5-30 or 15-40 Amsoil for winter?

[cullyguy]

I have been running Amsoil 15-40 synthetic for the past 10k or so. Very happy with the oil & performance. Do any of you have first hand experiance with the 5-30 Series 3000? I think in a few prior posts, there was some concern of excess blow by. What about a 50/50 blend of the 5-30 & 15-40 for winter. I travel Montana quite a bit, so cold temps are guaranteed.

Thanks for any opinions

 

[ChillyDog]

I used the 5w-30 Amsoil last winter for roughly 6000 miles. It makes a big difference over the 15w-40 in cold weather starts, the truck turns over alot easier. I did an oil analysis when I changed the oil in the spring and all numbers looked great. The only downside that I experienced was the truck seemed to use a little more oil, but not much. I will probably use it again this winter as the rig seems alot happier on those -30* mornings in northern MN!

 

[K_Arts]

I put the Amsoil 15w40 HDD+M in my truck right before it started getting cold and I'm gonna stick with it.



I haven't had any problems with starting it cold yet. . and boy does she run good.



Kev

 

[Lsfarm]

Winter Weight Oils

Unless you are going to be towing heavy loads for a majority of the winter months, I'd go with the 5w-30.



The reason is this: the greatest wear and potential damage to our engines comes from the cold starts. Even with the block heater plugged in, the oil is down in the pan, and is at ambient air temp. When you start the engine, even with warm cylinder walls and head, the cold oil doesn't flow very well, and probably doesn't spray at all. The connecting rods have spray nozzles to spray oil on the pistons and cylinder walls, and until the oil warms up [all 11 quarts!] it isn't going to lube the spray and splash lubricated surfaces very well at all.



If you are going to tow heavy loads, and feel that you need the heavier oil, then get one of the magnetic attached oilpan heaters, and try to block off the wind from under the truck if it is parked outside.



I start plugging in my truck once it goes below 40 degrees at night, and use the 5w-30 Amsoil. I've repaired a few engines run with inadequate splash lubrication [NOT Cummins! only gassers], and don't want to have any of this wear on my rig. I will probably buy oil pan heaters this year.



Does anybody know of the best source and price for the pan heaters??



thanks Greg L

 

[lschultz]

I don't know nothing about the cold weather but me and son have been using the 5W30 ever since they came out with it. We got more heat than cold down here in Texas.

 

[TwoSlick]

Cullyguy,



Your peak oil temps will be significantly lower in the winter, especially in subzero weather. As a result your oil pressure and oil film thickness with the 5w-30 will be at least as good as they are with a 15w-40 in the summertime. Another way of saying this is that the Series 3000,5w-30 running @ 195F will provide roughly the same oil pressure as the 15w-40 synthetic running @ 210F.



Run the 5w-30 ... no only will it give you better engine protection in cold weather, you will see a small (2%-3%) fuel savings as well and the engine will be more responsive while it is warming up.



tk

 

[Pit Bull]

I'm due for an oil change in a couple of weeks just in time for cold weather. from what you all are saying I need to go to a lighter weight oil. What are your oil recommendations? Brand? weight? etc? I just bought this truck and I am new to diesels. My truck has 35K miles on it and the dealer has been using Rotello (sp)

 

[JohnE]

D Latimer;



Rotella is available in a nice winter 10W-30. That should work well for you. I used Cenex (Farmland) 10W-30 last winter and it was great except for the sub zero days.



-John

 

[JohnE]

Chillydog;



Ham Lake is around 300 miles south of here. I think Jerry &amp; I live in <em>Northern</em> Minnesota.





(I hate these smilies, but that was the best way to describe my jest!)



-John

 

[JohnE]

Lsfarm;



<a href=http://www.kimhotstart.com/ target=_blank>Kim Hotstart</a> is a source of oil pan warmers.



<a href=http://www.phillipsandtemro.com/ target=_blank>Phillips &amp; Temro</a> is another major source.



I just purchased an ESPAR heater. I'm still planning to use the electric block heater AND add a pan heater for overnight. The ESPAR is intended for those times away from a plugin.



-John

 

[ChillyDog]

JohnE



Get's a little nippy up in your neck of the woods every now and then doesn't it! We had a cabin in McGregor, MN for many years and we saw some pretty cold mornings up there. Remember about 4-5 years ago when it was -60 some degrees below zero in Tower? We snowmobiled that whole week in northern MN and man was it cold!!! The thermometer on the cabin never got above -15 all week! I can't imagine trying to start a diesel on one of those -60 mornings, I don't think the truck would be very happy!

 

[amsoilman]

CullyGuy,

If I were you, I would stay with the 5W-30. Do not try to mix the HDD(5W-30) and the AME (15W-40) oils, as the additive package in them is totaly different, and could possibly cause some problem due to the different chemicals in the additives.



Wayne

 

[Double 6]

I have the brochures for Amsoil 15w-40 and 5w-30 as I was looking at the specs. on both for the cold weather.

Pour Point : -60 = 5w-30

-47 = 15w-40

As for oilpan heaters go to www.engineheaters.com.

Hope this helps.

 

[David_VT]

ESPAR and all the plugins?

JohnE,

Did I read correctly that you have purchased an ESPAR but intend to use it as a secondary heat source preferring to use the AC heat as primary?



As food for thought, especially with the price of electricity these days, you might want to consider otherwise.



First of all I have an ESPAR and enjoy having it. I used the plugin AC heater the first winter I had the truck and am glad I do not have to do that anymore. My wife swears she can show me exactly what months the truck was plugged in via the electric bill.



I have the remote control for the ESPAR which makes it nice for folks like me who do not follow a scheduled departure time everyday. If you follow a schedule the 7day timer should work just fine.



Using the ESPAR as the primary heat source, one becomes very familiar with it's operation and learns the best way to use it, etc. When you do find yourself miles from an AC outlet, your confidence will be high because you know you use it everyday. (i. e. unlike pulling out the 'emergency flashlight' from it's special drawer during a power outage only to learn somebody left it on when they put it away)



As a suggestion, unless you really need it, I recommend not using the 'optional feature' to operate your cab blower with the ESPAR. I consider this a weak link in the product as there is no way for the ESPAR to know it is pulling your battery power below the point where you will not be able to start the truck. OR as an alternative to disabling the feature, install a shut off switch on one battery to conserve it for starting. NOTHING is worse than bedding down whilst enjoying that warm air in your nice Dodge with it's aftermarket luxury oil powered furnace, especially when your deep in the wilderness and wake to discover you can't start your truck anymore!



David



PS: I did run the 5w30 last winter and am scrambling to find it for this winter which is starting to roar it's ugly head already!

 

[JohnE]

ChillyDog;



I was born &amp; raised up here. Been gone for almost 20 years (last 16 in Seattle area) and just returned last Christmas.



<hr>



David_VT;



You must park outside for overnight?



My outside is the parking lot at work all day with no electric plugins.

When daytime highs don't get above 0&deg; F (-18&deg; C) the Cummins complains loudly on startup. That's my main reason for ESPAR. It will be used 1 or 2 times per day.



Based on ESPAR data it will put out approximately 30 kW per gallon of fuel. Calculate fuel at $1. 50 per gallon and you get approximately 5&cent; per kW. My standard electric rate is around 8&cent; per kWh.



Timewise, the 700 Watt block heater cannot match the ESPAR 1,600 - 4000 Watt rated output.



Coolant heaters do not effectively warm the 3 gallons of syrup in the pan. A 150 Watt Kim Heater will work nicely down there. I like 10W-30 oil for cold weather, but will try AMSOIL 5W-30 this winter.



Of course, this is all subject to change after I get the <strike>ESPAR installed and use it this weekend. </strike> <em>ESPAR installed this weekend and use it this winter. </em>



I'm keeping a photo journal of installing the ESPAR and will post it at <a href=http://www.nwbombers.com target=_blank>NW Bombers</a>



-John

 

[David_VT]

AH, the beauty of cheap power!!

How quickly I forget the wonders of cheap electricity.



I lived outside tacoma a few hears back and we had an electric forced air furnace.



Here in Vermont at 28cents a kilowatt we go out of our way to avoid using the stuff!!



Looking forward to seeing your photo journal of the ESPAR job.



Make sure your directions are up to date for the dodge, mine had me put the espar in parallel to the water loop which does not work well. The proper way is to put the espar in series with the cab heater loop.



Feel free to contact me with any middle of the job questions. I have an email pager that you can reach via a link on my personal website: http://davidcovell.com (will remove this link on monday)

 

[JohnE]

Cullyguy;



I didn't miss you original question. (Thanks for starting this thread, it has been fun posting!)



<b>NEVER</b>, I'll repeat in case you didn't hear me the first time <big><b>NEVER</b></font> mix oils brands and types.



If it was me and traveling to Montana from a wamer climate, with constant access to a plugin or garage, stay with 15W-40 and straight #2 diesel with a good dose on anti-gel additive.

If the truck will cold soak then a lighter grade oil is better and use blended fuel.



My AMSOIL supplier says he uses Rotella 10W-30 for the winter and AMSOIL 15W-40 for spring, summer, &amp; fall. I used 10W30 last winter, but decided to try AMSOIL 5W-30 for this winter.



I'm starting a new thread for my ESPAR ordeal.



-John