wemay
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Or, is it more important in cold climates or warm ones?
Is synthetic more important in 0° or 100°?
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Cold climates. It's easy to trash an engine when the oil won't flow. 100*F doesn't matter a whit to a properly maintained liquid-cooled engine. It's the people who are most affected by 100*F temperatures.
I'm assuming those are degrees Fahrenheit, not Celsius.
I'm assuming those are degrees Fahrenheit, not Celsius.
wemay
Site Donor 2023
Originally Posted By: sciphi
Cold climates. It's easy to trash an engine when the oil won't flow. 100*F doesn't matter a whit to a properly maintained liquid-cooled engine. It's the people who are most affected by 100*F temperatures.
I'm assuming those are degrees Fahrenheit, not Celsius.
Yes sciphi, °F.
Cold climates. It's easy to trash an engine when the oil won't flow. 100*F doesn't matter a whit to a properly maintained liquid-cooled engine. It's the people who are most affected by 100*F temperatures.
I'm assuming those are degrees Fahrenheit, not Celsius.
Yes sciphi, °F.
People assume that oil temp follows outside temp. It does, but only on cold start. Normal running, it's at coolant temp, whether it's 32F or 110F outside.
I had an oil temp gauge on a turbo Volvo when I lived in Colorado. The car had a separate oil cooler with a thermostat in the loop. Temps below freezing, the oil temp stabilized at 70C, the thermostat opening temp on that separate cooler. Temps up to 100F, oil temps ran at 85C, where the thermostat was fully open.
For that car, oil temp climbed above 85C based on load, not outside temp. Run it hard up I-70 and the oil temp would climb to 110C, even in below freezing weather....the oil was cooling the turbo...so, it was a matter of heat rejection based on turbo boost/load. It had little to do with outside air temp.
For a NA engine that doesn't put that much heat into the oil itself, the oil is flowing over metal parts that are stable at the coolant temperature (90C or so) and the oil will stabilize at that temp, regardless of the outside temp.
I had an oil temp gauge on a turbo Volvo when I lived in Colorado. The car had a separate oil cooler with a thermostat in the loop. Temps below freezing, the oil temp stabilized at 70C, the thermostat opening temp on that separate cooler. Temps up to 100F, oil temps ran at 85C, where the thermostat was fully open.
For that car, oil temp climbed above 85C based on load, not outside temp. Run it hard up I-70 and the oil temp would climb to 110C, even in below freezing weather....the oil was cooling the turbo...so, it was a matter of heat rejection based on turbo boost/load. It had little to do with outside air temp.
For a NA engine that doesn't put that much heat into the oil itself, the oil is flowing over metal parts that are stable at the coolant temperature (90C or so) and the oil will stabilize at that temp, regardless of the outside temp.
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^ Yup, the human thing. "It's so hot here in Texas/ Florida/ Phoenix, my body can't take it, my car needs "extra protection" as well..."
Cars shed heat 20% less efficiently (but within design parameters) at 100'F compared to 80'F, but to the human it's a world away.
Cars shed heat 20% less efficiently (but within design parameters) at 100'F compared to 80'F, but to the human it's a world away.
Originally Posted By: tig1
All temps.
Right, synthetic oil has advantages at all temp's.
That said, 100F is of course no problem for any mineral oil even 100C (212F) is no problem and in terms of oxidative stability; mineral oils are okay up to about 130C (265F).
But engines run at a very wide range of oil temperatures and the higher viscosity index of most synthetic oils provides a lubrication advantage on start-up at all temp's while providing greater high temp' protection.
All temps.
Right, synthetic oil has advantages at all temp's.
That said, 100F is of course no problem for any mineral oil even 100C (212F) is no problem and in terms of oxidative stability; mineral oils are okay up to about 130C (265F).
But engines run at a very wide range of oil temperatures and the higher viscosity index of most synthetic oils provides a lubrication advantage on start-up at all temp's while providing greater high temp' protection.
Kind of a moot point.
Most of us decide which we want to use in an engine and stay with it.
If I had to choose, I'd say that a synthetic is more important for winter than for summer, although given that our cars are typically driven at least fifteen miles on a cold start, that may not matter much either.
For winter conditions, the actual cold spec performance of any finished oil is of more importance than what it's called on the label, though.
Where you live, it probably makes no difference at all which you choose.
Contrary to what some would claim, synthetic doesn't reduce wear nor does it keep engines cleaner.
Most of us decide which we want to use in an engine and stay with it.
If I had to choose, I'd say that a synthetic is more important for winter than for summer, although given that our cars are typically driven at least fifteen miles on a cold start, that may not matter much either.
For winter conditions, the actual cold spec performance of any finished oil is of more importance than what it's called on the label, though.
Where you live, it probably makes no difference at all which you choose.
Contrary to what some would claim, synthetic doesn't reduce wear nor does it keep engines cleaner.
It's more important the colder you go for your average driver. But, if you are racing your car, or if you have oil-cooled turbos, then a synthetic is very important there, too. Higher resistance to shear.
But, as far as a little lead footing here and there, 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside isn't anything to worry about. Like mentioned, the cooling system will help keep the oil cool, too. Usually cars with radiators run 180-212F, and so does the oil. But if you are to go wide open for awhile, your coolant temps may not go over 212F, but your oil temps could climb to 250, 300, 350+ depending on application. That's where the synthetic will help, but still, oil weight itself will be just as important to match to driving style.
But, as far as a little lead footing here and there, 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside isn't anything to worry about. Like mentioned, the cooling system will help keep the oil cool, too. Usually cars with radiators run 180-212F, and so does the oil. But if you are to go wide open for awhile, your coolant temps may not go over 212F, but your oil temps could climb to 250, 300, 350+ depending on application. That's where the synthetic will help, but still, oil weight itself will be just as important to match to driving style.
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