Mobil 1 15w50 in cold weather

[eljefino]

Don't apply hot spots to your tires! The heat will be uneven with unpredictable results. If you're concerned, put a forced air space heater out there.

Myself, I'd worry more about a poorly insulated pipe in your house giving you trouble.

 

[4WD]

:

C’mon man … that’s not even extreme on this site 👀😷👀

 

[cheesepuffs2]

M1 15W50 is one of their best if not their best oil. Not scientific, but I did a freezer test with M1 15W50 and RP 20W50. The RP was frozen solid, while the M1 moved around in the bottle like a 10W30 or something would.

When M1 15W50 silver cap was first introduced (after the discontinuation of the red cap 15W50), MJ of ExxonMobil told me it was a group IV/V blend.

You chose good!

What temp was the freezer at? Just curious what it takes to get RP in that bad of shape.

 

[ka9mnx]

This is why people with collector cars drive beaters.

 

[Rod Knock]

Yes, tires are a concern. I’m actually planning to put hot hands handwarmers on the tires the night before. Not sure it will help. I’m also considering running to Lowe’s and buying a propane heater. I’ve got a set of all seasons that are supposed to arrive Thursday so hopefully I’ll have them on by the weekend otherwise zero chance I’m taking it out.

Is this vehicle your primary mode of transportation?

[Edit]

Have you considered running Mobil 1 FS 0W-40, 5W-40, or 5W-50? Given the vintage of your Ferrari, it'd me a more appropriate lubricant. I'm mentioning all three oils because 5W-40 is sometimes hard to find, and 5W-50 is even harder. The Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 is Mobil's best oil that you can buy at Walmart. It's really good stuff. If you're only driving on the street without crazy track sessions, I would run 0W-40 full time without any concerns.

[2nd Edit]

Quaker State Euro 5W-40 is also a good oil. It's Shell Helix Ultra SP 5W-40 in a different jug. IIRC it's the factory fill for many Ferraris.

 

[PimTac]

If your garage is small just plug in a heater.

 

[Cujet]

You will not have any problems with it at those temperatures. If it drops to -30°F, I'd preheat. Especially due to the fact that it's garaged, the temp will be moderated a bit. In any case, it is always a good idea to let a high RPM, high performance engine warm up the oil before using it's capabilities, regardless of temperature.

 

[Threeofnine]

Is this vehicle your primary mode of transportation?

[Edit]

Have you considered running Mobil 1 FS 0W-40, 5W-40, or 5W-50? Given the vintage of your Ferrari, it'd me a more appropriate lubricant. I'm mentioning all three oils because 5W-40 is sometimes hard to find, and 5W-50 is even harder. The Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 is Mobil's best oil that you can buy at Walmart. It's really good stuff. If you're only driving on the street without crazy track sessions, I would run 0W-40 full time without any concerns.

[2nd Edit]

Quaker State Euro 5W-40 is also a good oil. It's Shell Helix Ultra SP 5W-40 in a different jug. IIRC it's the factory fill for many Ferraris.

It’s not my primary vehicle, I also have a Tesla and a Chevy truck but I will say I drive the TR more than any other car. I’d almost call it my daily driver.

 

[Rod Knock]

It’s not my primary vehicle, I also have a Tesla and a Chevy truck but I will say I drive the TR more than any other car. I’d almost call it my daily driver.

Well, that was my dream car as a child and teenager, and I will probably never own one, but still, I can dream, right? I did have a small toy version of it, it was red. It's an awesome vehicle.

If you want something above Mobil 1 to take care of your Ferrari, I recommend @High Performance Lubricants. It will keep the engine clean and wear in check. They use expensive - high quality materials to blend their oils. I recommend picking an oil from their Supercar lineup: https://www.advlubrication.com/collections/automotive-lubricants/products/super-car-engine-oil

They are easy to contact here on BITOG and are very approachable. Ask them for a recommendation. And if you don't want to use their products, I'm pretty sure they'll recommend Mobil 1 FS 0W-40 for a daily driver.

PDS: https://www.hplubricants.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Super-Car-Engine-Oil-PDS.pdf

 

[zray1]

“… but would it even be safe to start the engine, using 15w50, with temps in the teens?

I used the M-1 15w-50 many years in Texas , and one year in NE Oklahoma in my daily driver ‘66 Shelby GT-350’s and ‘66 Galaxies. Not show cars, or “beater” btw , ha ha. Just dependable well sorted clean drivers. I drove all the classics for coast to coast numerous times without a hitch, or any maintenance / repairs. Just like my parents did when these cars were new.

Often the Texas winters would get in the mid teens (F), and of course NE Oklahoma had brutal weather coming straight across the plains down from the Rockies. Many nights in the single digits F.

All cars started easily and showed the same great wear characteristics that M-1 15w-50 is well known for.

After my first year(and first oil change) in Oklahoma I switched to M-1 0w-40 all year round. Currently using the same M-1 0w-40 in an ‘02 Jaguar XKR, my current daily driver.

Z

 

[Jackson_Slugger]

I took the advice of several forum members and used Mobil 1 15w50 in my Ferrari Testarossa. I am in Alabama where it rarely drops below freezing. However, it looks like we might get a once in 30 year cold snap next weekend. They are saying lows could be around 10F.

Yup!:

Christmas Week Forecast: A Frigid Arctic Outbreak with the Coldest Airmass of the Winter Season and a Major Winter Storm heads for the United States

A historic Arctic cold will send millions across the United States and Canada into deep freeze. New winter storm is forecast around Christmas.

www.severe-weather.eu

I seriously doubt I will drive the car in this weather, but would it even be safe to start the engine, using 15w50, with temps in the teens?

I think it will be fine, just let it warm up a couple minutes. Your bigger issue might be the (I assume) summer performance tires on any snow/slush/ice....

 

[aquariuscsm]

What temp was the freezer at? Just curious what it takes to get RP in that bad of shape.

Gosh I haven't a clue.

 

[Lubener]

Drain the oil into a container you can bring inside the house. Then before you starting it up, pour the warm oil back into the engine.

Unbelievable....

 

[atikovi]

Unbelievable....

That's exactly what some pilots in Alaska do if they know it's going to be -40°F the next morning and they have to fly.

 

[PimTac]

That's exactly what some pilots in Alaska do if they know it's going to be -40°F the next morning and they have to fly.

At -40°F that warm oil will turn instantly cold. It’s a lost cause. Pilots up there have covers and shrouds along with heaters to keep the plane engine warm.

 

[kschachn]

And here this entire thread is asking about a 15W rated oil in 10F weather. The answer is that it is acceptable.

It is better that the science behind the winter rating should rule instead of nonsense.

 

[benjy]

Mobil I 15-50 used to be PAO but NOT these days!! fake synthetics are better BUT thicken MORE in the COLD compared to REAL synthetics!!

 

[kschachn]

Mobil I 15-50 used to be PAO but NOT these days!! fake synthetics are better BUT thicken MORE in the COLD compared to REAL synthetics!!

And still meet the performance requirements for the winter rating on the label. If one of these super-duper synthetics have a winter performance that exceeds the requirements for a 20W, 15W, 10W or 5W rating then it would be labeled with that better rating.

 

[Astro_Guy]

I took the advice of several forum members and used Mobil 1 15w50 in my Ferrari Testarossa. I am in Alabama where it rarely drops below freezing. However, it looks like we might get a once in 30 year cold snap next weekend. They are saying lows could be around 10F.

I seriously doubt I will drive the car in this weather, but would it even be safe to start the engine, using 15w50, with temps in the teens?

Somewhere in the late 90's I got the bright idea to try M1 15w-50 in my Audi T4 Turbo Quattro. That car had an oil temperature guage. The oil temperature went way up, and the car seemed a little sluggish. IIRC I dumped that oil before 1000 miles and went back ontoto the reservation, meaning 10W-30.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

And still meet the performance requirements for the winter rating on the label. If one of these super-duper synthetics have a winter performance that exceeds the requirements for a 20W, 15W, 10W or 5W rating then it would be labeled with that better rating.

On this note, if a synthetic 5W oil doesn't offer better cold performance than a conventional or blend 5W, then what's the benefit of synthetic oil for cold performance? I thought one of the big selling points for PAO and GTL are cold performance.