Is this oil sufficient for cold winters?

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

boarding_dude

Joined
Oct 25, 2012
Messages
6
Location
Alberta, Canada
Hey everyone, this is my first time posting and trying to figure out how forums work. I am having trouble figuring out which oil to use in my 2004 audi S4 this winter. I have searched for hours all over the internet but haven't found exactly what I've been looking for. My brother like many others runs Motul 8100 X-cess and likes it. I was going to purchase some and do an oil change but I noticed the pour point is only -36 Celsius. Where I live in Saskatchewan, Canada, it often will get to low -40s for a few weeks and was concerned that Motul would not be sufficient. The representative at Motul assured me that I would not have problems, but was wondering if anyone else had any advice they could share?

Thank you very much in advance!
 
Find a 0W-xx oil with a low MRV viscosity and a low CCS viscosity.
At -40C, those specifications are very relevant.
Pour point is not informative.
 
Hey, welcome, neat seeing more SK folks around here.

If you want a great oil, like spasm3 said try Mobil 1 0W-40, its around town. It costs a few but its a very good synthetic for what its worth.

Getting a 0W- grade oil is what you should be looking for, I wouldn't terrifically fret every other figure. I've run 5w30 myself in winter just fine, even down to -45, though the car severely doesn't like it (block heater mandatory).

Getting a 0W- will put you ahead of the pack to say the least.

But if you want really quality oil, Mobil 1 0W-40 /or/ Castrol EDGE SPT 0w30 (AKA German Castrol) can still be found, and works fantastic in low temperatures.

Assuming you can use 30 weight oils that is, I'm unsure what an Audi S4 calls for exactly. You have other options, Co-Op and Shell sell 0W-40 oils made for diesel engines...they'll work fine in most cars but obviously that is a specialized application. Warranty expired and "I'm cheap" kinda application. I make a regular habit of running Shell Rotella T5 0w30 semi-synthetic in my car for instance, and it starts fantastically when cold.

Edit: Petro-Canada 0w30 isn't a very "stout" synthetic, I wouldn't run 15,000kms on it, but I've used it too and never had a problem. Its cheap too! Bulk dealers around here offer it for about 7 bucks a quart.

Edit in an Edit: If you really wanna run Motul products, which are great and its your choice if you have a source on 'em, try something like their 0W-40 300V. Likely gonna cost a few but it will be what you're looking for, however this compares to what you're using.
 
Last edited:
Welcome. I'm in Saskatoon so I know exactly what your going through. First off go and get an oil heater that you can plug in with the block heater. The magnetics are great however you know how well our roads get plowed so you would have to find a way to secure it so it doesn't get ripped off from running over the snowbanks.
Motul is great oil. Are you still under warantee. If so you gotta use whatever they tell you as far as what spec it has to meet. A 0w-xx is an absolute must here for winter.
I'd go the motul route personally because I hate mobil however I'm sure mobil 1 0w-40 meets the Audi oil spec.
Here in Saskatoon the napa carries the German made,imported liqui-moly brand and I guarantee they make an oil that meets your particular spec. I've just picked up 2 5 liter jugs of their 0w-40 and a jug of their 10w-40 with mos2 already added.
Since it's near impossible to find the jugs of mobil 0w-40 it will cost less to go the liqui-moly route and the oils themselves are stellar.
If your in Saskatoon pm me.
 
If you have a German car, use a German oil and Liqui Moly are a real good oil company. This is a link to their German site, so you can figure if you need Synthoil 0/40 or Longlife 0/30:

http://www.liqui-moly.de/liquimoly/web.nsf/id/pa_eng_oil_guide.html

If you don't want to use an Audi oil or air filter, then make sure it says made in Germany and a Mann or Bosche one is nearly as good.
Look on E bay for a simple cheap glue on sump heater and install the socket so the plug pull out if you forget it. The car will start fine without one, but they do reduce engine wear, initial fuel burn and get the heater working faster.
A real Kenlow cooling system heater is better, BUT they cost more and it is a much bigger installation job.
 
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Is mobil 0w40 available ?


walmart carries those for around 25 bucks.

Dont cheap out on filter cooling and heating continuously with your super low temps will destroy cheap filters.
 
Originally Posted By: skyship
If you have a German car, use a German oil and Liqui Moly are a real good oil company. This is a link to their German site, so you can figure if you need Synthoil 0/40 or Longlife 0/30:

http://www.liqui-moly.de/liquimoly/web.nsf/id/pa_eng_oil_guide.html

If you don't want to use an Audi oil or air filter, then make sure it says made in Germany and a Mann or Bosche one is nearly as good.
Look on E bay for a simple cheap glue on sump heater and install the socket so the plug pull out if you forget it. The car will start fine without one, but they do reduce engine wear, initial fuel burn and get the heater working faster.
A real Kenlow cooling system heater is better, BUT they cost more and it is a much bigger installation job.



Oil that holds up 25,000 miles?
That seems like an impossible claim to back up.
Not even royal purple dare to say that much.... Sounds like some serious German engineering.

Their site has the most detailed information about oil change/engine type and everything in between , i am actually impressed.
 
Last edited:
Hey everyone thanks for the help. Im amazed with how much advice you all have to offer.

Originally Posted By: spasm3
WELCOME!!!!! Are you using a block or pan heater? how far do you usually drive?

I have a block heater,but no pan heater. After hearing all these suggestions to get a block heater I will try to find one. I usually drive 5km/day (work and back).
 
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Is mobil 0w40 available ?


Yes I would be able to get it. However, I currently have mobil 5w-40 right now and do not like how much chatter there is on start up, which never happened with the castrol that the previous owner had in it.
 
At -40, you really want a pan heater, water jacket heater, and likely a battery heater if the car isn't parked in a heated garage. I've been in Wyoming in that weather and remember folks with Coleman lanterns placed under the oil pan on their jacked up car trying to get the engine warm enough to crank. A buddy was working in a restaurant late one night and when driving home noticed that his Blazer was driving oddly. It turned out that the grease in the front hubs was so cold and thick that the tires were sliding on the snow base road--they weren't even turning. He had to engage his 4wd just to get the front tires turning. We didn't even know actually how cold it got that night--mercury in the thermometer freezes at -38°. (-40°C = -40°F, by the way.)
 
You are going to have to do some research and homework. Look at the tech data sheets for your favorite Audi approved 0W-xx oils, look at the MRV and CCS specs, and choose the oil with the lowest MRV and CCS viscosities.

And since you only drive 5km each way, a oil pan heater is a great idea.
 
Originally Posted By: boarding_dude
.............I currently have mobil 5w-40 right now and do not like how much chatter there is on start up, ..........


That chatter could be due to oil starvation. Not good.
 
First welcome to BITOG.

The hands down best oil choice in a heavy 30wt (HTHSV 3.5cP+) oil for your application would be the Mobil Delvac Elite 222 0w30 (nee Esso XD-3 0W-30).
With a MRV of 14,900cP this PAO based oil has no equal unless you want to run a 0W-20 oil which is what I do in the winter months in my Bimmer (oil temp's never get above 80C).
 
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Welcome. I'm in Saskatoon so I know exactly what your going through. First off go and get an oil heater that you can plug in with the block heater. The magnetics are great however you know how well our roads get plowed so you would have to find a way to secure it so it doesn't get ripped off from running over the snowbanks.
Motul is great oil. Are you still under warantee. If so you gotta use whatever they tell you as far as what spec it has to meet. A 0w-xx is an absolute must here for winter.
I'd go the motul route personally because I hate mobil however I'm sure mobil 1 0w-40 meets the Audi oil spec.
Here in Saskatoon the napa carries the German made,imported liqui-moly brand and I guarantee they make an oil that meets your particular spec. I've just picked up 2 5 liter jugs of their 0w-40 and a jug of their 10w-40 with mos2 already added.
Since it's near impossible to find the jugs of mobil 0w-40 it will cost less to go the liqui-moly route and the oils themselves are stellar.
If your in Saskatoon pm me.


Hey thanks for the welcome. No im not under warranty anymore. Motul doesn't have a 0 weight oil that suits my car but they said they were coming out with a 0w-40 soon. I went to napa to get the liqui moly 0w-40 but they only have 5 L jugs. I need about 12 liters and didn't want to have to buy 3 full 5L jugs. Why did you get a jug of 10w-40 along with your 0w-40? Are you mixing them? Thanks for the help!
 
Originally Posted By: SubLGT
You are going to have to do some research and homework. Look at the tech data sheets for your favorite Audi approved 0W-xx oils, look at the MRV and CCS specs, and choose the oil with the lowest MRV and CCS viscosities.

And since you only drive 5km each way, a oil pan heater is a great idea.


I tried to find the MRV and CCs viscosities for Motul 8100 X-cess, Liqui moly 0w-40, and redline 0w-40 but havent had any luck. Where could I find these besides calling the companies?

Also, what would be the major differences in running Liqui moly 0w-40, and redline 0w-40. I haven't seen too many people running redline in their audi s4 but my friends keep telling me it is great oil.

Thanks everyone
 
^^ you will have to call the companies then, or email them, if they don't publish those specs in their data sheets. Or do a search of BITOG.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
Best oil for Tuned BMW M8 (S63TU4)
2
Replies
22
Views
1K
Emi
A
Can I use 5W40 high-end Audi spec oil in my 2005 Ram 1500 4.7?
Replies
12
Views
1K
carguy84
J
Part number difference Motul 8100 Xcess Gen 2
Replies
10
Views
2K
Jay11STI
T
Motul Nismo Oil?
Replies
4
Views
1K
930.engineering
Tals975
Best performing oil for track use - Camaro SS
Replies
18
Views
5K
Snagglefoot
Back
Top Bottom