I am currently using Pennzoil Platinum 5w-20 in my 02 Civic. Minnesota winters have there moments. I am just curious if any oils out there would yield a noticable difference in cold start performance, short of botique oils which are a bit pricy for me?
good cold weather oil
- Thread starter moviedave
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Honda's synthetic 0w20 *might* help. Do you use a block heater?
Pennzoil Platinum 0W-20 might help, you can buy it at oil dash store dot com.
Your current choice is fine for any weather we get here in the lower 48.
Bill
Bill
Originally Posted By: moviedave
Any difference between brands?
Nope. Any API SM/SN will do you fine.
Any difference between brands?
Nope. Any API SM/SN will do you fine.
Originally Posted By: moviedave
no. I have no where to plug a heater in.
AN EXTENTION CORD ?
and Mobil 1 0w20............
no. I have no where to plug a heater in.
AN EXTENTION CORD ?
and Mobil 1 0w20............
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How many CCA does your battery have, how old is it
Assuming the battery is good, then Castrol EDGE 0W20, or Mobil 1 0W20 are two good oils for cold weather starting.
Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Assuming the battery is good, then Castrol EDGE 0W20, or Mobil 1 0W20 are two good oils for cold weather starting.
+1. Might want to look into synthetic transmission fluid as well. Minnesota is one place where I think synthetic fluids are warranted. It's been in the 20s to 30s below 0 the past few nights up there.
0w-20, synthetic trans fluid, and the highest rated CCA battery you can get should help out.
Assuming the battery is good, then Castrol EDGE 0W20, or Mobil 1 0W20 are two good oils for cold weather starting.
+1. Might want to look into synthetic transmission fluid as well. Minnesota is one place where I think synthetic fluids are warranted. It's been in the 20s to 30s below 0 the past few nights up there.
0w-20, synthetic trans fluid, and the highest rated CCA battery you can get should help out.
Pennzoil Platinum 5w20 should be plenty thin.
Go with the 0W20!! Same price, no reason not to!
I think its odd that BITOG members would think that:
5W20 is as thin as 0W20 at -40f, no data sheets show that to be true.
At very cold temperatures:
0W20 is thinner than 5W20
5W30 is thinner than 10W30
10W30 is thinnner than 20W50
Etc.
The advantage is about 9 degrees f per cold viscosity
specs, which translates directly to cranking and starting ability.
Looking at lots of published data, for a constant CCS number:
20WXX -4 f
15WXX -13F
10WXX -21f
5WXX - 30F
0WXX -40F (Synthetics also fall to the better end of the variation)
Extensive testing published years ago by GM also showed that these may be the minimum starting temperatures for a typical engine. Interestingly, the BMW that I bought new and kept "forever" almost exactly matched these starting predictions in winter. Bought during the "thick oil" days, it was very poor at winter starting, but the thinner oils made it bulletproof!!
I seen no reason in very cold temperatures to run 5W20 if 0W20 is available
I think its odd that BITOG members would think that:
5W20 is as thin as 0W20 at -40f, no data sheets show that to be true.
At very cold temperatures:
0W20 is thinner than 5W20
5W30 is thinner than 10W30
10W30 is thinnner than 20W50
Etc.
The advantage is about 9 degrees f per cold viscosity
specs, which translates directly to cranking and starting ability.
Looking at lots of published data, for a constant CCS number:
20WXX -4 f
15WXX -13F
10WXX -21f
5WXX - 30F
0WXX -40F (Synthetics also fall to the better end of the variation)
Extensive testing published years ago by GM also showed that these may be the minimum starting temperatures for a typical engine. Interestingly, the BMW that I bought new and kept "forever" almost exactly matched these starting predictions in winter. Bought during the "thick oil" days, it was very poor at winter starting, but the thinner oils made it bulletproof!!
I seen no reason in very cold temperatures to run 5W20 if 0W20 is available
Look for which one has the best cold cranking velocity. Pour points are not that useful.
Motorcraft 5w-20 is good in cold and cheap.
You are already using a synthetic 5w20. More than adequate for anything we will likely run into. I use conventional 5w30 in all my rigs (except my new to me 04 F150 that gets 5w20), and they survive fine, even parked outside with no block heater. Sure, they are a little balky at -25 or so, but that is only every now and then and few minutes warming up and they are fine. Modern fuel injection makes cold starting much simpler than it was before (Thank goodness!)
If it makes you feel better, then 0w20 would be fine, but I certainly wouldn't beat myself up over it.
If it makes you feel better, then 0w20 would be fine, but I certainly wouldn't beat myself up over it.
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