breif cold weather oil test

[anomad]

I decided to do a quick test of the various oil sitting in my garage to see how it looked when its cold. I kicked three oils out into the driveway for the afternoon, temp about -20F.



Mobile One 5-30w synthetic (used in "her" subaru), still very fluid at -20 would pour easily.



Delo 10-30w petro based. fairly fluid would pour about like honey at room temp.



Rotella 15-40w, not very fluid. poured quite slowly, about like honey in the fridge.



I have this rotella in my truck right now and got the lighter delo because it takes soooo long for the oil pressure to register, even with the oil pan heater. I have used Delo before in the summer and found it got dirty faster than rotella and didn't feel as smooth. But I was surprised at how much more fluid it was vs. the 15-40, so I will swap it out and see if it starts and brings the pressure up faster.

 

[Ray Torresdal]

rotella

I like the Rotella oil, so when it gets cold, I switch to either the Rotella synthetic, or semi-synthetic. I can't remember the vis on the semi-synthetic (10-30 maybe???), but the full synthetic is 5W-40. I have found Rotella synthetic at Walmart - once mis-marked, and once clearance priced so they didn't have to move it to their new "super walmart".



Ray

 

[Cooker]

As you have found out a 15w oils should not be used at temps below zero. IMO 15w is good to down to about 15 - 20 degrees. I think if you are seeing temps below zero for a good part of the winter I would definitely switch to a snythetic oil preferrably in a 5w-40. Your truck will like that much better on the cold days.

 

[nickleinonen]

i did a similar test a few years back with some semi synthetic 15w40, some semi synthetic 0w30, some mobil1 3w30 and 15w50 and some castrol 10w30 and quakerstate 5w30



i tossed them all in my freezer chest, and it sits at a solid 0°f



the 2 mobils were the thinnest at that temp, with the 5w30 being thinner than the 15w50. the semi 0w30 was next and just a head of 5w30, then the semi 15w40 and last being the 10w30



not as cold as your test there eh... but showed similar results for the synthetics