice between 5W20 and 5W30 for the winter, I'd use 5W30 year round. I see no upside using a 5W20 in a GDI engine, turbo or not.
My VW uses 0W20 LE IV 508.
No problem so far with that high specification fluid.
NO clue what the dealer just put in though they said Castrol Edge - it better be VW508.00/509.00
.
But they are a bunch of fakers. My tread depth reading on the courtesy safety check was totally pencil whipped.
Fronts are down to 6/32 already in 5K miles! They reported 9/32 F an R I knew that was wrong and cued me to check.
Interesting. Scary though, not having a clue what oil they put in. Good luck getting the tire issue sorted out.
Originally Posted by ARCOgraphite
NO Kidding. I used to have cars that had Choke and Throttle knobs!
I think we ran 10w30 in the winter in the Buick Nailhead and 10w40 in the mild weather.
And that was Multigrade.
Folks forget it used to be hard to get a car started in sub freezing temperature in the 60's and 70's
and it was harder to start those cars cause the oil was too [censored] thick!
NO Kidding. I used to have cars that had Choke and Throttle knobs!
I think we ran 10w30 in the winter in the Buick Nailhead and 10w40 in the mild weather.
And that was Multigrade.
Folks forget it used to be hard to get a car started in sub freezing temperature in the 60's and 70's
and it was harder to start those cars cause the oil was too [censored] thick!
OP Here : My location of North Georgia (closer to mountains) can see mid to high teens as lows and low 30's as highs cycle through the day (although not an every day occurrence) .
*I had not planned to use 5W20 in the winter but posed the question with updated information always floating around regarding cooler temps , GDI challenges , 5W20 vs. 5W30 , etc.
*I had not planned to use 5W20 in the winter but posed the question with updated information always floating around regarding cooler temps , GDI challenges , 5W20 vs. 5W30 , etc.
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