Valvoline Maxlife / Castrol GTX....cold flow

[strombony]

Wasn't sure what to title this thread. I use Valvoline Maxlife 5W30 in winter and summer in both my vehicles, and have read a lot of posts with peoples concerns of cold flow properties during winter. For me, I'm fine with Maxlife and my vehicles are garaged. But I was curious to know in regard to Castrol GTX conventional if its cold flow properties are similar to Maxlife? Everyone says it's a thicker conventional, and some wont even consider using it in the dead of winter. And how does Maxlife's cold flow numbers stack up against other full synthetic brands and conventional? It is a blend, but since High Mileage oils are thicker, I wonder how this stuff really does in other peoples cars when it REALLY gets frigid out there?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

i think people make too much out of the cold flow. i've used 15w40 and even some 20w-50 in the teens with no problems. my starting and charging systems are in top shape as well though

 

[mrsilv04]

I used MaxLife 5w30 semi-synthetic in a 2000 Grand Am with a 2.4 liter 4 cylinder (with 85,000 miles on it) this past winter.

Temperatures here dropped as low as 20 below, and the car sat outside the whole time. Not an issue...

 

[Audi Junkie]

GTX is not the best in cold, but resists burn-off VERY well. It's a trade off that is part of the formula Castrol went with for this product. Maybe Syntec Blend is better in cold. Motorcraft seems to be very good for the same or less than GTX.