Will one see higher wear in the winter?

[Threeofnine]

The winters in Alabama are not terrible cold but it often gets into the 20s, and once or twice a year, drops into the teens or single digits. Are higher wear metals typically seen on oil analysis reports in the winter months? It seems like starting an ice cold soaked engine would lead to more wear compared to starting one at room temperature or above. However, I could be wrong.

 

[Patman]

In theory you will see higher engine wear when it’s colder out because it takes your engine longer to reach operating temperature, and until it gets there that’s when engine wear is higher. Whether or not it shows up in a used oil analysis is another thing though.

 

[Snagglefoot]

In the bad old days when motor oil was not as good, engine rebuilders would find the cylinders adjacent to the block heater would have less cylinder bore wear than the cylinders further away. I have not heard that to be the case in modern engines using modern oil. Having said that, I plug in at 0 F to be kind to the engine even with 0wx motor oil.

 

[dadto2]

Winter here in western NY lasts from November through April. Our engines do just fine with all those cold starts, and I don't know anyone in real life (Not bitogers) who give special cold-weather oils any thought.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I believe there is a little more wear in extreme cold temperatures. In minus 20 degree weather you can hear a lot of strange noises from engines however most engines last longer than the rest of the vehicle. No need to worry.

 

[Hohn]

In the bad old days when motor oil was not as good, engine rebuilders would find the cylinders adjacent to the block heater would have less cylinder bore wear than the cylinders further away. I have not heard that to be the case in modern engines using modern oil. Having said that, I plug in at 0 F to be kind to the engine even with 0wx motor oil.

That has more to do with smaller "cold start" bore clearances in the areas adjacent to the heater than it does with oil temp.

 

[fantastic]

If your engine is prone to fuel dilution the winter climates can add more fuel into the oil. I'd imagine this could be more of an issue in the really cold areas & not necessary Alabama.

 

[ATex7239]

Repeated cold starts can increase wear but at the temperatures you are seeing and as infrequently as you see them it is not something to even remotely be concerned about. And as mentioned driving conservatively until it warms up with help significantly.

 

[Chief2025]

The winters in Alabama are not terrible cold but it often gets into the 20s, and once or twice a year, drops into the teens or single digits. Are higher wear metals typically seen on oil analysis reports in the winter months? It seems like starting an ice cold soaked engine would lead to more wear compared to starting one at room temperature or above. However, I could be wrong.

I would think you would be right - - - -
it has been -20 / -30 c all winter - - - - - even my 0w20 gets plenty thick at those temps....
They simply can;t flow as fast as +5/20c.

But, I'm no tribologist.....

 

[facility1]

when selecting your engine oil pay close attention to the CCS and MRV tests, as a indicative point of choice, the pour point is just that, and to note you can have a low pour point oil only with mediocre ccs and mrv results (running viscosity should be considered also) . providing the oil manuf./blender will give you these specs (mrv ,ccs)

 

[Japanese]

Winter here in western NY lasts from November through April. Our engines do just fine with all those cold starts, and I don't know anyone in real life (Not bitogers) who give special cold-weather oils any thought.

The thing is that even if there is higher engine wear in the winter or normal (as in warm 70°F weather) - you'll never know that, unless you do UOA or put the engine apart and measure clearances before and after the winter. It needs particular focused study of the same oil and engine running in different seasons to find out if there any higher wear and you'll never know how much more is than in warmer weather.

In the winter there a few conditions are more common than in the summer like condense (water in the oil after it cools down). Also, the engine ECU enriches the air-fuel mixture to compensate for the colder air because colder air contains more oxygen which needs to be balanced with more fuel to stay away from leaner AFRs. Engine runs cold longer period of time until reaches optimal operating temp. (as mentioned in post #2) All those may cause more fuel in the oil which worsen its lubricating properties.

 

[dadto2]

The thing is that even if there is higher engine wear in the winter or normal (as in warm 70°F weather) - you'll never know that, unless you do UOA or put the engine apart and measure clearances before and after the winter. It needs particular focused study of the same oil and engine running in different seasons to find out if there any higher wear and you'll never know how much more is than in warmer weather.

In the winter there a few conditions are more common than in the summer like condense (water in the oil after it cools down). Also, the engine ECU enriches the air-fuel mixture to compensate for the colder air because colder air contains more oxygen which needs to be balanced with more fuel to stay away from leaner AFRs. Engine runs cold longer period of time until reaches optimal operating temp. (as mentioned in post #2) All those may cause more fuel in the oil which worsen its lubricating properties.

My point exactly. If you can't tell that there is any wear to the engine without tearing it down and taking extremely precise metrics, then your engine is doing just fine. It will likely outlast the rest of the car it is installed in.