Which 5W-30 starts out the thickest?

[Buick92]

I was wondering which brand of oil (non-synthetic) starts out as the thickest 5w30, is it one of the high mileage oils?

Thanks

 

[Drew99GT]

Definetally Castrol GTX High Mileage at 12 Cst. Pennzoil High Mileage use to be up there to, but it's dropped back to like 11.7 or so. The Chevron/Havoline High Mileage oils are also 12 Cst in 5w30.

 

[Buick92]

Thanks for the quick response, I'm looking for a 5w30 to run in the winter in an older GM V6 3.3, I use 10w30 all the time but I am considering using a 5w30 this winter based upon viscosity and possibly pour point.

 

[Drew99GT]

If you want to stay with 10w30 during the winter, a very good alternative and an economical one at that would be Phillips Trop Artic 10w30 as it has superior cold weather properties compared to just about any 10w30 oil, even synthetics. May be a good option since it doesn't get too terribly cold in Washington. If you see routine dips below 0 f, better go with 5w30.

 

[mechtech]

It [Castrol GTX 5w30] does NOT start out at 12 Cst. It MAY end up there at very high operating temps.
Use anybodys' brand name 5-30 or 0-30. Cold starting flow will be much better than 10-30.

 

[Buick92]

Are you talking about the semi-synthetic trop artic at the dollar tree?

 

[Drew99GT]

quote:

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Originally posted by mechtech:
It [Castrol GTX 5w30] does NOT start out at 12 Cst. It MAY end up there at very high operating temps.
Use anybodys' brand name 5-30 or 0-30. Cold starting flow will be much better than 10-30.

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Apparently you missed the "High Mileage" part. Yes, GTX HM is 12 Cst at 100 C.

GTX High Mileage

 

[Drew99GT]

quote:

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Originally posted by Buick92:
Are you talking about the semi-synthetic trop artic at the dollar tree?

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Indeed. And it does have good cold weather properties. It probably could by the hair on it's chinny chin chin qualify as 5w30 or just a hair over. Probably not on cold cranking, but it would pass the 5w cold pumping limit with ease! It pumps better than 5w-40 Rotella Synthetic. I emailed Phillips and they gave me pumping numbers for -35C which 5w is tested at. I can't remember exactly what it was but it was below 39,000 Cp which 5w-40 Rotella specs. You can't always tell everything from 5w/10w/15w etc.

 

[BlazerLT]

The lower thickness at start up, the better.

You don't want a thick oil on startup, you WANT the oil to move.