Originally Posted By: RogerBacon
OK here is the deal-- I can get 15w40 diesel oil for free. I want to mix it with something I buy to make it usable it a 2002 Bonneville. I think the 15w40 is too heavy for use in the cold weather in Ontario. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Roger
For winter in Ontario, you might want to avoid using the 15w40 and use a 0W-30.
But after winter, that 15w40 will be fine. Consider the following.
The oils to be mixed:
Code:
TYPICAL 15w40
40°C kinematic viscosity 120 cSt
100°C kinematic viscosity 15 cSt
TYPICAL 5W-20
40°C kinematic viscosity 50 cSt
100°C kinematic viscosity 8.5 cSt
Mix 2 parts 15w40 and 3 parts 5W-20, and the estimate of what you'll get is
Code:
40°C kinematic viscosity 70 cSt
100°C kinematic viscosity 10.5 cSt
That result would be a typical North American xW-30. We don't know what the low-temperature behavior is, but its probably going to be like a 10W.
To use even more of your free 15w40 oil, how about a 1:1 mix:
Code:
40°C kinematic viscosity 76 cSt
100°C kinematic viscosity 11 cSt
or 3 parts 15w40, 2 parts 5W-20
Code:
40°C kinematic viscosity 83 cSt
100°C kinematic viscosity 11.8 cSt
or 2 parts 15w40, 1 parts 5W-20
Code:
40°C kinematic viscosity 88 cSt
100°C kinematic viscosity 12.3 cSt
All of those mixes fall into the xW-30 range. Note that they are getting progressively thicker.
For comparison, the 5w30 oils that GM specifies for the 3800 engines is 10.5–11.0 cSt at 100°C. You should be able to go thicker, though.