Little experiment. Cold weather

[Icecube]

Hi

We all saw the videos on the Internet comparing the "cold flow" properties of various brand and types of oil. For fun, and for my kids education, I decided to compare the following:
Mobil 1 5w20
Castrol edge 5w30
Quaker Stake advanced durability (Dino, the only one) 5w20
Pennzoil Platinum 5w30
Pennzoil Platinum 5w20
Mobil 1 5w30

I placed equal amounts, oh perhaps 30ml or 40ml, of each oil in 500ml plastic water bottles.

This morning at -22c, they all flow the same way. Technically this is not surprising, they are all 5w oil. There was a slight gelatinous glump in the Mobil 1 5w20 but I attributed this to possible condensation making it way into the bottle or the bottle not being totally dry when I poured the oil.

The only surprise for me is that the Dino flows as well as the synthetics. Reassuringly good news as one of our cars currently has 2w20 conventional in it now and it has been very cold of late, and I don't want to change it!

The other "fun" fact is that the Castrol and Quaker State oils are all quite darker that the Mobil 1 and Pennzoil Platinum. No big deal but it shows their different compositions.

I'll check again when it is -30c. Stay tuned.

 

[JHZR2]

Pics? Videos?

 

[mrsilv04]

Nice. And you can keep that -22c as well.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: Icecube
one of our cars currently has 2w20 conventional in it now
2W-20 oil must be a Canada-only thing, like ESSO XD-3...

 

[4wheeldog]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Originally Posted By: Icecube
one of our cars currently has 2w20 conventional in it now
2W-20 oil must be a Canada-only thing, like ESSO XD-3...

I guess you could make some by mixing 3 liters 0w20 with 2 liters of 5w30.

 

[SHOZ]

What's wrong with 0wxx oils? It's all I use year around here in Illinois.

 

[Icecube]

Opps, I of course meant 5w20. Not 2w20

I have pictures but no videos yet, so not very useful! But there are so many videos out there I felt it was not very useful at this point. And because it is too cold now, I am not going out to take some! (.....until tonight when I have a hockey game to attend!)

(Yep my daughter had a 6am hockey practice and it was cooold! But I love it cold!)

 

[Oregoonian]

Try the same experiment in -40...and IMO, the 20 oils will flow better. Of course you failed to use an 0wXx oil.

 

[Nate1979]

These experiments are great and help dispel the myth that you absolutely need a 0WXx oil any time its a little bit chilly outside.

 

[TurboFiat124]

-22C (-8F) BBBRRRR.

I never really thought much about motor oils until I got on this website which has taught me allot.

I've always used 10W30 motor oil in everything. Well except my Trabant which is a 2 stroker.

My Subaru's oil cap says to use 5W30 but I've always used Castrol 10W30 from day one. But the owner's manual says 10W30 is OK to use this oil in my climate. In the middle of January on average it get's to -3C/27F at night, very seldom dropping below -15C/4F and seldom above 95F/35C.

 

[Lex94]

Maybe next time add a 10W oil

 

[Icecube]

Originally Posted By: Lex94
Maybe next time add a 10W oil

Yes, i need some for my 1990 miata which is now in storage in a heated garage. I'll buy some conventional 10w30 soon, and since a cold spell is coming back later this week, I'll let you know.

My main concern was Dino vs synthetic - at the same viscosity, more or less and yes, I know, I have only on Dino atm. More to come.

No 0wxx handy but if I find some....I'll try.

Ice

 

[raytseng]

I think new out of the bottle they should be the same. Spec is spec!

what would be interesting is what happens after it enters service
say after 1000miles (a few duty cycles).

Then say mid-way through the interval.
Then after 7500 miles or end of the interval.

 

[Luciano]

Originally Posted By: Icecube

This morning at -22c, they all flow the same way.

Holy cow my freezer isn't that cold. Where I am today: 45C (114F). Never did that experiment here but I guess it will flow really fast

 

[Icecube]

Originally Posted By: Luciano
Originally Posted By: Icecube

This morning at -22c, they all flow the same way.

Holy cow my freezer isn't that cold. Where I am today: 45C (114F). Never did that experiment here but I guess it will flow really fast

I wouldn't have it any other way. I love 4 well defined seasons; makes life interesting! But not for the wife who craves +40c any day of the week ....

I just purchased some conventional 10w40 Walmart "tune it" oil (formerly Syntech). But now the weather network says it will be a balmy -15c for a few weeks, so the experiment at -30c may have to wait. Hopefully we'll get some deep freeze soon.

(Yes I would be interesting to try this experiment when the oil is used...)

 

[Shannow]

It's good fun.

Last September, my family bought me a new Multimeter for Father's Day.

According to my son it was so I could have one in the shed, and the other in the freezer (with thermocouple).

My freezer is -20C, which is way colder than anywhere on this continent.

SAE30 flows (just), and a couple of 20W50s from "Gulf Western" don't.

Like you, I found the 5Ws interesting, Mobil 1 5W50 and Nulon 5W20 (yes we get 20s in Oz) were very similar at -20C.

Mixing 5W30 and SAE 30 gave something that flowed about as well as a 10W30 (never heated the brew to see what happened).

Mixing 5W50, and 75W90 gear oil gave rise to reactions when heated (dissimilar ad packs reacting ???), the mixed version looking very 5W, the mixed and heated version behaving more like a 10W.

 

[Turk]

Originally Posted By: Icecube


This morning at -22c, they all flow the same way.


That was no where near cold enough to run the test. Try -35 to -40 & report back.

 

[Icecube]

Allright, it's now -20c and I tried the cold flow experiment with some 10w40 Supertech Conventional (called "tune it" here in Canada"). The sample stayed outside for 24 hours.

There is a marked difference. It still flows, but like thick maple syrup, yet not like molasses, and it is a little clumpy. It is defineltly not as liquid as the other oils I have out there. The 5w20 and 5w30, conventional and synthetic oils, flow **almost** like water. This is really cool: I got my boy, who is getting into chemical engeneering next year, asking tons of question on how oil works and etc.... My 9 year oil girl wants to try it with milk, juice, etc... Eyes are openings here....

For me, this is just fun and interesting to truly see a difference between 5w and 10w oils at *just* -20c...

Sadly the weather network says the temps will stay around just -10c to -15c for the next 10 days. So I can't test -30c as suggested. Can't Waite until we get some real cold -35c to. -40c!

 

[Shannow]

 

[nobb]

Would be curious how much the difference is between a conventional and synthetic oil at -40C assuming the same 5Wxx weight!