Polar Vortex Hits US: Get your synthetic oil on...

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Originally Posted By: bdleonard
Originally Posted By: nepadriver
Originally Posted By: Flareside302
just gonna drop this here...

-15* this morning...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0UyKVxcB2E


Wow that really tells the story! I didn't think the difference would be that dramatic.


That is because the difference is not that dramatic for a 5w at those temps. All this video shows definitively is that the Amsoil bottle has a larger spout, and that they don't know the proper way to pour the Pennzoil style bottle. (Hint: You hold the spout on the top side. This allows air in to the bottle quickly to provide a faster more controlled pour, and prevent the "glugging" seen in the video.)



look at the next video i posted.. amsoil 15w40 vs rotella 15w40 and the amsoil was put in a conventional pennzoil bottle..
 
A much fairer comparison. I would expect 15w synthetic vs non to show a big difference at those temps, and they did.

You're still pouring it wrong ;-)
 
im not the one pouring it. its a buddy of mine.. but facts aside.. it's still a massive difference. it's taking 3x or longer to get all the oil out..
 
Anytime its below zero, I never worry about my engine or transmission. Its the power steering I worry about.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit

I have an errand to run around 1:00, and I may take the pickup which has been sitting outside, and hasn't been started in a couple weeks. I'm quite certain it will start just fine with that antiquated dino that it has in it.


It would be interesting to see the battery voltage when cranking at those temps after sitting that long.

Your battery may be frozen, FYI.


It started just fine, and I drove it for about an hour.
 
Originally Posted By: Flareside302
diesels.... pays to use a good synthetic..

Rotella vs Amsoil... the amsoil was poured into the Pennzoil bottle so there was no complaints about the bottle opening size effecting the pour rate..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4cQFS9YKO8


And that is that. No doubt. I may try a test tonight, have some PU and Nextgen dino 5w-30.
 
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
The fact that the engine "starts right up" and you have oil pressure does not mean it's getting proper lubrication.


Nonsense. While it's not wise to jump in, gun it and race off at these temperatures, starting an engine in temperatures this cold with a conventional oil doesn't hurt a thing.
 
No argument here on the 15W-40 comparison, but I think the 5W-30 video is fairly misleading.

I didn't mean to disparage your pour technique without cause, seeing it done upside down makes the OCD part of my brain angry.
 
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit

I have an errand to run around 1:00, and I may take the pickup which has been sitting outside, and hasn't been started in a couple weeks. I'm quite certain it will start just fine with that antiquated dino that it has in it.


It would be interesting to see the battery voltage when cranking at those temps after sitting that long.

Your battery may be frozen, FYI.


It started just fine, and I drove it for about an hour.


Wonderful. The voltage while cranking is still an interesting exercise in impedance/diffusion/chemical reaction under fairly atypical conditions. Still would have been interesting to see a number for the battery at rest and when cranking.
 
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
The fact that the engine "starts right up" and you have oil pressure does not mean it's getting proper lubrication.


Nonsense. While it's not wise to jump in, gun it and race off at these temperatures, starting an engine in temperatures this cold with a conventional oil doesn't hurt a thing.



As much as it pains me to agree you I have to on this point.
 
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
The fact that the engine "starts right up" and you have oil pressure does not mean it's getting proper lubrication.


Nonsense. While it's not wise to jump in, gun it and race off at these temperatures, starting an engine in temperatures this cold with a conventional oil doesn't hurt a thing.



As much as it pains me to agree you I have to on this point.


I guess it just comes from me being a motorhead and understanding that the oil pressure is taken at the beginning of the oil circuit and not the end. Adjusting rockers in warm weather it can take a few minutes to see oil.

What do you think is happening when the oil is the consistency of molasses? Even 0w oils are extremely thick at double digit negative temps. The Mobil 1 site has a video that shows how nasty thick even the synthetic is.

Someone who loves their car will run an oil heater if they have to use their car in these temps. I just don't start mine unless it"s an emergency.
 
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Adjusting rockers in warm weather it can take a few minutes to see oil.


A few minutes? You have other problems besides the weather.

I rebuilt a GenI small block and had instant oil coming out of the rockers when I spun the pump with a drill - it was last week in the cold.
 
Originally Posted By: Zaedock
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Adjusting rockers in warm weather it can take a few minutes to see oil.


A few minutes? You have other problems besides the weather.

I rebuilt a GenI small block and had instant oil coming out of the rockers when I spun the pump with a drill - it was last week in the cold.


The drill spins the oil pump pretty fast. An idling engine will be different. Here's the M1 video.

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Synthetics/Mobil_1_Cold_Starts.aspx

Even though the M1 pours, I would not want to start a car I care about with oil in that thick of a state. It will start with a good battery and you will show oil pressure.
 
-14F here today with 30 mph winds. I thought about seeing if the car would start but there is no where to go as the roads are all closed.
 
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Originally Posted By: Zaedock
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
Adjusting rockers in warm weather it can take a few minutes to see oil.


A few minutes? You have other problems besides the weather.

I rebuilt a GenI small block and had instant oil coming out of the rockers when I spun the pump with a drill - it was last week in the cold.


The drill spins the oil pump pretty fast. An idling engine will be different. Here's the M1 video.

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Synthetics/Mobil_1_Cold_Starts.aspx

Even though the M1 pours, I would not want to start a car I care about with oil in that thick of a state. It will start with a good battery and you will show oil pressure.



On both SBC's and SBF's I've observed oil out the pushrods/rockers almost instantly even with 20w-50 in the pan........
21.gif
 
Originally Posted By: turtlevette
The drill spins the oil pump pretty fast. An idling engine will be different. Here's the M1 video.


No it doesn't, especially when you start pumping oil. I rebuild engines man, trust me that if you're showing good gauge pressure, your engine is fine. As previously mentioned, I wouldn't beat on it, but driving away normally is perfectly fine.


Originally Posted By: turtlevette

Even though the M1 pours, I would not want to start a car I care about with oil in that thick of a state. It will start with a good battery and you will show oil pressure.



Millions of engines start in the cold every year without blowing up. Don't worry.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
On both SBC's and SBF's I've observed oil out the pushrods/rockers almost instantly even with 20w-50 in the pan........
21.gif



That has not been my experience on an engine that has been sitting overnight. The pushrods and lifters tend to drain. Nothing is instant.

How well do you think you'll fare with the oil in that video? People starting up in these extremely low temps are causing greater than average wear on their engines. I don't care what kind or grade of oil you have in it.

I'm sorry but the emperor is not wearing any clothes. Captain I can't change the laws of physics!
 
Originally Posted By: Zaedock

Millions of engines start in the cold every year without blowing up. Don't worry.


Agreed, It won't blow up, I'm just saying it's hard on an engine. Probably won't get that 200K miles out of it if you do that every day.
 
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