winters coming, which of the following dino g-4 oils flows best when cold:

[Ross]

Help me choose a winter oil for a couple of my car that aren't driven daily. I am looking for the best cold flowing properties, and secondary to that, the best additive package. The choices are:

1. Motorcraft g-4 5w-30
suppose to be synthetic mix.

2. Mobil Drive Clean g-4 5w30
suppose to be group 3 base stock.

3. Chevron Supreme g-4 5w30
group II+/III ???

MC cost $1.47/quart
DC cost $1.17/quart
CS currently on rebate from checker for final
price of $.59/quart

I do use M1 in my daily drivers, but can't justify it in these cars that see little action.

Thanks for any input about these oils!!!

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Well, since these are brand new oils, new freezer tests are in order. Someone just tried a freezer test of Castrol GTX very recently and didn't care for the results. Pennzoil seems to do very well.

 

[Asteroid]

You cant go past Castrol GTX StartUp Its @ www.castrolusa.com.au Your engine will thank you.

 

[Ross]

I have heard good things about the castrol start up. but it' around $2.50 a quart here. Was trying to use cheaper oil for these cars that don't see alot of action. But start-up just migh be a good idea. Thanks!

 

[Ugly3]

All of your listed oils will flow about the same when cold, they all meet the 5w specs.

Concerned about cost? Get a 5 quart jug of SuperTech 5w30 from Wal*Mart for $4.23. It will flow about the same as the others, it is API certified and rated SL or SM. Match this with a $2.07 SuperTech filter and you have a $6.30 (plus tax) oil change.

 

[jthorner]

quote:

---

Match this with a $2.07 SuperTech filter and you have a $6.30 (plus tax) oil change

---

Sure, but will your car respect you in the morning

?

 

[Blue99]

Any of the three 5W's on your list are highly rated oils on this site.

As far as cold flow, we don't have many GF-4 spec's to go on.

ConocoPhillips released a CCV of 4500 @ -30C, for the TropArtic GF-4, so the Motorcraft version is anticipated to have an excellent cold flow rating.

 

[TC]

The average January LOW temp for Bismarck is -2F. In Dec. and Feb., low temps average 3-5F, while winter daytime temps are >20F.
http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/D...ne&IATA=BIS&lastyear=on&normals=on&records=on

In general, dino 5w-30 oil is good down to -13F, so any of the oils you listed are fine for winter use where you live.
http://www.chevron.com/prodserv/nafl/auto/content/faq.shtm

 

[FrozenPilot]

I used Mobil 1 when i was in Grand Forks and we had temps of -35F as a daytime high in January for about a week straight. Oil flow was the last of my worries at that temp (thankfully due to the M1), battery power and fuel atomization are big problems when it gets that cold.

 

[ebaker]

Why not just add a quart or 2 of 5w20 with the 5w30?

 

[mikep]

quote:

---

Originally posted by ebaker:
Why not just add a quart or 2 of 5w20 with the 5w30?

---

Would that really make a difference? A 0w-20 or 0w-30 sure but a 5w-20?

 

[TomJones76]

quote:

---

Originally posted by mikep:

quote:

---

Originally posted by ebaker:
Why not just add a quart or 2 of 5w20 with the 5w30?

---

Would that really make a difference? A 0w-20 or 0w-30 sure but a 5w-20?

---

No reason to believe 5W20 would be any higher flow at -25F than 5W30. Unless you're talking about a particular 5W20 you plan on using that has good flow characteristics. But that is a separate issue.