Subzero and starts fine
- Thread starter JonS
- Start date
- Status
quote:Synthetic is easier on the motor as we all know. Gas engines have started for many years with regular dino oil at cold temps. I personally have never had any issue with the cold temps and running regular oil although I have only had -20F once thankfully.
Originally posted by icruse: Just wanted to share my experience today. I have used the synthetic oils for the last 10 years (mostly Mobil 1 and some Amsoil); never really knew what winter was till I moved up here in northern Minnesota from northern Virginia. This morning it was -24 below zero and I was concerned as this weather was coming as to leaving in the regular oil on my 93 Pontiac Grand Prix LE 3.1 V6. Well, my concerns have been put to rest. My car is garaged but not a heated garage. The car started just fine (could tell no difference between this and the Mobil 1 0W30, and 5W30 from last year). This Pennzoil 5W30 works just great (regular multigrade 5W30). Good Day, Steven
Here in Spokane Washington It was -22 last night. About -19 when I got to my car, I have Chevron supreme 10w-40 in there, the old 1.8 sube motor had a little trouble turning over but actually started easier then I expected. I could tell that starting a car when its that cold without sythetic oil is definately not doing the engine any favors. I would run sythetic if we saw these temps regularly.
Just wanted to share my experience today.
I have used the synthetic oils for the last 10 years (mostly Mobil 1 and some Amsoil); never really knew what winter was till I moved up here in northern Minnesota from northern Virginia.
This morning it was -24 below zero and I was concerned as this weather was coming as to leaving in the regular oil on my 93 Pontiac Grand Prix LE 3.1 V6.
Well, my concerns have been put to rest. My car is garaged but not a heated garage. The car started just fine (could tell no difference between this and the Mobil 1 0W30, and 5W30 from last year).
This Pennzoil 5W30 works just great (regular multigrade 5W30).
Good Day,
Steven
Dick, Please don't remind me of how much fun it was to start our 73 Ford in the wintertime! Anyone have the same sub-zero fun with their 79 Ford with the VV carb? Oh boy was that a blast! Happy Happy Joy Joy!
I'll take SL rated xxW oils and multiport injection any day. ![[Smile]](images/icons/smile.gif)
I had a choke I could never get working on my '73 Impala. I removed it completely and added a propane 'choke'. It could be -10F and that thing would start like it did in the summer!
Dave
icruse,
It was -10F here this morning, our detached unheated garage (with a foot of snow on the roof) was at +20F inside. So a cold garage is better than no garage. 30 degrees difference will definitely help the cold starting situation. IMHO
DEWFPO
On January 3, in Edmonton is was -33C with windchill at -48. ![[Frown]](images/icons/frown.gif)
99 Ford Escort with 5w30 Mobil1 and block heater plugged in started fine but drove wife to work 11KM and back 11KM and engine still wasn't at the regular spot on temp guage.
Steve
PS I even have cardboard in front of the radiator!!
99 Ford Escort with 5w30 Mobil1 and block heater plugged in started fine but drove wife to work 11KM and back 11KM and engine still wasn't at the regular spot on temp guage.
Steve
PS I even have cardboard in front of the radiator!!-18 out here on the plains of Colorado. Both of our vehicles started right up. Oil pressure came up normally on both vehicles. What do we use? Valvoline!!!!!!!!!!!! ehheheheheh.
quote:10w-30 or 5w-30; conventional or synthetic? You guys got the brunt of the cold compared to us here in CO Springs with a balmy -8F on my deck at 7 am this morning!
Originally posted by Starbreaker666: -18 out here on the plains of Colorado. Both of our vehicles started right up. Oil pressure came up normally on both vehicles. What do we use? Valvoline!!!!!!!!!!!! ehheheheheh.
To start my father's snow removal equipment (some Macks and a few loaders) in the winter we would drag out the "life line". A kerosine space heater, battery charger, and plenty of starting fluid. After a half hour each, we'd get them going.
One guy I know would get his old tractor started by lighting a fuel soaked roll of toilet paper in a coffee can and sticking it under the engine. When the flame was out, it would start right up. It always amazed me that the tractor never caught on fire!
From some of the posts on this board, you'd think a car would destroy itself if it didn't get a synthetic oil when temps are below zero.
Reality is probably at least 95% of the cars on the road here use plain old dino oil with the enthusiasts using synthetic. There is likely a reason that places only carry one brand of synhetic oils and a crapload of dino oils!
I'm not saying synthetics don;t do things better, just pointing out that for the vast masses, it is indeed overkill for most.
No problems starting the Jeep yesterday at -11 F, or later in the day (temps never went above zero yesterday) using Shell Rotella T syn 5w40. The '99 F150 is running quieter than ever on startup using Havoline 5w20.
9 Degree today and my car started fine with 5W40 Synthetic.
Synthetic for me. Yep -5 this morning. Cold walking from the parking lot to building at work. Truck started like it was 80 degrees outside. Never expected anything else.
Cheers, Doug
You guys who have never known anthing but fuel injected engines missed out on all the fun. Like spraying ether into the carb, push starting on slick roads, taking the battery inside at night, putting lights under the hood and using blankets to cover the engine at nite, etc; and then we can talk about the 6 volt era. Before multigrade oils I hear they would pour kerosene in with the oil to try and make it thin enough to crank. Enjoy!
- Status
