Will a lighter oil get to temp faster in 1/4 mile

[chefwong]

Here's the scoop.
The drive from home to work get's a decent warmup before I hit the highway.

From work, the drive from the parking lot till I hit the bridge is a just slightly more than a 1/4 mile. The bridge itself is at a incline as well. I try to keep the rpms at around 2K or so....but when you're going up that bridge and trying to be *safe* amongst us crazy always in a rush NYC drivers....I may throttle it a bit more than it should at times.


I currently use GC in my BMW X5 V8.
Is there a lighter oil that may be more applicable for me just due to driving habits ?

 

[RFIRE]

A lighter oil pumps faster. Thus on a cold start it can significantly reduce wear during the start/initial run process. I have read that close to 50% of motor wear takes place during this stage of operation. Not likely to have any significant impact on how quickly the motor gets up to temperature.

Richard.

 

[surfstar]

I like to have my oil up to temp before I'm hard on my car, but then I think of all the drivers who never even consider oil temps and wear, and how their cars make it just as many miles...it seems like not much to worry about.

A good oil and reasonable OCI will get you as many miles as you'd ever want before you have an oil related problem.

 

[ThirdeYe]

I agree surf. My car was owned by an older lady who changed the oil every 5k miles or 6 months, and it's running strong and clean enough to eat off of under the valve cover. All 5W30 bulk dealer oil (I'm guessing Valvoline)

 

[Blue99]

Yes, definitely, a lighter/thinner viscosity oil will get to operating temperature quicker than a thicker oil because it takes heat away from the piston bottoms more effectively.

Per your example of higher rpm's & the load of a long uphill grade, a true synthetic oil is a good choice, with the better cold/cool temperature flow properties & less drag on the engine, as opposed to switching to a short trip oil such as a 5W-20.

BTW, I face the same problem daily, as the freeway is only 2-3 stopsigns/stoplights and 1 mile from my workplace. In cold weather, I try to to stay at 60 mph for the first freeway mile, but sometimes the semi-trucks just about run me over!

 

[Laminar Lou]

I'm considering a 5W20 in my 5W30 spec'd Toyota Tundra for that same reason. I've got a 5 mile commute and even though my engine has an oil cooler that runs through the radiator (and therefore helps heat up the oil faster), I am beginning to think that the lighter oil will still warm up faster and give me better MPG. Since I have an oil cooler and the Tundra V8 tends to be very nice to oil, I think I would be okay.

I've got enough baseline UOAs to look at and compare to after I switch. Come back in a few years and I'll tell you if it worked!

 

[PT1]

According to GM your car needs to warm up 15-30 seconds in the Summer (50*F>) and 30-60 seconds in the Winter (<50*F)in order for the engine oil to be circulated. This practice will almost double engine life.

 

[Laminar Lou]

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According to GM your car needs to warm up 15-30 seconds in the Summer (50*F>) and 30-60 seconds in the Winter (

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According to GM it will double engine life or is that your interpretation?

 

[Patman]

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According to GM your car needs to warm up 15-30 seconds in the Summer (50*F>) and 30-60 seconds in the Winter (

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I've never heard this before, can you show us proof that they said this? I've owned many GM cars and none of their owner's manuals have said this.

 

[SargeGTO]

In almost all circumstances you should NOT warm up your car before driving. This is the most destructive time for the engine and its related parts The quicker it warms up the better. Your car will warm up much faster driving than just sitting there idling and you will save fuel.

 

[csandste]

I don't warm-up the engine, because it wastes gas and having a warm engine and the rest of the car being ice cold doesn't sound very good. However, I question whether warming up the engine (at least a modern, fuel-injected, computerized engine)is destructive (to the engine, not the rest of the car). As far as the engine is concerned it's probably no different than driving slowly.

 

[Ramblin Fever]

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In almost all circumstances you should NOT warm up your car before driving. This is the most destructive time for the engine and its related parts.

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Can you please provide proof of this? I'm truly curious to see any proof one can provide that warming up your car is destructive.

 

[1sttruck]

Not idling a cold engine is an emmissions thing, and they don't care how long your vehicle lasts, In fact they hope it's not too long it won't have any new emmissions stuff on it. Idling a cold engine briefly to make sure that the oil is flowing adequately seems like a good thing to do, but don't overdo it as it's usually a rich mixture that will tend to wash down the oil in the cylinders.

My truck with a 3 gal sump takes about 10 minutes to get to operating temperature per the coolant gage, a bit longer per how it seems to run, so a brief idle doesn't make much difference in time to operating temp. The cars, Taurus sedans, take maybe half the time.

 

[ThirdeYe]

I only idle for 20-40 seconds, a minute tops. It's a waste of gas to let it idle any longer. Only takes 5 minutes to get my car to operating temperature anyways.

 

[bar1]

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Can you please provide proof of this? I'm truly curious to see any proof one can provide that warming up your car is destructive.

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I can't give you any proof but;
Since car engine life is measured in miles driven (and not operating hours), idle time gives you engine wear when you stand still. Better let that engine do some work..

 

[Lonnie]

Makes you wonder if the engine threats being hooked up and moving like having a great big flywheel to smooth itself out. Does a smoother running engine last longer?

 

[Ramblin Fever]

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I can't give you any proof but;
Since car engine life is measured in miles driven (and not operating hours), idle time gives you engine wear when you stand still.

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Thing is, is there's not a single UOA that proves that there is any extra added wear by idling an engine, and I have yet to see an engine die early from idling either.

 

[SargeGTO]

Quote:

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Quote:

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In almost all circumstances you should NOT warm up your car before driving. This is the most destructive time for the engine and its related parts.

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Can you please provide proof of this? I'm truly curious to see any proof one can provide that warming up your car is destructive.

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I can provide proof you didnt read my post

LOL....
I said the start up period is the most destructive time for your engine....not warming up a car is the most destructive....yes...the quicxer your oil gets up to temp the better....and that is from putting a load on your engine versus just sitting at idle...oil pressure and temps all are raised ( good thing) from driving versus just sitting at idel. Also look at fuel dilution and when that occurs mostly

 

[SargeGTO]

Good gosh I cannot spell this morning at all

 

[Ramblin Fever]

Ok, I'll take your word for it on your cars maybe; i've never had issues with fuel dilution or UOA's with higher wear metals due to starts with higher viscosity oils.