Oil - Cold weather selection
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Topic author
Oil - Cold weather selection
In this cold weather, it is beneficial to use an oil that has good cold start flow properties as it will get to the parts of the engine that need it far more quickly.
The "w" number which means winter is the key here and the lower the better.
It may seem odd but a 15w or 20w will struggle to get around the engine in very cold temps and I would strongly recommend a 10w or better still a 5w for better cold start performance.
90% of all engine wear occurs on cold start because the oil get thicker the colder it is which causes engine wear.
These numbers explain what I mean and bear in mind that the oil will be the following thickness at 100degC (sae 40 = 14cst, sae 50 = 18cst and sae 60 = 24cst)
At 0degC these are the numbers (thick!)
Grade.................At 0C.........At 10C...........At 100C
0W/20.............328.6cSt......180.8cSt..........9cSt
5W/40.............811.4cSt......421.4cSt..........14cSt
10W/50............1039cSt.......538.9cSt..........18cSt
15W/50.............1376cSt.......674.7cSt.........18cSt
20W/50.............2305cSt.......1015cSt..........18cSt
If you are using anything more than a 10w oil, always warm the car properly before driving it as the oil needs time to circulate.
Just a word of warning really.
Cheers
Simon
The "w" number which means winter is the key here and the lower the better.
It may seem odd but a 15w or 20w will struggle to get around the engine in very cold temps and I would strongly recommend a 10w or better still a 5w for better cold start performance.
90% of all engine wear occurs on cold start because the oil get thicker the colder it is which causes engine wear.
These numbers explain what I mean and bear in mind that the oil will be the following thickness at 100degC (sae 40 = 14cst, sae 50 = 18cst and sae 60 = 24cst)
At 0degC these are the numbers (thick!)
Grade.................At 0C.........At 10C...........At 100C
0W/20.............328.6cSt......180.8cSt..........9cSt
5W/40.............811.4cSt......421.4cSt..........14cSt
10W/50............1039cSt.......538.9cSt..........18cSt
15W/50.............1376cSt.......674.7cSt.........18cSt
20W/50.............2305cSt.......1015cSt..........18cSt
If you are using anything more than a 10w oil, always warm the car properly before driving it as the oil needs time to circulate.
Just a word of warning really.
Cheers
Simon
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Topic author
Re: Oil - Cold weather selection
Gives me a good excuse to throw in the 0-40 that's been sitting in my garage all summer
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Re: Oil - Cold weather selection
Sorry, to make absolutely certain I've understood you - 0w40 is best but 5w40 is ok?
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Re: Oil - Cold weather selection
I don't think 10w-40 would kill the engine either but you're safe with a 0w or 5w.
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Re: Oil - Cold weather selection
I've just given her a long drink of 0w40. Castrol Edge - I'd been wondering if it was any good...
Red 92 turbo tintop JDM
White 95 turbo tintop JDM (Nov '11 Show&Shine Winner)
Red 97 NA tintop JDM
Blue 95 tubby tintop JDM
Mica 96 NA T-bar UK
Red 96 UK NA
Red 97 NA tintop JDM
White 95 turbo tintop JDM (Nov '11 Show&Shine Winner)
Red 97 NA tintop JDM
Blue 95 tubby tintop JDM
Mica 96 NA T-bar UK
Red 96 UK NA
Red 97 NA tintop JDM
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Topic author
Re: Oil - Cold weather selection
Simon will have to say no as it's not ester based
Personally i'd not run it for any super lengths in a tubby but i'd feel ok having it in for a 3000 mile winter stint.
Personally i'd not run it for any super lengths in a tubby but i'd feel ok having it in for a 3000 mile winter stint.
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Topic author
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Topic author
Re: Oil - Cold weather selection
how do people i work for halfords and the best oil on the market anywhere today is castrol edge, go for the ow-40 for performance petrol engines and u will have the best oil for your cars on the market, oh yea and it can old be brought mainly at halfords stores off the shelf cost u about £37 for 4 liters or £13 for a liter top up,
how sad am i knowing that lol
how sad am i knowing that lol
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Topic author
Re: Oil - Cold weather selection
How do you know it's the best, any data on it?
How much ester has it got in it.
What is the track hour drain period.
What is its HTHS number and NOACK %
Cheers
Simon
How much ester has it got in it.
What is the track hour drain period.
What is its HTHS number and NOACK %
Cheers
Simon
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Topic author
Re: Oil - Cold weather selection
i went too the castol's own head office for training and they tested it against mobile 1 in a ford mustang, they were going too run both cars exactly the same spec antill the engines blew up, once the mobile 1 car blew up they gave up waiting for the castrol car too go too and they turned it off buy the key and cheaked the engine over and there was no/little harm dun
sounds good too me, plus they showed me tones of graphs and that but i was only interested in the prize u can win :D ha ha well it was a track day out
sounds good too me, plus they showed me tones of graphs and that but i was only interested in the prize u can win :D ha ha well it was a track day out
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Topic author
Re: Oil - Cold weather selection
Hmm, so Castrol provided the evidence that their castrol oil was the best by offering a shedload of hospitality to retailers, and Halfords is being recommended by a Halfords employee.
Call me cynical, but....
Ok, oilman isn't adverse to mentioning the opie oils site from time to time, but he does have facts at his fingertips to back up anything he posts.
And he does dish out quality advice for free on regular ocassions.
Having said all that, I bought my last load of oil from, Halfords! ops:
Ian
Call me cynical, but....
Ok, oilman isn't adverse to mentioning the opie oils site from time to time, but he does have facts at his fingertips to back up anything he posts.
And he does dish out quality advice for free on regular ocassions.
Having said all that, I bought my last load of oil from, Halfords! ops:
Ian
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Topic author