Northern Montana oil question

[eljefino]

There are oil pan heaters... both sticky and magnetic. And there are ones that replace your dipstick.

It'd be worth checking all your glow plugs, grid heater if you have it, and everything else cold-related on the truck. More fun to fix that sort of thing in nice weather.

Also don't park it November 1st and expect it to go in February on the summer/ fall blend fuel. The stuff you buy locally in winter will be good for winter.

 

[tcp71]

Do it soon.

 

[facility1]

I see that Kendall makes a specific cold engine oil for your use,SHP-0w-40 Artic Diesel ,pours at -72 f,,or their SHP,5w-40 at -54f ,nice to have a plug in,,if any electrical power is available, or not in use at any truck stops.

 

[Splat54]

I believe that 5w40 is recommended for year round service by the OEM for the 5.9? Verify by checking your manual…
Not sure where you’re moving from…but get that sucker undercoated too

No, 15W-40 until it gets really cold. Which it will here in a couple months.

 

[Splat54]

I guess I’ll be doing an early oil change. I noticed that Mobil has a $10/gal rebate on their Delvac 5W-40 until the end of October. I’ll start using 5W-40 year around now. Thanks everyone for your comments!

 

[Shel_B]

With a block heater installed, you don't need to really worry too much. Good batteries are more important and it would be a good idea to install a trickle charger that runs when the truck is plugged in.

Unless, of course, the truck is parked for a while where the block heater can't be used, such as parking where there's no accessible electricity.

 

[Dutchy491]

I guess I’ll be doing an early oil change. I noticed that Mobil has a $10/gal rebate on their Delvac 5W-40 until the end of October. I’ll start using 5W-40 year around now. Thanks everyone for your comments!

No, 15W-40 until it gets really cold. Which it will here in a couple months.

So I guess you’re ok then with 5w40 year round?

 

[ripcord]

So I guess you’re ok then with 5w40 year round?

Hah! I visited my folks in central Montana last year and it hit -20f a few nights in October.

 

[tcp71]

A block heater does almost nothing for oil in the pan. It heats the coolant. In northern Alberta diesel trucks run 24/7 when temperatures are below -30C or so. Restarting big trucks below that can be a royal pain and often requires a tarp around the engine and a couple of these pumping in heat:

 

[kschachn]

So I guess you’re ok then with 5w40 year round?

That would be a better choice. Those are typically better oils.

 

[JustTrynaHelp]

About a month before moving up to northern Montana, I did a regular oil change using Mobil Delvac Extreme 15W-40, which is a FS oil. I’m about 3000 miles into the 7500 mile OCI. Before winter hits, should I change the oil out for 5W-40? I don’t expect to do much driving in the winter in this vehicle. Probably less than 2000 miles. I will plug in the block heater when I do drive it.

I lived in Glasgow for 4-1/2 years. Jan/Feb temps get down to the -20s F regularly at night and sometimes colder.

So if you will ALWAYS have it plugged in you can use the 15w.

But - and it's a big one - IF you get caught out parked and not plugged in, you will likely be stranded if it gets too cold.

In your position I'd definitely go with the 5w, and preferably the 0w.

 

[Redhawk454]

When I plug in my bx1880 after a couple hours of it being plugged in the oil filter gets pretty toasty. Warming the oil is a secondary affect of the block heater but it has to be plugged in for a while and preferably with no wind beating on it