It has been unusually cold here over the last week with lows in the teens several nights and one cold start morning the needle on the thermometer was sitting on 10F. I can report no starting issues in my Chrysler with the Valvoline 20w20. No hard starts; no noise; no nothing. Further anecdotal evidence that this oil could be labeled as a 10w20.
The 20w20 has gotten a work out this past week.
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Good. I remember the worry I faced a few years ago when I installed 30w in my 78. Temperatures dropped from the mid 50's to the teens overnight! She started fine and ran great! Last night it was eleven below so I don't think I'll be running a straight weight anytime soon but in your climate you should be fine. I didn't know it got that cold in the Carolinas...anyways the oil has proven itself, should be fine. Have you done a used oil analysis on the 30w?
How does the 20W-20 (or 10W-20) deal with the freezer?
Compared to a "true" 10w30 or something that comes close.
If that "test" was allready done: sorry for asking
edit: typo
Compared to a "true" 10w30 or something that comes close.
If that "test" was allready done: sorry for asking
edit: typo
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Are you saying that you can't tell the difference when starting your car in 10F and 80F with that oil?
I can tell with ANY oil.
I can tell with ANY oil.
One could theoretically mix in a quart of 5w20 to increase cold flow properties. This would still be a low VI index mix.
My manual recommendation for 20w20 is up to -12°C which is just 10°F. No upper limit!
This 173 cu.in. GM I drive, likes thinner 5w30 oils but they are expensive here. Engine was quietest and very peppy with the Elf's Evolution 5w30 which is 9.7cSt@100°C -thinner than a Mobil, and all was better just before the drain at 10K kms. It's now moaning in comparison with the 11+ cSt fresh Castrol.
20w's are typically 8.7 to 9 cSt, perfectly fits the climate and are very cheap. Altough has be ordered and comes in 20lt cans (for tractors, eh...) I'm seriously considering to try this grade. My only consideration is that they are only API SF, which is OK, but I don't know what do I loose when compared with an API SJ. And I never used a monograde before.
This 173 cu.in. GM I drive, likes thinner 5w30 oils but they are expensive here. Engine was quietest and very peppy with the Elf's Evolution 5w30 which is 9.7cSt@100°C -thinner than a Mobil, and all was better just before the drain at 10K kms. It's now moaning in comparison with the 11+ cSt fresh Castrol.
20w's are typically 8.7 to 9 cSt, perfectly fits the climate and are very cheap. Altough has be ordered and comes in 20lt cans (for tractors, eh...) I'm seriously considering to try this grade. My only consideration is that they are only API SF, which is OK, but I don't know what do I loose when compared with an API SJ. And I never used a monograde before.
I just did a freezer test on the Valvoline SAE 20 conventional motor oil and, after sitting for about 40 hours in the range of -10 to 0 F, the 20w poured a lot better than 10w40. I did not compare to other grades except I did have a 50/50 mix of 10w40 and 20w, which was intermediate between the two. I was suprised as I thought a 10wXX would pour better, but this supports G-Man's assertion that the Valvoline 20w is actually a 10w20.
This would be the oil to run in these newfangled cars that supposedly require 5w20. Alas, I was informed that Valvoline is not making the White Bottle 20w anymore and it is no longer on the shelf at Murrays. More specifically it's the Premium Conventional 20w that has been dropped. They still make the All Fleet HDMO in a 20w, but might be hard to find.
This would be the oil to run in these newfangled cars that supposedly require 5w20. Alas, I was informed that Valvoline is not making the White Bottle 20w anymore and it is no longer on the shelf at Murrays. More specifically it's the Premium Conventional 20w that has been dropped. They still make the All Fleet HDMO in a 20w, but might be hard to find.
TallPaul,
If you look on Valvoline's website, the most recent PDS for the Premium Conventional oils still has a 20W listed. Not saying this won't change, but as of now it still seems to be there, and the PDS isn't very old...
As far as the AllFleet 20W; according to the PDS, its only availiable in bulk. So yeah, that one won't really be availiable to the public...
My local Canadian Tire stores have slightly older bottles of All-Fleet 30 on them. Its SL rated, even though Valvoline has an updated 'SM' version, according to the PDS. I'm thinking this oil might be a good one for me to try and run next spring/summer in my Cavalier....love to see how that would look after 7500 miles or so!
Just an FYI...
If you look on Valvoline's website, the most recent PDS for the Premium Conventional oils still has a 20W listed. Not saying this won't change, but as of now it still seems to be there, and the PDS isn't very old...
As far as the AllFleet 20W; according to the PDS, its only availiable in bulk. So yeah, that one won't really be availiable to the public...
My local Canadian Tire stores have slightly older bottles of All-Fleet 30 on them. Its SL rated, even though Valvoline has an updated 'SM' version, according to the PDS. I'm thinking this oil might be a good one for me to try and run next spring/summer in my Cavalier....love to see how that would look after 7500 miles or so!
Just an FYI...
I told the Valvo tech guy that the website still lists it as available and he said that is dated. That it is gone from the two Murrays I visited, is not a good sign.
Oh, I'm not really doubting you, its just interesting that if this product is discontinued, which was probably planned a while ago, they would put it on a new PDS....
Having looked at some sites recently, there really isn't much straight-20 oil availiable. Pennzoil doesn't seem to offer one, Valvoline, only in bulk...C-P probably still offers one, but it might be hard to find, and Petro Canada up here has a HD 20, but I don't know what 'size' you can get it in...
Having looked at some sites recently, there really isn't much straight-20 oil availiable. Pennzoil doesn't seem to offer one, Valvoline, only in bulk...C-P probably still offers one, but it might be hard to find, and Petro Canada up here has a HD 20, but I don't know what 'size' you can get it in...
As ususal info from Valvoline is not always clear. Too bad for a company with some great products.
To be fair, you're probably the first person all year to ask him about straight 20. He's probably more used to something like "Which gives more horsepower, 5W30 or 10W30?"
Yeah, and I see the All Fleet 20w is bulk only. Strange since the 10w can be had in 5 gal.
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